Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Monday March 18, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC Technical > Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo)

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-09-2004, 05:30 PM   #1
Sandkicker
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 6954
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: SLC, UT
Vehicle:
05 FXT
Pre: 02WRX, 98RS, 99RS

Default p0340 (bad cam position sensor) : bad news?

If i'm getting this CEL, would driving my car hard (i.e. fast, WOT, etc) be a bad idea? Am i likely to cause other problems by not fixing it?

Twice this week i've gotten this p0340 CEL while hauling WOT in 2nd gear. The code seems to clear itelf after restarting the car about 4 times, so it doesn't seem like anythign permanent/serious, but i want to make sure.

For those unfamiliar, the code p0340 means "Bad camshaft position sensor". Upon doing a little reading/searching it looks like this was something that early WRXs experienced and was fixed by the dealer with a reflash. I bought my WRX in May of 2001 so I would fall into this category of early WRXs.

The problem is that I've got the Cobb Stg2 flash, and i've also got 71k miles on my WRX so i'm beyond warranty, and would rather not have the dealer flash my car back to stock.

So. I can live with restarting my car 4 times every time this comes on, no big deal. But if having a bad camshaft sensor means my car will start knocking or anything else detrimental, then i'll be more eager to find a permanent fix.

my car/mods:
'02 sedan - 71k miles - driven hard
catless uppipe/turboback (PDE,Bosal,Stromung,Prodrive)
Cobb Stg2 Flash
K&N
Intake silencer bypass elbow
various suspension mods...

the only other thing i can think is that since i just recently puton my KYB/AGX struts, and have 'em cranked down to 3 (of 4) that maybe i'm just rattling the sensor loose when i'm gettin on the gas hard?

Is this a detrimental code to have? If it's only on during WOT am i likely to break anything else?

thanks all,
scott
Sandkicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2004, 12:17 AM   #2
Sandkicker
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 6954
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: SLC, UT
Vehicle:
05 FXT
Pre: 02WRX, 98RS, 99RS

Default

ba-bump....


Anyone?
Sandkicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2004, 12:53 AM   #3
Uncle Scotty
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:
OK buy Nates beans
westcoastroasting.com

Default

Try unplugging the sensor...cleaning the contacts...put some dielectric grease on the contacts...and plug it back together.

Pg. EN(DOHC)-190-191 details trouble shooting of the sensor.

I can email it to you if you wish.
Uncle Scotty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2004, 11:04 AM   #4
Sandkicker
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 6954
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: SLC, UT
Vehicle:
05 FXT
Pre: 02WRX, 98RS, 99RS

Default

Cool thanks, i'll try that.

And yeah, I'd appreciate it if you send me that page. Thanks. I think i've got the WRX manual at home in PDF format, but i'm not sure what all information i have, it doesn't seem to have as much detailed info on a lot of things.

Thanks!
Sandkicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2004, 12:10 PM   #5
Uncle Scotty
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:
OK buy Nates beans
westcoastroasting.com

Default

If you have the manual then just go to the DOHC engine section and see pg. 190-191...

Last edited by Uncle Scotty; 03-10-2004 at 02:50 PM.
Uncle Scotty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2004, 12:19 PM   #6
SleeperWRX
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 8179
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Legacy Sport Sedan (Turbo)
Default

its page 414 in the PDF
SleeperWRX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2004, 02:53 PM   #7
gdog
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 6189
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix East Valley
Vehicle:
04
Red No More

Default

You don't have an underdrive pulley, do you? Since installing mine, I usually get that cel if I suddenly go WOT.
And it always clears in a few cycles
gdog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2004, 02:55 PM   #8
Sandkicker
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 6954
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: SLC, UT
Vehicle:
05 FXT
Pre: 02WRX, 98RS, 99RS

Default

no UD pulley...

and it only come on when WOT in 2nd gear somewhere above 6000 RPMS... fishy

What exactly does this sensor do? When it fails is the engine likely to misfire or anything?
Sandkicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2009, 12:40 AM   #9
SDgoods
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 156130
Join Date: Aug 2007
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: North County San Diego
Vehicle:
1973 240z Turbo

