VW Crafter Stalling Issues Point to Bad Cam Sensor

I had a very similar issue with my 2006 VW Transporter 2.5 TDI. Having some experience with diesel engines and sensor testing, the symptoms you describe sound exactly like what I encountered. The car would stall out of nowhere at idle, especially when warm, and starting became increasingly difficult. After initial sensor testing at my regular workshop, they discovered the encoder wheel on the camshafts was defective, which was causing the camshaft position sensor to receive incorrect signals. The total repair came to 695€, which included: Diagnostic testing, Replacement of the encoder wheel, Labor costs, New camshaft sensor as a preventive measure Since the repair, the car stalling issues completely disappeared and the check engine light never came back on. The workshop explained that camshaft sensor failure often occurs due to worn encoder wheels rather than the sensor itself being faulty. To provide more specific advice about your case, could you share: Current mileage on your Crafter, When the symptoms first appeared, Whether the stalling happens more frequently when the engine is cold or warm, Any diagnostic codes you might have pulled This would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced and could save you time and money in the diagnostic process.

Last service was at 160000KM and I am currently at 165037KM. The stalling issues started about 2 weeks ago, and I have noticed some engine misfires during cold starts. After checking the codes with a basic scanner, it showed P0340 which points to a camshaft position sensor problem. The ignition timing seems inconsistent, especially when the engine is warming up. The engine stalling mostly occurs during the first 5-10 minutes of operation, and the problem improves once the engine reaches normal operating temperature. The check engine light started flickering intermittently before staying on permanently. Based on your feedback about the encoder wheel, I will have the workshop check both components. The symptoms match exactly what you described, particularly the sensor failure pattern during cold starts.

Your description of cold-start issues and the P0340 code matches my experience exactly. In my case, the engine control module was getting incorrect signals about camshaft position, leading to similar ignition timing problems during warm-up. After my repair, I learned these symptoms often show up between 150000-170000KM on these engines. The combination of engine misfire during cold starts and the specific P0340 code strongly suggests the encoder wheel degradation I encountered. The crankshaft sensor readings on my vehicle were fine, but the erratic camshaft position signals caused the engine control unit to miscalculate timing. This explains why the problem improved after warm-up in both our cases. A tip from my experience: have them check the wiring harness connecting to the sensor while they're in there. My mechanic found minor insulation wear that could have caused issues later. The repair resolved all issues: No more cold start problems, Stable idle, Check engine light stayed off, Consistent ignition timing, Smooth acceleration Total repair time was about 4 hours including diagnostics. Costs should be similar to what I paid unless parts prices have changed significantly.

Based on the previous conversation, I strongly suspect I have the same encoder wheel issue you encountered. The matching symptoms and timing are too similar to ignore, especially with the P0340 code confirming a camshaft sensor circuit problem. I have scheduled a workshop visit for next week and will definitely have them inspect both the encoder wheel and camshaft sensor. The fact that my issues match the common failure pattern at 165000KM, plus the similar cold-start problems and engine misfire symptoms, makes me confident this is the root cause. Your mention of checking the wiring harness is particularly helpful. I will make sure they inspect that as well during the repair. The quoted repair cost seems reasonable considering the work involved. The consistent pattern of engine control issues during cold starts, followed by improved performance after warm-up, really validates your experience. I appreciate the detailed breakdown of how the sensor testing and repair process went. Will update once the work is completed, but I am now much more confident about the repair direction.