OBD-II Code · Sensors
P0341
CMP Sensor A Range/Performance
Severity
high
Left alone, this one tends to take other parts with it.
Can you drive it
Not for long
Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it.
Indicative cost (USD)
$150–$400
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
Cam position signal range fault.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- Check engine light
- Hard starting
- Stalling
Likely causes
- Failing sensorMost common
- Timing chain wear
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0341 means the CMP signal is present but does not match what the ECM expects relative to crank position — the cam is mechanically out of time, the s…
P0341 means the CMP signal is present but does not match what the ECM expects relative to crank position — the cam is mechanically out of time, the signal has missing or extra teeth, or the variable valve timing system cannot command and hold the cam where the ECM tells it to. This is the most diagnostically rich CMP code because the same code can be a $80 oil-control valve or a $3000 timing job depending on the platform.
Cheapest-first ladder
- command the cam to multiple advance angles via bidirectional scan tool and watch actual-vs-commanded — if commanded 20 degrees and actual reads 8 degrees, the phaser is starved for oil pressure or mechanically worn.
- Oil pressure at the cam phaser feed should be 30-60 psi at idle on most modern engines; under 25 psi means worn bearings or a clogged screen.
- Pull and inspect the oil control valve (OCV/VVT solenoid) for debris on the screen — this is the cheapest fix and accounts for 40% of P0341 calls on high-mileage engines.
- Verify oil viscosity matches spec (running 5W-30 in a 0W-20 engine is enough to cause cam-actuator lag and set P0341).
- Bar the engine over by hand and verify cam timing marks align — a chain that jumped a tooth will throw P0341 every time.
Vehicle-specific patternsGM 3.6L LY7/LLT/LFX (2007-2016 CTS, SRX, Acadia, Traverse, Enclave, Camaro) is the canonical P0341 platform — timing chain stretch and cam-actuator w…
GM 3.6L LY7/LLT/LFX (2007-2016 CTS, SRX, Acadia, Traverse, Enclave, Camaro) is the canonical P0341 platform — timing chain stretch and cam-actuator wear set this code on virtually every example past 100k miles; cheap fix is the OCV ($60 plus an hour), real fix is the $1800-$2600 timing job.
- 2011-2018Chrysler 3.6 Pentastar responds to a $40 OCV screen cleaning or replacement plus a fresh oil change in 60% of cases. VW/Audi 2.0T EA888 P0341 is timing chain stretch nine times out of ten and the tensioner failure can be catastrophic — do not put miles on this code on a VW. Honda J35 V6 (Pilot, Odyssey, Ridgeline 2005-2014) throws P0341 from VTC actuator wear (the cam-side phaser unit) and the fix is the actuator plus a chain inspection.
Estimated repair$80 to $2800.
Look up another code
P0341 — frequently asked
What does a P0341 code mean?
Cam position signal range fault.
What causes a P0341 code?
Common causes: Failing sensor; Timing chain wear.
What are the symptoms of a P0341 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light; Hard starting; Stalling.
Is it safe to drive with a P0341 code?
Not for long. Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it. Estimated repair: $150-$400.
How do I diagnose a P0341 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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