Escalade Hybrid Stalling Issue, Faulty Cam Sensor Fix

Having worked on similar issues with my 2012 Escalade Hybrid, I can share some relevant experience. Your symptoms sound very familiar and match what I dealt with last year. My vehicle showed identical warning signs, rough starts, stalling issues at idle, and an intermittent check engine light. Initially, I also thought it was just the camshaft sensor, but diagnostic testing revealed the encoder wheel on the camshafts was actually defective, affecting the ignition timing significantly. The repair involved: Complete diagnostic testing of sensor systems, Removing and replacing the encoder wheel, Recalibrating the camshaft sensor, Final system checks Total cost came to 695€ including parts and labor. The repair took about 4 hours at the workshop. This fix resolved all issues completely, no more stalling, smooth starts, and the check engine light stayed off. Before jumping to conclusions though, could you share: Current mileage on your vehicle? Any recent maintenance history? Are there any other warning lights active? Does the stalling happen more frequently when the engine is cold or warm? This information would help determine if your situation matches what I experienced or if there might be other factors to consider.

Last service was done at 163174 KM. The check engine light symptoms got worse shortly after. I had my mechanic run a diagnostic test which pointed to the camshaft position sensor, but before committing to the repair I wanted to hear from others who faced similar problems. My car also misfires more noticeably when the engine is cold, and the sensor testing showed inconsistent readings. The ignition timing seems affected too, especially during those cold starts. Good point about the encoder wheel, I will have them check that as well since the symptoms align perfectly with what you described. The 695€ price point sounds reasonable given the work involved. Thanks for breaking down the repair steps, it helps set proper expectations for the job.

I wanted to follow up on your response because your situation is even more similar to mine than I initially thought. The cold-start misfires and inconsistent sensor readings are exactly what I experienced. One important detail I forgot to mention: while fixing the encoder wheel resolved most issues, we also discovered the wiring harness to the camshaft sensor had some deterioration. This was causing those inconsistent sensor readings you mentioned during the engine control unit diagnostics. The mechanic ended up repairing the wiring harness connections as well, which only added about 85€ to the total cost but made a significant difference in preventing future sensor failure issues. Since your mileage is close to what mine was when these problems occurred (I was at 158000 KM), and the symptoms match perfectly including the engine misfire during cold starts, I strongly suspect you are dealing with the same combination of issues. Make sure your mechanic inspects the entire sensor system pathway, not just the components themselves. In my case, addressing both the encoder wheel and wiring made the difference between a temporary fix and a lasting solution.

Based on all this helpful information, I will definitely have my mechanic do a complete inspection of both the encoder wheel and wiring harness. The fact that your vehicle had such similar symptoms at nearly the same mileage makes me feel more confident about the diagnosis. The check engine light patterns and engine misfire issues during cold starts match exactly what you experienced. Finding out about the potential wiring harness deterioration is particularly valuable, I will make sure they check the entire sensor system pathway to avoid any repeat issues. I just scheduled the repair for next week. The shop quoted me 780€ total, which seems reasonable considering they will inspect and potentially replace both the encoder wheel and wiring harness. They estimated about 5 hours of labor to complete all the work, including proper testing of the camshaft position sensor and ignition timing verification. Thanks for sharing your detailed repair experience. It really helped confirm what I suspected and added important details I would not have known to check otherwise.