VW Bora Rough Idle Points to Faulty Cam Sensor Fix

I dealt with nearly identical symptoms on my 2007 VW Golf with the 1.6L FSI engine. The rough idling and starting issues pointed to a camshaft sensor failure, but diagnostic testing revealed a loose wiring connector at the sensor rather than a faulty sensor itself. The check engine light triggered due to the intermittent signal from the automotive sensor caused by the damaged wiring harness connector. The engine misfire and performance loss were direct results of incorrect camshaft timing signals reaching the ECU. The fix involved replacing the wiring harness connector and securing it properly. While not a serious repair in terms of engine damage, leaving it unfixed could have eventually led to more significant issues due to improper timing adjustments. The repair process was straightforward, the connector assembly was accessed through the top of the engine bay after removing the engine cover. Key signs it was the connector: the engine would temporarily run better after wiggling the wiring, and the sensor readings were inconsistent rather than completely failed. As a preventive measure, the mechanic also cleaned the sensor face and checked the timing belt condition while accessing the area. Consider having both checked since they share the same service area.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the camshaft position sensor connector issue. My VW Bora had similar stalling engine problems and rough idling symptoms last summer. Curious what the total repair cost was in your case? Mine ended up needing both the sensor and wiring harness replaced due to corrosion damage. Also wondering if youve had any recurring timing issues since the repair was done?

Glad to provide an update. Since seeing the mechanic last week, my camshaft sensor issue was fully resolved. The total repair cost came to 95€, which covered fixing the faulty cable connection. Much cheaper than replacing the entire automotive sensor unit. No recurring timing issues or engine misfires since the repair. The rough idling completely disappeared once they secured the loose connector properly. The check engine light hasnt come back either, confirming the sensor failure was just due to the bad connection. The mechanic did a thorough job testing the actual sensor, which proved to be working fine once properly connected. My engine performance is back to normal with no more struggles during cold starts. For preventive maintenance, they also cleaned the sensor area while accessing the wiring. This attention to detail probably helped avoid any potential future timing issues. The repair has held up perfectly over the past 7 days of regular driving.

The camshaft sensor repair on my Bora went smoothly after finding a new mechanic. The total cost was 320€ since both the sensor and wiring harness needed replacement. The old parts showed significant corrosion damage when they removed them. The repair process took about 3 hours. They first diagnosed the stalling engine problems with their computer system, which confirmed the timing issues. After replacing the damaged parts, they ran several tests to ensure proper sensor function and timing. My engine now starts perfectly and the rough idling is completely gone. The check engine light cleared right after the repair and hasnt returned. Overall engine performance is back to normal after a week of driving. The new shop did great work explaining the issues and showing me the corroded parts. Glad I switched mechanics, their thorough approach caught both the bad sensor and wiring damage that my previous mechanic missed. Thanks again for sharing your experience. It helped confirm my suspicions about the camshaft sensor being the root cause.