VW Touran Camshaft Sensor Issues and Power Loss Fixed

Having some experience with VAG cars, I faced a very similar issue with my 2008 VW Golf, also with a gasoline engine. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I encountered, especially the rough starting and power issues, along with the check engine light. The camshaft sensor problems often start gradually, and in my case, the stalling engine became more frequent over time. The automotive sensor diagnostic also pointed to the camshaft position sensor, but the actual issue turned out to be a damaged wire connection to the sensor. My mechanic found that the cable connection to the camshaft sensor was worn and causing intermittent signals. The repair involved fixing the wiring harness and checking the sensor itself. Total cost was 95€, which included diagnostic time and the repair work. Before you proceed with any repairs, could you share: Which engine variant your Touran has? Does the stalling happen more when the engine is cold or warm? Have you noticed any specific driving conditions when the problems get worse? These details would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced and could save you time and money at the workshop.

Thanks for the information. Yes, I have a 1.4 TSI engine and the issues definitely worsen when the engine is cold. The rough idling and engine misfire symptoms are most noticeable during the first 5-10 minutes of operation. Last service was at 112000km, just about 3 months ago. Interestingly, the cable connection suggestion makes sense as the problems seem to become more frequent during wet weather. The engine performance varies throughout my drive, which could indicate an intermittent electrical issue rather than a completely failed sensor. I will have my mechanic check the wiring harness connections to the camshaft sensor before replacing any parts.

Thanks for those extra details about your 1.4 TSI. The timing issues during cold starts and wet weather match my experience with the same engine exactly. The connection between moisture and performance problems strongly points to the wiring harness issue I mentioned. In my Golf, the engine misfire and rough idle symptoms also varied during the drive, just like yours. After fixing the wiring near the camshaft sensor, these issues completely disappeared. The repair turned out much simpler than expected, no need for a full sensor replacement. A quick tip from my experience: ask your mechanic to check the entire wiring path from the sensor to the ECU, not just the immediate connection. In my case, there was also minor insulation damage about 10cm from the sensor that allowed moisture to affect the signal. Since your issues occur mainly during cold starts and wet conditions, this really reinforces my suspicion about the wiring. The stalling engine symptoms improving as the engine compartment dries and warms up is a classic sign of electrical connection problems rather than a failed sensor. Let us know what your mechanic finds. Based on the similarities to my case, I suspect youll be looking at a similar repair cost around 100€ rather than the higher expense of a complete sensor replacement.

The wiring connection theory makes a lot of sense, especially since my symptoms match so closely with your experience. After checking my maintenance records, I found that the crankshaft sensor was replaced during a service about 50000km ago, but nobody looked at the wiring harness then. Since posting, the issues have become more consistent. The engine misfire is now happening even during warmer weather, though still worse when cold and damp. I have scheduled an appointment with my mechanic for next week and specifically asked them to inspect the wiring harness around both the camshaft position sensor and along the entire connection path as you suggested. The varying engine performance and timing issues throughout my drives were really starting to worry me, so I am relieved this might be a relatively straightforward fix. Will definitely update once the mechanic has taken a look. If the repair cost stays around 100€ as you mentioned, that would be much better than I initially feared.