Camshaft position sensor P0346 Help!

Huskerbob · 05-04-2012, 08:16 AM

I need some help in a hurry please. Driving today 2001 A6 2.8l 30 valve. Heard a bit of a clink and the engine quit. I was close to home so I went and got my code reader. The only code is P0346, Camshaft position sensor. The engine cranks but very slowly and will not start. There does not seem to be any clunking noises or banging. I recently did the timing belt, alternator, water pump, thermostat, timing belt tensioner etc. with a kit from Blauparts. Have about 2,000 since that work. I guess my question is what would be a good first step? Is it likely to be the sensor or like I have read the belt tensioner? Any help would be appreciated.

Huskerbob · 05-04-2012, 09:01 AM

I'm seeing everything from a bad timing belt tensioner, new, to low battery voltage, 12v, and broken wires at bank 2 cam sensor. New battery first and see what happens.

SchwarzS6 · 05-04-2012, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huskerbob

I need some help in a hurry please. Driving today 2001 A6 2.8l 30 valve. Heard a bit of a clink and the engine quit. I was close to home so I went and got my code reader. The only code is P0346, Camshaft position sensor. The engine cranks but very slowly and will not start. There does not seem to be any clunking noises or banging. I recently did the timing belt, alternator, water pump, thermostat, timing belt tensioner etc. with a kit from Blauparts. Have about 2,000 since that work. I guess my question is what would be a good first step? Is it likely to be the sensor or like I have read the belt tensioner? Any help would be appreciated.

If the 2.8 30V is like the Audi engines from the mid '90's the cam position sensor is only needed at startup to determine engine/cam locations, once the ECU gets that information and the car starts the cam position sensor is no longer needed. If it failed while the engine was running it would continue to run just fine until you shut it off and then it would not start. The fact that your car died while running seems to indicate you have a different problem. The clink before the engine quits and the fact that you recently did the timing belt is a little frightening. I hope you did not slip timing and bend a valve(s).

Huskerbob · 05-04-2012, 10:07 AM

way to bum me out man. Do you think I should go to service position and see if anything looks out of place or ??

Huskerbob · 05-04-2012, 11:50 AM

timing belt is loose and SHREDDED. It looks like the cams and crank are still lined up so maybe I didn't crash the valves.

SchwarzS6 · 05-04-2012, 03:05 PM

I hope you are lucky. I had that same thing happen to my 2.8 12V because the timing belt was changed but the tensioner and water pump were not. The tensioner failed and one day on the way to work the engine just died. The dealer told me the valves were bent. I had the car towed to my house, I pulled the heads and the valves were perfect. I should have just put on a new belt/tensioner and tested the compression.

Good Luck.

Huskerbob · 05-04-2012, 04:51 PM

Sorry I'm in the wrong forum but anyway, got the new belt and tensioner plus both pulleys ordered and will get to work next Tuesday when they arrive. I suspect that the tensioner failed. The belt has about an inch of play so no tension. Thanks for the advice.

SchwarzS6 · 05-05-2012, 10:59 AM

A tensioner should not fail in 2000 miles unless it was faulty to begin with. I take photos and if you find a failed tensioner make sure you go to Blauparts and let them know. Maybe you can get them to cover some of the repair cost.

Huskerbob · 05-05-2012, 11:42 AM

My thoughts exactly. I ordered enough parts to do the job and will make sure I take plenty of photos. I can turn the tensioner pulley by hand with no resistance. There are belt shreds all over the place. I got the crank TDC mark lined up and my cams are off by about 1/4 inch from vertical. I had nail polish marks on them from the work about 2 months ago and they are at about the eleven o'clock position when the TDC mark on the crank is lined up. Gosh I hope we didn't bend any important valves or anything. HAH!

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05-04-2012, 09:01 AM	#2
Huskerbob AudiWorld Senior Member 2000 Audi A4 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 817	I'm seeing everything from a bad timing belt tensioner, new, to low battery voltage, 12v, and broken wires at bank 2 cam sensor. New battery first and see what happens.

05-04-2012, 10:07 AM	#4
Huskerbob AudiWorld Senior Member 2000 Audi A4 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 817	way to bum me out man. Do you think I should go to service position and see if anything looks out of place or ??

05-04-2012, 11:50 AM	#5
Huskerbob AudiWorld Senior Member 2000 Audi A4 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 817	timing belt is loose and SHREDDED. It looks like the cams and crank are still lined up so maybe I didn't crash the valves.

05-04-2012, 03:05 PM	#6
SchwarzS6 AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,032	I hope you are lucky. I had that same thing happen to my 2.8 12V because the timing belt was changed but the tensioner and water pump were not. The tensioner failed and one day on the way to work the engine just died. The dealer told me the valves were bent. I had the car towed to my house, I pulled the heads and the valves were perfect. I should have just put on a new belt/tensioner and tested the compression. Good Luck.

05-04-2012, 04:51 PM	#7
Huskerbob AudiWorld Senior Member 2000 Audi A4 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 817	Sorry I'm in the wrong forum but anyway, got the new belt and tensioner plus both pulleys ordered and will get to work next Tuesday when they arrive. I suspect that the tensioner failed. The belt has about an inch of play so no tension. Thanks for the advice.

05-05-2012, 10:59 AM	#8
SchwarzS6 AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,032	A tensioner should not fail in 2000 miles unless it was faulty to begin with. I take photos and if you find a failed tensioner make sure you go to Blauparts and let them know. Maybe you can get them to cover some of the repair cost.

05-05-2012, 11:42 AM	#9
Huskerbob AudiWorld Senior Member 2000 Audi A4 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 817	My thoughts exactly. I ordered enough parts to do the job and will make sure I take plenty of photos. I can turn the tensioner pulley by hand with no resistance. There are belt shreds all over the place. I got the crank TDC mark lined up and my cams are off by about 1/4 inch from vertical. I had nail polish marks on them from the work about 2 months ago and they are at about the eleven o'clock position when the TDC mark on the crank is lined up. Gosh I hope we didn't bend any important valves or anything. HAH!