I have to replace one cam sensor P0345 should i replace both

 

Just depends on if you do preventative maintenance, I would replace all 2 or 4 along with the crank sensor if it was my vehicle.

 

When those sensors start to go, is one of the symptoms stalling when coasting in neutral?


If I'm going above 40-ish, hit the clutch, and let the RPMs drop, the tach goes right by idle, the engine stalls, and the cluster lights up like a Christmas tree. This is what actually happened when I thought I had "money shifted", I was actually kind of relieved when I found I could replicate the problem, and it had done it a couple times before but I had just assumed I stalled it out somehow.


When this happens it just fires right back up again while I'm still rolling, no lights, no codes. I do have a long tube CAI drawing air from the lower bumper area. I just changed the spark plugs, PCV, and cleaned air filter, MAF twice (once before cleaning/oiling air filter and one 200 miles after).


This isn't a problem for me if it's just something going on with my intake but if it's a sign of my cam sensors going out I'm probably down on power too and just don't know it, and I don't want that or to stall out somewhere and not be able to start up again like what happens during a total sensor failure. Not that it matters much now that I'm back in Boston not driving the G, but it's never too late to think about next winter's projects I guess.... and I'm just trying to distract myself from my fluid mechanics assignment lol

 

Depending on how many miles your car has it's a good bet it's a cam sensor. Did the SES light stay on after it died? The sensors won't always throw a code when they start failing but if you have a scanner you'll likely find a code or pending code. If you need new sensors buy OEM only. Buying a generic brand might or might not work, it's a crapshoot but more often than not they won't. Our cars really don't like aftermarket sensors for whatever reason.

 

No lights, codes or pending codes after restarting, I've got a scanner and check regularly. I'm at 130k miles, would it be a good idea to just replace em all? No chance of not having issues before say 160k?

 

If you're planning on keeping your car for a while I'd replace at least the cam sensors. If you have an 05-07 5AT you have 2. If you have a 6MT you have 4. The 03-04 coupes only have 2 as well. I consider this preventative maintenance because if one or both of the sensors fail it could leave you stranded and you'll probably have to do it soon anyway.

 

In general, you should always replace in pairs. Less downtime in the future, and helps you keep track of when/if one or the other were replaced. I'd do it.

 

04 Coupe, only 2 sensors. Replacing when I do the engine mounts later in the fall, which I'm really not looking forward to as there's no tutorials and I can't even see the top bolts on either side...


BD, you said "at least" the cam sensors. Any other sensors that commonly fail that might impact performance if they're starting to wear? As far as engine goes reliability wise all I've done is change the oil regularly, clean the intake path components, catch can, and spark plugs.

 

The crankshaft position sensor has been known to fail on higher mileage cars but that's not nearly as big an issue as the cam sensors. It's extremely easy to change and at your mileage might be a worthwhile investment while you're in sensor mode.