P0345 code: Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 2)
P0345 means camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 2). The code says where to look, not what failed — the fix depends on which cause your car actually has.
What P0345 means
P0345 is the Bank 2 version of P0340: the camshaft position signal on the cylinder-2 side is missing or erratic. The cam sensor works with the crank sensor to time fuel injection and spark, so a fault can cause hard starting, stalling, or a no-start. Usually it's a failed sensor or a wiring/connector problem, but it can also reflect a real timing issue (a jumped or stretched chain/belt) on that bank, which is worth confirming.
P0345 symptoms
- Hard starting or extended cranking
- Stalling or rough running
- Hesitation and reduced power
- Occasional no-start
- Check-engine light
What it costs to fix P0345
Typical range: $120–$500 · about ~0.3–2.5 hrs of labor
| If the cause is… | Part | Labor |
|---|---|---|
| Camshaft position sensor | $30–$200 | ~0.3–2 hrs |
| Wiring / connector repair | $10–$120 | ~0.5–1.5 hrs |
The sensor is usually a low-hundreds job; labor depends on access. A genuine timing chain/belt problem is a major repair that varies far too much to quote — get it diagnosed if the sensor and wiring check out.
The price swings on which cause it turns out to be — so confirm the cause before paying. Diagnose P0345 for my exact vehicle →
How to fix P0345
Moderate — doable at home with common tools and patience
- Identify bank 2 on your engine
Bank 2 is the cylinder bank that does not contain cylinder 1 — on many transverse V6s that's the rear bank near the firewall. Confirm which side is bank 2 for your specific engine before you buy or remove anything, because the two cam sensors look identical.
- Inspect the bank 2 sensor's connector and wiring
Unplug the bank 2 cam sensor and check for oil intrusion, corrosion, and chafed wires along the harness run. Rear-bank wiring lives in a hotter, tighter space and fails more often than its bank 1 twin.
- Swap the cam sensors between banks
On many V engines the bank 1 and bank 2 cam sensors are the same part number — swap them, clear the code, and drive. If the code moves to P0340 (bank 1), you've proven the sensor is bad; if P0345 stays, the fault is in the bank 2 wiring or the cam timing itself.
- Replace the bank 2 camshaft position sensor
Fit the new sensor with a lightly oiled O-ring and snug the bolt to spec. Access is the only hard part — on some engines you'll be working blind behind the intake with a swivel and extension.
- Have bank 2 cam timing verified if the code persists
A surviving P0345 after a good sensor and clean wiring suggests the timing chain or belt on that bank has stretched or jumped. That's a shop diagnosis, and worth doing promptly — timing faults get more expensive the longer they run.
DIY or shop? The connector check and the bank-to-bank sensor swap are the high-value DIY moves here, and they usually settle the diagnosis without buying anything. Physical access is the wildcard: a rear-bank sensor jammed against the firewall can turn a one-bolt job into knuckle surgery, and any hint of an actual timing problem belongs at a shop.
Tools for the DIY steps: OBD-II scanner · Socket set with swivel and extensions · Clean engine oil (for the O-ring) · Inspection mirror or borescope (helpful for rear-bank access) · Electrical contact cleaner
Not sure which step applies to your car? Get the likely cause for your exact vehicle before buying anything for P0345.
Start a case with P0345 and your car. Redline weighs these causes against what your car shows, and names the check that would settle it before you buy parts.
Can I drive with P0345?
Redline can’t determine from a symptom or code alone whether your car is safe to drive.
P0345 on specific vehicles
The likely causes shift by model. We’ve written up the patterns we see most:
P0345: common questions
Can I drive with P0345?
Not something a code can answer by itself. P0345 can cause stalling or a no-start, so get it diagnosed promptly and don't rely on the car for important journeys. If the cause is timing-related, stop driving and have it checked.
Is P0345 the same as P0340?
Same fault, opposite bank: P0340 is the cam sensor circuit on Bank 1, P0345 is the same on Bank 2 (the cylinder-2 side). Diagnosis and repair are identical.
Will P0345 cause a no-start?
It can. Many engines start on the crank sensor alone, but a missing cam signal often causes hard starting, long cranking, or stalling — and on some engines, a no-start.
How much does it cost to fix P0345?
The sensor is typically a low-hundreds repair depending on access. A timing chain/belt repair is a major job and much more expensive, which is why diagnosis matters before buying parts.
Related trouble codes
Don’t have a scanner yet? A ~$25 Bluetooth adapter reads codes like P0345 from your phone. See our guide to the best OBD2 Bluetooth adapters. Run a repair shop? See Redline for shops.
Generic OBD-II reference. Manufacturer-specific behavior varies. Confirm with a scan tool and, for safety-related codes, a professional inspection. Cost ranges are reference ranges, not quotes.
Seeing P0345 on your car?
Every problem becomes a Case. Tell Redline what the car is doing: it shows what the evidence supports, what’s still missing, and what to check next, before you approve a repair.
“Inner pad ~1 mm. Outer pad 3 mm.”
Next: check the slide pins move freely before buying parts.