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandkicker View Post
no UD pulley...

and it only come on when WOT in 2nd gear somewhere above 6000 RPMS... fishy

What exactly does this sensor do? When it fails is the engine likely to misfire or anything?
If you dont know yet the cam position sensor is an input to the ecu that is used to calculate ignition timing. Cam and crank position sensors took the job of the old distributor triggering devices.
SDgoods is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2004, 10:21 PM   #10
Leonardo
Cowabunga!
Super Moderator
 
Member#: 185
Join Date: Aug 1999
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Orlando, Fl
Vehicle:
2014 Impreza Sport
Ice Silver Metalic

Default

I had that problem. Replaced the sensor and was done with it!

Most likely, when it fails, you'll feel your car slower as I did.

good luck!
Leonardo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2004, 12:36 AM   #11
annointed
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 5960
Join Date: Apr 2001
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Atlantic City, NJ
Vehicle:
FXT 11.6@118 93 oct
NSX 450 whp SC'd (93 oct)

Default

Leo, how much slower was your car?

Mine constantly has this CEL up. If I clear it, it comes right back when I go wot and hit high rpms (say, 6200+). It only RARELY threw this CEL when I was unichipped. Immediately upon installing the UTEC, it throws it at WOT in high rpm's now. But the utec rocks, and is waaaaaaay better than unichip, i just found this pheonmena interesting.

I also have GFB lightweight pully's. AND my car is an early run too (delivered in March '01)...too many variables to consider. I'm tempted to throw a new sensor at it and see what happens.
annointed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2004, 07:46 AM   #12
shields102
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 9598
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: westland mi
Vehicle:
02 wrx
white

Default

It will take 5min and 25bucks to fix the cel.....just get a new sensor. Its just a magnet more or less, so when it goes, it goes. Meaning that the leads have somehow lost connection with the magnet.
shields102 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2004, 11:46 AM   #13
thrasher
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 40579
Join Date: Jul 2003
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Elizabethtown, PA
Vehicle:
2002 WRX Stage 2+
Tuned by IA Performance

Default

I threw this CEL last week when I overreved at the track. I had the code pulled on my way home, and I didn't notice any performance problems, so I just let it go to see if it would clear itself.

Sure enough, less than a week later, the CEL cleared. However, I had a good idea of why I got a CEL because it came on when I hit the rev limiter. If it just came on for seemingly no reason, I think I would have been more concerned.

J
thrasher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2005, 06:42 PM   #14
ryuwrx
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 26714
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bremerton, WA
Vehicle:
2002 Spec C
LUR LUR

Default

I haven't finished reading this thread yet, but this exact same thing happened to me, but I wasn't at the track. Hit rev limiter in first, twice, and got the cell. It just happened, so I'm waiting to see if it will clear itself before I buy a new sensor.
ryuwrx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2004, 11:16 PM   #15
Sandkicker
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 6954
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: SLC, UT
Vehicle:
05 FXT
Pre: 02WRX, 98RS, 99RS

Default

yeah i had cruised in to a dealer and chatted about it with their shop guys for a second, one of the mechanics just said it was easy to replace and they hadn't really seen that happen often (small dealership though). I still haven't replaced it though, and it does still come on now and then when i'm ON it. I've just been too lazy to get the part and install it thus far, so i'm driving a little nicer too.

