By iCarsoft Official Store Technical Team, Automotive Diagnostics Editors · Updated September 8, 2026 · OEM technical references checked
Quick Answer
The P0346 code means camshaft position sensor a circuit range/performance bank 2. It does not prove the sensor failed, the chain jumped or software requires updating. Save the scan, identify the exact architecture, and test the physical and electrical paths before selecting a repair.
What Does the P0346 Code Mean?
P0346 means Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance Bank 2. It names a monitored result, not a guaranteed failed part. The reporting module, suffix and companion faults determine the relevant test branch.
A bank-2 camshaft signal plausibility/performance code, distinct from circuit-low/high and cam/crank correlation codes.
Electrical activity does not establish correct position information. Identify the sensor and compare its pattern with the application reference. Generic RPM data or another engine’s waveform cannot prove Bank 2 timing.
GM bulletin 08-06-01-011K (June 2016) includes P0346 on specified high-feature V6 applications and requires a mechanical camshaft-end-play investigation. Subaru 11-137-14 addresses P0341/P0346 through a narrowly scoped calibration update. Neither makes every P0346 a sensor or software fault.
GM’s mechanical investigation and Subaru’s calibration route apply to different listed vehicles. Match engine, year, calibration and symptoms before using either. The shared P0346 code does not make their repair instructions interchangeable.
Separate P0346 from adjacent fault families
| Code | General description | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| P0346 | Camshaft sensor A range/performance, Bank 2 | A signal plausibility or performance result; identify the actual sensor and engine arrangement. |
| P0341 | Camshaft sensor A range/performance, Bank 1 or single sensor | The related Bank 1/single-sensor designation is not the Bank 2 location named by P0346. |
| P0347 | Camshaft sensor A circuit low, Bank 2 | A circuit-low classification; it is not interchangeable with the broader performance record. |
| P0348 | Camshaft sensor A circuit high, Bank 2 | A circuit-high classification; neither the label nor P0346 alone proves mechanical timing damage. |
Record the complete P0346 description. The suffix, reporting module and companion faults can change the diagnostic path. Use the manufacturer's full wording and test procedure for the exact vehicle.
P0346 Symptoms and Likely Causes
P0346 symptoms depend on fault status and the fallback strategy. Record what the driver and modules reported. A symptom list is not a parts list.
Record whether the concern occurs cold, hot or after recent work. Starting behavior alone cannot identify a failed sensor, target or wire.
Save the operating conditions and related misfire or position codes. When operation is unstable, do not reproduce the symptom in traffic merely to obtain a longer data recording.
Response depends on engine strategy and accompanying faults. Compare available commanded and reported camshaft information before attributing every power-loss event to a timing failure.
A stored performance event can remain after the signal appears normal. Preserve its status and freeze frame; a smooth idle does not prove that the relevant starting or cam-control condition has been tested.
Practical cause-checking order
- Connection evidence: Poor connector retention, harness damage or disturbed installation can degrade the signal. Locate Bank 2 sensor A from the correct diagram before inspecting recent work.
- Electrical path: Supply, ground or signal-path faults can disrupt waveform quality without a simple low/high classification. Test the installed sensor type rather than assuming a universal circuit arrangement.
- Supporting condition: Oil level, oil specification and VVT operation can matter on applicable engines. Treat these as supporting checks when the architecture and other codes justify them, not proof that low oil caused every P0346 record.
- Component evidence: A sensor, reluctor/target or camshaft mechanical condition may disturb the expected signal relationship. Separate waveform quality from actual mechanical position before choosing a sensor replacement or opening the engine.
- Final decision branch: An eligible calibration concern is a distinct branch after model and software identification. A bulletin for another engine cannot replace current circuit testing or justify programming a vehicle with mechanical noise.
Did P0346 appear after recent camshaft-sensor, timing, cylinder-head, VVT or engine-harness work? Recheck the documented connections, parts and setup steps affected by that work. Record battery and software history; a post-repair code does not prove the new part is defective.
How Serious Is P0346, and Can You Drive?
Arrange prompt diagnosis. Do not keep cranking or driving when a timing problem is suspected; severe noise, stalling or oil-pressure warnings require stopping and professional assessment.
Record temperature, load, speed, start state and recent service. Do not reproduce a severe symptom on public roads; another warning can make the situation more urgent.
