Summary
P0341 means the camshaft position sensor (CMP) is sending a signal, but the signal is outside the expected range or does not correlate properly with the crankshaft position sensor. The most common causes are a failing CMP sensor producing an erratic signal (40%), a stretched or jumped timing chain/belt (20%), and damaged wiring causing signal distortion (15%). Unlike P0340 (no signal), P0341 indicates a marginal or intermittent problem.
Severity: High — engine may stall or fail to start
Safe to drive: No — stalling risk; diagnose before driving
Repair cost: $20–$400 depending on cause
DIY difficulty: Easy to Moderate
What does P0341 mean?
The camshaft position sensor generates a signal that the PCM uses to synchronize fuel injection and ignition timing. P0341 is set when the PCM receives a CMP signal but it falls outside the expected frequency, amplitude, or phase relationship with the crankshaft position sensor.
This code indicates a signal quality problem rather than a complete signal loss (which would be P0340). The CMP sensor may be producing a weak signal, an intermittent signal, or a signal that does not match the crankshaft sensor's timing as expected. The PCM may be able to compensate for brief dropouts, but sets the code when the problem persists.
The symptoms can range from occasional rough running to hard starting to no-start conditions. Because the signal is intermittent rather than absent, the engine may run fine most of the time and only act up under specific conditions — typically during cranking, at certain RPMs, or when the engine is at a specific temperature.