VW Virtus Stalling: Faulty Camshaft Sensor Alert

Had nearly identical symptoms on a 2016 VW Jetta TSI. The engine control unit was reporting camshaft position sensor faults, causing the car stalling and rough idle issues. After inspection, the root cause was a damaged encoder wheel on the exhaust camshaft. The encoder wheel teeth were worn, preventing the camshaft sensor from getting accurate position readings. This caused engine misfires and stalling, especially during cold starts. The problem progressively got worse over several weeks. This required removing the valve cover to access and replace both the encoder wheel and camshaft sensor. It was a serious repair that needed specialized tools and proper timing validation afterward. The car ran perfectly after the fix. Based on those symptoms, hard starting, stalling at idle, persistent check engine light, it strongly points to a similar camshaft position sensor or encoder wheel issue. Getting it diagnosed properly is important since incorrect camshaft timing can potentially cause engine damage if left unaddressed. Ask the mechanic specifically to check the encoder wheel condition when they inspect the camshaft sensor area. The diagnostic scan should show specific timing-related fault codes to confirm this.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the camshaft sensor problem. My symptoms matched what you described exactly. Going to have it checked this week. Would you mind sharing how much you ended up paying for the full repair? Also, has the fix held up well since then? Dealing with ignition timing issues can be tricky, and I want to make sure I budget properly and pick a shop that can properly test the crankshaft sensor and related components as well, just to rule everything out. My VW has been super reliable until now, so hoping this is just a one-off repair.

Thanks for asking about the repair costs. Just had it fixed last month, total came to 695€ for replacing both the encoder wheel and camshaft position sensor. The mechanic confirmed it was indeed a faulty encoder wheel causing the sensor failure, exactly like I suspected. Car runs perfectly now, no more hard starts, stalling, or check engine lights. The ignition timing is spot on since the repair. Though it was a significant repair cost, having a properly functioning camshaft position sensor and encoder wheel is crucial for the engine control system. Smart thinking about wanting the crankshaft sensor checked too. The shop actually tested all related components during diagnosis to ensure there were no other timing issues. Would definitely recommend having them do a complete timing system check while they are in there. These VWs are generally reliable, but camshaft sensor issues can pop up around your mileage. Once fixed properly, it should give you no further problems. My car has been running great with zero issues since the repair.

Update on my VW situation, took it to a certified shop yesterday and got it diagnosed. Just as suspected, the camshaft sensor was failing along with a worn encoder wheel. Total repair came to 720€, slightly more than yours but included a full timing system inspection. The mechanic walked me through everything and showed me the worn encoder wheel, definitely needed replacement. They also checked the crankshaft sensor while doing the work, which thankfully was fine. Car runs like new now. No more stalling, rough starts, or check engine light warnings. The engine control system is working perfectly again. Such a relief to have this fixed properly instead of trying cheaper temporary solutions. Really appreciate the detailed advice, helped me understand the issue and know what to expect at the shop. Now I can get back to enjoying my reliable VW without worrying about engine misfires or sensor failures.