My main question, that even the mechanic didn't really answer, was just whether those sensors really NEED to be in good/working condition or if running without replacing them is possibly detrimental. If it's gone bad, is there some possibility of the engine doing somethign it shouldnt and breaking something else? Anyone know?
Sandkicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2004, 07:06 PM   #16
swol3
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 44785
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: vancouver, BC
Vehicle:
02 sedan wrx
WRB COBB stage 2

Default

time to pull this thread back up. i had the p0340 CEL and i replaced the sensor and still the cel is back on.

the car was running fine before even with the cel on. but when i installed the new sensor i resetted the ecu by disconnecting the battery as well. now my car is in LIMP mode trying to relearn everything. I dont know what else to do now??

i dont have any pulleys or anything. just a full turboback and a cobb stge 2. i have been running stge 2 for over 10000kms and just recently this ghey cel is coming on. i know for sure now that its not the sensor because i replaced it with a new one.
swol3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2004, 07:13 PM   #17
Sandkicker
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 6954
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: SLC, UT
Vehicle:
05 FXT
Pre: 02WRX, 98RS, 99RS

Default

hmm... go get the code pulled to see what the code is. maybe you didn't replace the cam sensor correctly or maybe you caused another problem in the process. ???

FWIW, i was getting that CEL while really on the gas at higher RPMs and it came on all of like 5 different times over the span of a month or two, but i haven't replaced it and actually just kind of forgot about it and don't seem to have the problem anymore... at least the light doesn't come on any more (may still have a problem, i dunno), but i haven't seen a CEL for months. Not sure what that means, but something either fixed itself or just stopped popping a CEL.
Sandkicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2004, 08:58 PM   #18
swol3
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 44785
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: vancouver, BC
Vehicle:
02 sedan wrx
WRB COBB stage 2

Default

i use the accessport to pull the code myself. its that damn p0340 code everytime. i believe there is a recall on the peeps that had this code and some others. however i was reading the threads and it happened to the these wrxs in late 2001 when the car was first being sold.

my car now has 40000kms and the stupid code just came out. i dont know how i could install the sensor improperly because it only requires one bolt.
swol3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2004, 10:33 PM   #19
annointed
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 5960
Join Date: Apr 2001
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Atlantic City, NJ
Vehicle:
FXT 11.6@118 93 oct
NSX 450 whp SC'd (93 oct)

Default

I had a very insightful exchange of IM's with a member who had the exact same PO340 issue that we seem to have. I still throw the CEL quite often, even with the new sensor I installed several thousand miles ago.

He went through hell trying everything to fix this CEL...then he read about the grounding mod, and proceeded to do a grounding kit...wham-o, no more CEL. That's my next step, as well. I'll check on his name so you can PM him, if you'd like.
annointed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2005, 08:08 PM   #20
annointed
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 5960
Join Date: Apr 2001
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Atlantic City, NJ
Vehicle:
FXT 11.6@118 93 oct
NSX 450 whp SC'd (93 oct)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by annointed
I had a very insightful exchange of IM's with a member who had the exact same PO340 issue that we seem to have. I still throw the CEL quite often, even with the new sensor I installed several thousand miles ago.

He went through hell trying everything to fix this CEL...then he read about the grounding mod, and proceeded to do a grounding kit...wham-o, no more CEL. That's my next step, as well. I'll check on his name so you can PM him, if you'd like.
Since this is resurrected, I'll follow up with the PM exhange I had with this member:

Quote:
Okay, your gonna think I'm crazy, but.....

I rewired the sensor and still had the problem. On the oscilloscope the signal looked weird. I don't even know how to explain it. It was like on and off all the time. So, I was reading on this forum and saw how people had hesitation problems and ran new 4ga grounding cables. I did the same thing and it fixed the problem! If that wouldn't have fixed the problem I was going to buy a new cam gear.



Quote:
Originally Posted by annointed
Wow, so this could be a bigger problem than I thought for making power...thank you for the update. Keep me posted.

Mark


Quote:
Originally Posted by SW00P_G
I should give you a little background. My car has thrown the cam code since it was new 1000 miles plus. It only came on when I would take off hard. The dealership replaced the sensor many times and it seemed to fix it for a couple weeks. After a while I ignored the problem, as it didn't seem to affect the way my car ran.

I now have purchased an AEM EMS and can really see what kind of problems it was causing. The signal from the cam sensor goes in and out the the range it should be. This causes a MUCH bigger problem when you try to use a standalone. AEM is having me call them today for info on what resistors to use. This is supposedly going to keep the signal within normal range. I will let you know what I find.



