A2 Cam Sensor Trouble, Signs, Fixes & Cost Tips

Having some experience with automotive sensors, I faced a similar issue with my 2003 A3 1.4L gasoline engine. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I encountered, rough idling, starting problems, and decreased power output. My workshop diagnosed it as a faulty camshaft position sensor, but the root cause was actually a damaged wiring harness connector. The timing issues and error codes were triggered by poor electrical contact. The total repair cost was 95 Euro, which covered both diagnosis and fixing the cable connection to the sensor. The repair process was straightforward, they identified the faulty connection, replaced the damaged wiring section, and properly secured the connector. After the fix, the engine ran smoothly again with no more timing issues or rough idling. To better assist you, could you share: Current mileage on your A2, Specific error codes you are getting, Whether the check engine light is constant or flashing, Any recent maintenance work performed These details would help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced with the camshaft sensor wiring.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My mileage is now at 136384 KM and the last service was about 8 months ago for regular maintenance. To answer your questions: the check engine light stays constant and I am getting error code P0340. The engine misfire happens mostly during cold starts, and the rough idling becomes more noticeable as the engine warms up. I will check the wiring harness connector first before replacing the sensor. Do you recall if the sensor eventually needed replacement in your case, or was fixing the wiring enough to resolve the stalling engine issues completely?

The wiring fix alone completely resolved my stalling engine issues, and I never needed to replace the camshaft sensor itself. The P0340 code you mentioned is exactly what I encountered, which typically indicates camshaft position sensor circuit problems. Since your symptoms intensify with engine warmup, this further matches my experience with the wiring issue. Heat would cause the damaged wiring to expand, making the connection even worse and increasing the timing issues and engine misfire frequency. For my A3, once the wiring harness was repaired, the error codes cleared and never returned. The engine performance returned to normal immediately, no more cold start problems or rough idling. The repair has held up for over 50000 km now. Given the similar symptoms and error code, I strongly recommend having the wiring thoroughly checked before replacing the camshaft sensor. A proper visual inspection of the connector and wiring near the sensor should reveal any damage or corrosion that could cause these issues.

Thanks for the detailed follow-up information about your wiring repair experience. Your suggestion to focus on the wiring first makes good sense, especially since it matches my error code and symptoms. The fact that your fix has lasted over 50000 km without needing a sensor replacement is really encouraging. I have scheduled an appointment with my local shop to inspect the wiring harness and connector near the camshaft position sensor tomorrow. They will check for any heat-related damage or corrosion that could be causing these timing issues and engine misfire problems. Hoping for a similarly straightforward and cost-effective solution to resolve these stalling engine symptoms. Will update once I know whether it was indeed just a wiring issue or if I end up needing the complete sensor replacement. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it helped narrow down the potential causes and saved me from immediately jumping to replace the sensor.