P0369
Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Intermittent Bank 1.
- Generic
- Powertrain
- Generic code
- Medium severity
How this code is built
- P
- SystemPowertrain
- 0
- Defined bySAE, the same on every car
- 3
- AreaIgnition system or misfire
- 69
- FaultThe specific fault in that area
What it means
P0369 means the engine control unit has detected an intermittent fault in the signal from camshaft position sensor B on bank 1. The signal has dropped out, become erratic or lost correlation with the crankshaft signal at times, rather than failing completely. Which camshaft is sensor B (usually the exhaust cam) depends on the engine, so check the layout for your model.
Symptoms
- Engine cranks but occasionally starts slowly or not at all
- Intermittent misfire or rough running
- Hesitation or loss of power at random moments
- Engine cutting out or stalling then restarting
- Malfunction indicator lamp on, possibly flashing during a misfire
- Poor fuel economy
Possible causes
- Damaged, chafed or corroded wiring to the camshaft sensor B, including intermittent open circuit or shortlikely
- Loose, corroded or contaminated connector at the sensor or control unitlikely
- Failing camshaft position sensor B that drops out when hot or vibratinglikely
- Oil leakage into the sensor connector or wiring, causing poor contact or insulation breakdownpossible
- Damaged or contaminated reluctor or trigger wheel on the camshaft, or loose sensor mountingpossible
- Camshaft timing out of position due to a stretched chain or worn belt, or a faulty phasing mechanism, causing correlation errorspossible
- Low battery voltage or poor earth causing signal disturbance, or a fault in the control unitrare
How to diagnose
- Read all stored and pending codes and note the freeze frame data (engine speed, temperature, load) to see when the fault occurred
- Check for other related codes such as crankshaft sensor, misfire or cam timing codes, and deal with those in context
- Visually inspect the sensor, its connector and wiring for chafing, heat damage, oil contamination, corrosion and bent or pushed-back pins
- With the engine running, gently wiggle the harness and connector while watching live data for engine speed or cam signal dropouts
- Check the sensor is secure, the mounting is undamaged and there is no debris or metal build-up on the sensor tip
- Test the sensor supply, earth and signal wiring for continuity, short circuits and resistance against the manufacturer's specification for your model
- Inspect the trigger wheel and check cam-to-crank correlation, using an oscilloscope if available; check timing chain or belt condition if correlation is suspect
- Check battery condition and charging voltage, and the engine earth connections
How to fix
- Repair or replace damaged wiring and ensure it is properly routed and clipped away from heat and moving parts
- Clean, repair or replace corroded or damaged connectors and terminals
- Replace the camshaft position sensor B if testing shows it is faulty, using the correct part for the engine
- Fix any oil leak that is contaminating the sensor or harness, and replace the contaminated connector or harness section
- Repair or replace a damaged trigger wheel, or correct camshaft timing and worn timing components as the model requires
- Clear the code after repair and road test to confirm it does not return
Can I keep driving?
The car may be driven carefully for a short time, but it can stall or lose power without warning, which is a safety risk in traffic. Have it checked soon, and stop driving if the engine runs badly, the warning lamp flashes or it stalls repeatedly.
Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.