VW Scirocco TDI Stalling Fix: Camshaft Sensor Guide

Had almost identical issues with my 2012 VW Golf TDI. Started with rough idle, then progressed to stalling and persistent check engine light. From my moderate experience with diesel engines, these symptoms often point to camshaft position problems. After scanning, the workshop confirmed the encoder wheel on the camshafts was defective, causing incorrect signals to the camshaft sensor. The repair involved replacing both the encoder wheel and sensor as a complete unit. Total cost came to 695€ including parts and labor. The symptoms you describe match classic camshaft sensor issues, but it would help to know: Any specific error codes from the ECU? Does the problem worsen when the engine is warm? Are you experiencing any power loss during acceleration? Have you noticed increased fuel consumption? Getting these details would help confirm if your issue matches what I experienced. The crankshaft sensor can sometimes show similar symptoms, so proper diagnosis is essential before starting repairs. Would definitely recommend getting it properly scanned first rather than jumping straight to parts replacement. What I learned from my repair is that putting off sensor-related issues can lead to more serious engine misfire problems down the line. Better to address these symptoms early.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My last service was 3 months ago at 12260km, and everything was fine until these symptoms started appearing last week. I did get the ECU scanned and it showed error code P0343, which apparently relates to camshaft position sensor circuit issues. The problem definitely gets worse when the engine warms up, and I am experiencing some power loss during acceleration. Fuel consumption has increased by about 15% over the past month. The ignition timing also seems affected as the engine occasionally hesitates before starting, especially on cold mornings. The workshop quoted 750€ for a complete fix including parts and labor. Before proceeding, I would like to confirm if this price aligns with what others paid for similar camshaft sensor repairs.

Thanks for those additional details, particularly the P0343 code, which definitely matches my experience with the camshaft position sensor failure on my Golf TDI. The 750€ quote is only slightly higher than what I paid (695€), and seems reasonable considering parts costs have increased lately. The complete repair package should include both the sensor and encoder wheel replacement, as doing just one often leads to recurring issues. Your symptoms perfectly mirror what I experienced: Worsening performance with warm engine, Power loss during acceleration, Increased fuel consumption, Engine misfire symptoms at startup When my sensor failed, I initially considered just replacing the sensor alone to save money. However, the workshop advised replacing both components as a set, which proved to be the right call, no issues since the repair. Since your driving symptoms match so closely and you have a confirmed P0343 indicating camshaft sensor circuit problems, this repair seems like the correct solution. The timing is also typical, these sensor failures often occur suddenly even after recent servicing. A quick tip: make sure they clear all engine codes after the repair. In my case, the check engine light initially stayed on until they performed a complete system reset.

Based on your detailed feedback and similar repair experience, I'm now confident moving forward with the camshaft sensor replacement. The matching error code P0343 and nearly identical symptoms really helped confirm my initial suspicion. The 750€ quote seems fair, especially since it covers both the sensor and encoder wheel replacement. The increasing fuel consumption and engine misfire issues are getting worse, so I will schedule the repair this week rather than risk additional engine damage. Good tip about the system reset after repair, I will make sure to ask the workshop about clearing the check engine light and error codes once everything is complete. Based on your experience with the repair eliminating all symptoms, I feel much better about proceeding with this fix. Glad I checked about the ignition timing and sensor testing aspects before jumping into repairs. Having someone confirm the same issues and successful resolution with their VW diesel makes this decision much easier. Will update once the repair is complete.