Weird problem w/ car die-ing... please help

[Joseph Dell]

Strange thing has happened recently... when the car is warmed up (not when it is starting cool), the following occurs:

1 - car won't idle. it just drops to 0 rpm and dies. I could be coming off of a highway ramp and when I reach the end of the ramp, the car will die if I take it out of gear.

2 - when I am in BETWEEN gears, the car will die. If I put the car in NEUTRAL, the RPM will drop to ZERO and the car will die.

In both cases, it starts right back up but own't idle unless I let the car cool.

It did this a few times, and never threw a code. Today, after driving for 30 minutes, when I was doing the "keep-foot-on-gas-while-using-hand-brake-to-slow-down" trick, the car threw a code: P0340 - Camshaft position Sensor A Bank 1 circuit malfunction.

Does anyone a) know what this code means b) how to fix it (I alrady cleared it), and c) could the code be related to the idle / car die-ing problem?

Thanks in advance for your help!!!!

JD

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Generic OBD II codes are written in a standardized format according to SAE J2012 guidelines. The first letter indicates the vehicle function: Body, Chassis or Powertrain. Code P0340 begins with the letter “P”, which indicates a powertrain code. The next character tells us whether it is a generic or manufacturer specific code. “0” is generic, so P0340 is a generic code. The next three characters tell us more about the problem area. In this case a “3” indicates an ignition or misfire code. The last two characters tell us what the code refers to, which is “Camshaft position sensor circuit malfunction.”

Either the wire or the sensor is damaged or failed, so the ECU isn't getting the signal. The temperature effect makes it look more like the sensor is failing. Yes, it can be what's causing your problem.

 

[Joseph Dell]

Tom -

thanks for the explaination! I had no idea!

Now... where is the darn camshaft position sensor...

JD

 

[Martin D]

Under the hood! (of your car)

Regards,

 

[Joseph Dell]

Smart-ass.

I have been messing with all things electrical in the car the past 2 weeks... this is g-d's way of punishing me. I _had_ to add a shift light... _had_ to add a new boost gauge... _had_ to add water injection... had to tighten the blower belt...

And now look!

JD

 

[Doug Supercharged Vipers]

Joe -

Call me if you need assistance!

Regards,
Doug

 

[Joseph Dell]

Cleaned all of my connections and the gremlins appear to be gone!

Took the car for a joy ride a few minutes ago and it is running perfectly. I _know_ it was something electrical, but right now, there is nothing wrong!

Thanks to all for both assistance and moral support!

JD

 

[Joseph Dell]

Gremelins are back... no idea *** is going on. I suppose I ought to replace the camshaft position sensor for starters... but it isn't easy to get to.

i've checked just about everything else...

JD

 

[txlen]

the camshaft sensor is in the front cover...jus below the water pump..i believe on the drivers side of the cover...check there...Len

 

[99 R/T 10]

JD,
Have you tried to disconnect the batt for 10 min or more. I had this on my 96, reset the computer and all is well. It was doing exactly as you described.

 

[Joseph Dell]

I hadn't tried disconnecting the battery. I'll do that today. thanks for the advice! I hope it is as simple as that...

JD

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

Last year after installing different front O2 sensors, I started setting all sorts of weird codes after a few hundred miles........misfire codes, cam position codes, others.... and the car would sometimes die. Turns out the O2's were shorting out intermittently on the aluminum cover plate right above them on each side. The engine torque had caused the grounded condition. They were slightly taller than stock and over time got bared from hitting the plate.

Steve

 

[Joseph Dell]

I am 95% certain that the problem is resolved now. Y'all won't believe what the problem was...

Turned out that the battery was in need of replacement. My original battery from 99 had been good to me thusfar, but on the advice of DLM, I pulled it out. And he was right. He was right that the original battery was close to dead... and he was also right that once the battery was replaced, the symptoms went away.

And they did.

Car is running great. No codes. No issues.

Thanks again, DLM!

JD