Stop and arrange a tow if severe rattling, oil-pressure warnings, repeated stalling, hard mechanical knocking or major power loss occurs.
Keep leads away from belts, pulleys and automatic fans. Do not remove timing covers or reach near moving components while the engine runs. If mechanical timing damage is suspected, stop cranking until the approved inspection establishes whether rotation is safe.
How to Diagnose P0346 in the Right Order
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Preserve the starting and position-signal evidence
Save the complete scan and available freeze frame before clearing P0346. Record starting behavior, roughness, noise and recent timing or sensor work. Preserve related crankshaft, VVT, correlation, voltage and misfire records, since the sequence and combination can change which signal or mechanical check comes first.
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Locate Bank 2 sensor A on the exact engine
Use the engine-specific diagram to identify Bank 2 and sensor A. Confirm the sensor technology, target arrangement and applicable diagnostic procedure. Do not locate the part solely from an online bank diagram or assume that A has the same physical meaning across every engine configuration.
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Inspect installation and the signal route
With the engine secured and cooled as required, inspect the connector, retaining hardware, harness routing and visible installation issues. Check whether the correct part was fitted and whether wiring was trapped during recent work. Note relevant oil-level or specification concerns separately from a proven sensor-circuit defect.
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Establish electrical and waveform integrity
Test the documented sensor supplies, grounds and signal using equipment suitable for that design. Compare the waveform and, where required, its relationship to the crank signal with a correct known-good reference. A clean-looking trace or a plausible scan parameter alone is not enough to establish proper timing.
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Separate mechanical and eligible calibration branches
If electrical evidence is credible, follow the indicated target, camshaft end-play, mechanical timing or VVT inspection. Consider calibration only after confirming the exact bulletin and software applicability. A published software remedy does not exclude a real hardware fault.
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Verify the repaired position signal and monitor
Complete the proven repair and all required installation, timing or setup checks. Verify starting and stable operation, then repeat the relevant monitor conditions safely. Preserve post-repair waveform or data evidence and recheck companion faults; a cleared warning or one smooth idle does not demonstrate that every performance condition passed.
Specifications are vehicle-specific. There is no universal voltage, resistance, current, pressure, waveform, timing, temperature, percentage, learned value or drive cycle for P0346. Test state, connector location and system design change what a valid value means. Use only specifications for the exact VIN and do not transfer the OEM example in this article to another application.
P0346 Repairs and Typical Costs
The correct P0346 repair follows the failed test. Wiring, a physical repair, a proven component, software and controller work are different outcomes. Do not replace an assembly from the generic code alone.
After installation, recheck connector seating, harness clearance, fluid or mechanical setup and every required learn. Confirm seating, part identity and connectors after repair. Mechanical or VVT work also requires its specified timing and oil-system checks. One successful start may not exercise the original performance condition.
| Possible path | Current US estimate |
|---|---|
| Repair a demonstrated Bank 2 sensor A connector or signal-path defect | VIN-specific quote |
| Replace a sensor only after its application-specific tests support failure | VIN-specific quote |
| Correct verified target, timing, camshaft or VVT mechanical conditions | VIN-specific quote |
| Apply a confirmed vehicle-eligible calibration remedy after prerequisite checks | VIN-specific quote |
There is no single national P0346 repair price because these rows are alternative outcomes. Ask for an itemized estimate showing diagnostic time, parts, labor, fluids, service-information access and verification. Location, taxes, related damage and warranty eligibility change the total. Do not add the rows together or authorize an assembly without the supporting failed test.
Using iCarsoft CR Eagle P for P0346
On a supported vehicle, iCarsoft CR Eagle P can retrieve accessible module faults, save available freeze frame, display ECU-provided live data and create a diagnostic report. For P0346, preserve the original evidence and compare related modules before clearing an erasable record.
Preserve the Bank 2 camshaft signal evidence
iCarsoft CR Eagle P
Review supported codes and relevant live data together. Confirm the exact VIN, controller access, PIDs and any requested active test with iCarsoft before purchase; generic product capabilities do not guarantee a P0346-specific function.
Check current CR Eagle P price and availabilityCheck CR Eagle P compatibility by VINThe official product page describes full-system diagnostics, available freeze frame and live data, and supported bidirectional tests and ECU coding; availability varies with the vehicle, ECU and software. Confirm the requested function by VIN before purchase. Follow OEM prerequisites and stop for abnormal operation.
