Are camshaft sensor and camshaft position sensor the same thing?

Yes. "Camshaft Sensor" and "Camshaft position sensor" refer to the same car part. Other common names include Camshaft position sensor, Camshaft Position Sensor, CMP Sensor. The part is the same regardless of which name is used.

Can I drive with a faulty camshaft sensor?

The car may still run without the cam sensor on some engines, but performance and fuel economy will be noticeably reduced. On engines with direct injection or variable valve timing, a missing cam signal can cause misfires severe enough to cause catalytic converter damage.

How long does a camshaft sensor last?

Most sensors last the vehicle lifetime — 150,000 miles or more. Failures are often caused by heat, oil contamination from a leaking cam seal, or connector corrosion rather than sensor wear.

Does replacing a camshaft sensor require programming?

No — replacement sensors are plug-and-play on the vast majority of applications. The only exception is some BMW N43/N53 engines where a sensor alignment procedure is needed.

How do I know if it is the camshaft sensor or the crankshaft sensor?

OBD-II fault codes distinguish between the two. Camshaft sensor codes (P0340 to P0349) point to the cam circuit; crankshaft sensor codes (P0335 to P0339) indicate the crank circuit. Both failing together often suggests a timing chain or trigger wheel fault.

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Camshaft Sensor buying guide — what to know before you buy

The camshaft sensor — also known as the CMP sensor, cam sensor, or cam position sensor — monitors the rotational position of the camshaft to enable the ECU to time fuel injection and ignition precisely for each cylinder. On variable valve timing engines it also provides feedback to the VVT control solenoid. A failed camshaft position sensor causes rough running, misfires, hard starting, or a no-start condition. CarParts247 stocks OEM and aftermarket camshaft sensors from Bosch, Continental, and Hella for the vast majority of petrol and diesel engines, including BMW N-series, Ford EcoBoost, and Volkswagen TSI platforms.

Symptoms of a failing camshaft sensor

The camshaft sensor works alongside the crankshaft sensor to give the ECU full engine cycle information. When it fails, the ECU often defaults to crankshaft-only timing, which degrades performance.

Rough idle and hesitation during acceleration
Hard starting or intermittent no-start, particularly when hot
DTC codes P0340 to P0349 (camshaft position sensor circuit malfunction)
Poor fuel economy — ECU uses open-loop fuelling without cam signal
VVT malfunction codes on engines with variable valve timing

Replacement

Camshaft sensors are usually mounted in the valve cover, timing chain cover, or cylinder head. A single bolt or clip secures them. Remove the wiring connector, undo the retaining fastener, and pull the sensor straight out. Note whether the sensor body has an O-ring — fit a new one if so, lightly oiled. Torque to the manufacturer's specification to avoid cracking the sensor body.

On some engines with variable valve timing, the replacement sensor must be sourced from the correct side of the engine (intake or exhaust cam) — verify this using the OE part number or vehicle registration lookup.

Testing before replacement

Confirm the fault is the sensor rather than the trigger wheel or wiring. A Hall-effect camshaft sensor requires a supply voltage (typically 5 V or 12 V), an earth, and should produce a clear square wave signal on an oscilloscope during cranking. A corroded connector is a very common cause of apparent sensor failure on BMW and Volkswagen Group engines.