Quote:
Originally Posted by annointed
Quote:
Originally Posted by SW00P_G
Replacing the sensor has done no good. Still the same problem. I'm trying reisitors now.


Its strange that the new sensor seemed to cure the problem for a while, too...

Keep me posted if you discover more info.





interesting. What kind of resistor set-up are you doing?

annointed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2004, 11:10 PM   #21
Jon [in CT]
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 2992
Join Date: Nov 2000
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Connecticut, USA
Vehicle:
02 WRX Sedan
Silver

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandkicker
For those unfamiliar, the code p0340 means "Bad camshaft position sensor". Upon doing a little reading/searching it looks like this was something that early WRXs experienced and was fixed by the dealer with a reflash. I bought my WRX in May of 2001 so I would fall into this category of early WRXs.
You should confirm with Cobb whether or not this SOA fix is included in their reflash.
Jon [in CT] is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2005, 06:44 PM   #22
ryuwrx
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 26714
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bremerton, WA
Vehicle:
2002 Spec C
LUR LUR

Default

Since the quickquote didn't come up.....

Thrasher...
I threw this CEL last week when I overreved at the track. I had the code pulled on my way home, and I didn't notice any performance problems, so I just let it go to see if it would clear itself.

Sure enough, less than a week later, the CEL cleared. However, I had a good idea of why I got a CEL because it came on when I hit the rev limiter. If it just came on for seemingly no reason, I think I would have been more concerned.
ryuwrx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2005, 12:16 PM   #23
Sandkicker
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 6954
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: SLC, UT
Vehicle:
05 FXT
Pre: 02WRX, 98RS, 99RS

Default

Just figured i'd reply to this for those folks that may search in the future. I was getting this error periodically but it seemed to clear itself after a couple of days, but then would come back for no reason. It was also coming on at random times, under normal driving conditions (middle of the RPM range, no hard load, etc), so i'm not sure what was triggering it...seemed to come on more often in cold/winter weather. I think the sensor was just glitching or had just gone bad, but i picked up a new Cam Position Sensor and Crank sensor from the dealer and replaced them, no more CEL. The fix is pretty easy and quick if you've got small hands or some versatile tools/sockets. You don't need to take anything off to get to them, but one was hard for me to get to only because you have to work around the radiator hose and there's not a lot of room for hands/tools in there.

Anyway, these are easy to replace and I think it cost $40 for the both of them from the dealer.

Also, i didn't ever notice any performance difference with the CEL on.

Last edited by Sandkicker; 02-21-2005 at 12:25 PM.
Sandkicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2005, 12:06 PM   #24
Homemade WRX
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 33782
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
Vehicle:
96 3MI Racing
search FIRST, then PM!!!

Default

bump for a helpful and barried thread...thanks
Homemade WRX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2006, 05:56 PM   #25
Fuchs
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 74870
Join Date: Nov 2004
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Muskegon, MI
Vehicle:
2003 Impreza WRX
Aspen White

Default

I command theee!

RESURRECT!


Anyways...

I got my car back about a week and a half ago and just today threw this CEL Code. I'm going to try clearing it and see if it comes back but in the meantime does anyone have a picture or reference to where the sensor is for replacing it? Apparently it's easy and I'd like to be able to do it myself.

EIDT: Im also pulling P0463

Not sure if anyone has any additional information on this. I've searched and found nothing concrete but replacing both sensors in the fuel level sensor sender thingy.
Fuchs is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
ECU for MT 02 WRX that doesn't have the cam position sensor problem SW00P_G Private 'Wanted' Classifieds 3 07-30-2003 11:29 AM
Cam Position Sensor SHIELD? metoo Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) 1 01-10-2003 10:38 PM
Cam Position Sensor CEL fatray Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) 4 11-01-2002 06:11 PM
Cam Position Sensor Fix? downshift1 Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) 10 08-07-2002 04:06 PM
Help w/DTC's P0335 and P0340 Crank/Cam sensor malfunction Austin Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) 2 01-07-2002 08:41 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.