Amarok Engine Misfire: Bad Camshaft Sensor Alert

I had a very similar issue with my VW Tiguan 2019 gasoline model. Having some experience with basic car maintenance, I first suspected timing issues when experiencing those exact symptoms, rough idle, power loss, and misfires during cold starts. The check engine light led me to investigate the camshaft sensor area. After taking it to my regular workshop, they diagnosed a loose connection at the camshaft position sensor plug. The wiring harness had some wear, causing intermittent signal issues to the ECU. The fix was straightforward, they repaired the connection and properly secured the wiring harness. Total cost was 95€ including diagnostic time. Since the repair, the engine has been running smoothly with no more cold start issues or error codes. What diagnostic codes is your Amarok showing? Would help to know: Current mileage, Whether the check engine light is constant or flickering, If the issue gets better after the engine warms up, Any recent maintenance work done The crankshaft and camshaft sensor systems are pretty similar between our models, so this info would help determine if you are facing the same connection issue I had.

Last serviced 2 months ago. The error codes are P0340 and P0341. I checked my records and the rough idling started shortly after. The check engine light stays constant, and yes, the engine runs slightly better when warm, but the misfire is still noticeable. The engine misfire seems most pronounced during the first 5 minutes of operation. After getting several opinions, Im now convinced its likely a failing camshaft sensor causing these symptoms. I appreciate the detailed info about the wiring harness, will definitely have that checked too since its a common failure point. Before I book a workshop appointment, did your mechanic mention if there are any tests to confirm sensor failure? Want to be certain before spending money on parts and labor.

Based on those error codes P0340 and P0341, your camshaft position sensor diagnosis looks spot on. My mechanic actually performed a direct voltage test on the sensor before confirming the repair path, its worth requesting this specific test when you take it in. In my case, once they tested the wiring, they found both connection issues and a degraded sensor signal. While the harness repair helped, we ended up replacing the camshaft sensor as a preventive measure since the signal readings were borderline. The complete repair, including the new sensor and labor, came to 280€. Looking back, replacing both was the right call, no engine misfires or cold start issues since then. The repair took about 2 hours total. The symptoms you describe, especially the improved performance when warm, match exactly what I experienced. The check engine light behavior and error codes are also identical to what my Tiguan displayed. These sensors tend to act up more during cold starts because of the thermal expansion differences between components. One thing to note: make sure they clear all stored error codes after the repair. Sometimes residual codes can trigger the check engine light even after fixing the underlying issue.

Thanks for the additional info on your repair experience. Just got off the phone with my local workshop and booked an appointment for next week. They confirmed they can do the voltage testing on the automotive sensor system first, which should help pinpoint if its truly the camshaft sensor or potentially a wiring issue. The rough idling on cold starts has gotten slightly worse this week, but knowing this is a common problem with a straightforward fix is reassuring. The quoted price range matches what you mentioned, around 300€ for parts and labor if they need to replace both the sensor and repair any wiring. The timing issues during those first 5 minutes of operation are definitely the most concerning part, so getting this sorted next week will be a relief. Will update once I get the final diagnosis and repair completed. Just hoping its a simple sensor replacement like in your case and not something more complex with the timing system. The fact that both our vehicles showed such similar symptoms and error codes makes me pretty confident were dealing with the same issue.