VW Phaeton Diesel Stalling Points to Bad Camshaft Sensor

Had the exact same symptoms on a VW Touareg V6 TDI from 2012. The check engine light came on after experiencing rough starts and stalling issues. The initial diagnosis confirmed a camshaft position sensor failure, but the actual problem went deeper. The encoder wheel on the camshaft was worn, causing incorrect ignition timing and engine misfire issues. The sensor itself was working fine, but it couldn't read the damaged encoder wheel properly. This created false readings that confused the engine management system. The repair required removing the camshaft cover and replacing both the encoder wheel and sensor as a complete unit. It was a serious issue that needed immediate attention since continued driving could have led to more severe engine damage. For your Phaeton, this could be the same underlying problem, especially given the similar symptoms. When the encoder wheel deteriorates, it typically shows these exact signs: difficult starts, stalling at idle, and sensor-related fault codes. The repair should include: Complete diagnosis of camshaft position sensor signals, Inspection of encoder wheel condition, Replacement of faulty components, System reset and timing verification Consider getting this checked soon, as ignition timing issues can lead to long-term engine damage if left unaddressed.

Thanks for the detailed explanation about the encoder wheel issue. My Phaeton had similar engine misfire problems and the car stalling got really bad. I went ahead and had both the camshaft position sensor and encoder wheel replaced based on advice from this forum. The engine control module is now reading everything correctly and the car runs perfectly again. Really glad I caught this before it caused more serious engine damage. Would you mind sharing what the total repair cost was in your case? Also curious if you had any other issues pop up since the fix? Mine was done about 2 months ago and runs great but always good to know what to watch out for.

The repair cost for my Touareg came to 695€ total, which covered both labor and parts. Since having the encoder wheel and camshaft position sensor replaced, the car has been running flawlessly. The check engine light hasnt returned and those frustrating car stalling issues are completely resolved. The crankshaft sensor readings are now perfect, confirming the engine timing is spot on. Its been over a year since the fix, and I havent experienced any related problems. The rough starts and misfires are gone, which shows how important it was to address the encoder wheel issue rather than just replacing the sensor alone. Good to hear your Phaeton is running well after the repair. These symptoms really cant be ignored, getting it fixed promptly likely saved you from more expensive engine repairs down the line.

After reading through those symptoms online, I decided to take my Phaeton to a reputable mechanic. The diagnosis confirmed what everyone here suggested, both the camshaft position sensor and encoder wheel needed replacement. The total repair came to 780€, which included a full sensor testing procedure and engine control system check. The mechanic showed me the worn encoder wheel and explained how it had been causing the erratic engine behavior. Been about 3 weeks since the fix and the car runs perfectly now. No more stalling issues, the check engine light stays off, and cold starts are smooth again. Really appreciate the advice here that helped me identify the true problem rather than just replacing the sensor alone. The peace of mind was worth the cost, knowing I prevented potential major engine damage. Will definitely keep monitoring things, but so far the repair seems to have completely resolved the issues.