Know the measurement boundary. The scanner reports information supplied by the vehicle. It does not directly prove terminal tension, circuit load capacity, leakage, pressure, temperature, mechanical travel or internal condition in the Bank 2 camshaft signal. It also cannot replace a suitable oscilloscope, the correct sensor-circuit test equipment and any specified mechanical timing tools when the OEM procedure requires them. Interpret commanded and reported values alongside measured evidence.
Verify the P0346 Repair
After repair, verify connectors, harness clearance, setup and controller supply. Save post-repair findings, then clear only erasable records through the approved procedure. Battery disconnection is not a repair.
Run the manufacturer's applicable verification conditions in a safe workshop or route. Compare the original operating state with current data for the Bank 2 camshaft signal, and check current and pending faults in related modules. One clean start or idle period does not prove that every conditional monitor has completed.
If P0346 returns, compare its suffix, status, failure order and operating conditions with the saved baseline before replacing another part. Revisit the failed branch and inspect anything disturbed. Keep mechanical repair, monitor completion, readiness and local inspection eligibility as separate outcomes.
A permanent P0346 can remain immediately after a successful repair. If the vehicle stores it as a permanent DTC, a scan tool or battery disconnect cannot erase it. Once current and pending faults are absent, the OBD system removes the permanent record only after the applicable monitor reruns and passes.
Related Bank 2 Camshaft Signal Code Guides
P0346 Frequently Asked Questions
Does P0346 mean the named component is bad?
No. P0346 describes camshaft position sensor a circuit range/performance bank 2, not a confirmed part. It also does not prove the sensor failed, the chain jumped or software requires updating. Test accessible wiring, supplies, grounds and supporting physical conditions, then follow the exact monitor tree. Replace a component only when its branch fails or an applicable OEM action specifically supports it.
What should I check first for P0346?
Save every module's codes and freeze frame before clearing. Confirm the full definition, suffix and VIN architecture. Then inspect recent camshaft-sensor, timing, cylinder-head, VVT or engine-harness work, connectors and shared supplies. Those facts determine whether the next test needs a suitable oscilloscope, the correct sensor-circuit test equipment and any specified mechanical timing tools or a manufacturer-specific functional procedure.
Can I drive with the P0346 code?
Arrange prompt diagnosis. Do not keep cranking or driving when a timing problem is suspected; severe noise, stalling or oil-pressure warnings require stopping and professional assessment.
Why did P0346 return after a part was replaced?
A new sensor leaves target damage, camshaft movement, wiring and calibration concerns unresolved. Reassess the returning event with waveform evidence. Neither another sensor nor a timing set is justified without a failed test.
What should a P0346 repair estimate include?
A VIN-specific estimate is required because diagnosis may lead to wiring, a supporting physical repair, a verified component, software or a controller. Ask which failed test supports the quote and whether diagnosis, taxes, setup and post-repair verification are included.
Can CR Eagle P diagnose and clear P0346?
On a supported vehicle, CR Eagle P can organize available faults, freeze frame, live data and reports, and can clear erasable records after repair. Confirm exact ECU coverage. It cannot force-clear a permanent DTC or replace physical measurements for the Bank 2 camshaft signal.
The iCarsoft Official Store Technical Team maintains the store's fault-code library. This guide organizes published manufacturer evidence and verified product information; it does not document a hands-on test of a particular vehicle or claim an individual engineer's review.
Technical and cost references
- Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) List. Generic DTC definition only; not vehicle-specific test limits or repair verdict.
- GM 08-06-01-011K: MIL and camshaft/VVT DTCs; check camshaft end play. Specified 2.8L/3.6L high-feature V6 mechanical inspection route; not universal end-play specifications.
- Subaru 11-137-14: Reprogramming File Availability for DTCs P0341 and P0346. Specified 2013 Forester Turbo and 2013–2014 WRX/STI calibration applicability.
- California Bureau of Automotive Repair — On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference. Permanent DTCs are removed by the vehicle after applicable verification, not by a scan-tool erase command.
Product information: Official iCarsoft CR Eagle P page.
Editorial note: General diagnostic education, not a substitute for the owner's manual, current VIN-specific service information or professional inspection. Test limits, procedures, coverage and costs vary. Related articles provide context; apply only the specifications and repair procedures that match the vehicle. No universal failure rate, repair price or outcome is implied.
