P0346 is the bank 2 counterpart of P0341: the intake camshaft sensor on the side without cylinder 1 delivers pulses, but their number or pattern does not fit the crankshaft. GM applies the same counting criteria as for P0341, e.g. on the 3.0 twin-turbo V6 (LGW): 4 to 6 pulses in the first 12 reference events and 398 to 402 per 100 engine cycles on the 4X wheel, set after two trips. On the Saab 9-4X V6 (GM LAU) the code means too many or too few pulses per crank revolution, or no correlation with crank position, for more than 1 s or 10 s cumulatively, also after two trips. Ford petrol engines do not use the code and report such faults under P0349. Result: cam timing on bank 2 switched off, loss of power, rough running.
High severity. Can I keep driving?Avoid driving: the engine can stall while moving. If the timing is off, continuing can cause serious damage.
Bank 2 is the side without cylinder 1, so it only exists on V or boxer engines.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Longer cranking before the engine starts
- Loss of power (cam timing held in its base position)
- Rough idle, occasionally stalling
Most likely causes
- Bank 2 sensor with disturbed signal, air gap
- Tone wheel on the bank 2 phaser damaged or wrongly fitted
- Connector, wiring or interference
- Crankshaft reference signal disturbed
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: medium
- It can trigger limp mode.
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P0346 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 3: Ignition and misfires
- 46: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0346?
Avoid driving: the engine can stall while moving. If the timing is off, continuing can cause serious damage.
What causes code P0346?
The most common causes are: bank 2 sensor with disturbed signal, air gap; tone wheel on the bank 2 phaser damaged or wrongly fitted; connector, wiring or interference.
Related codes
- P0341Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance Bank 1 or Single Sensor
- P0345Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Bank 2
- P0349Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent Bank 2
- P0391Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Range/Performance Bank 2
- P0018Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 2 Sensor A)
Sources
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG03A Engine Diagnostics
- saabwisonline.com: dtc p0341 p0342 p0343 p0346 p0347 p0348 p0366 p036
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- hella.com: camshaft position sensor
Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.