P0341 and no start

[Cattletrkr]

Truck didn't want to start this morning. No fire (well 1 or 2), just a lot of cranking. If it would have been -20*F I know I wouldn't have had enough battery. Went in and grabbed the Smarty, no code. Cranked a while longer and heard the ding. This time P0341--camshaft position sensor signal. It was dark so I could see what there was for smoke if any. Finally it fired a couple times and stumbled to a start. I shut it off 'casue it was too rough. Tried again and kept it running. Cleared the code and it's been fine all day. I have had a rough idle the last couple days. It does that in the winter, has for a couple years.

Is this common?

 

[steved]

Mine's always rough on a cold morning... even with new injectors.

I've gotten a Crank Position Sensor code before, basically the rough shut-down with the key on must cause the computer to get all confused... mine happened when the wife stalled it while learning a manual.

I take it you weren't plugged in?

steved

 

[DGerth]

Mine, 01 2500, threw the same code about two months ago so I had a brain ----- and since the sensor is not critical, diagnostic only so I'm told, I figured I'd unplug same, Wrong! No start! plugged it back in, Start.

I changed it out. Runs fine now. Hope this helps,

dg

 

[Cattletrkr]

Mine's always rough on a cold morning... even with new injectors.

The rough start is nothing new, but this was more like running (barely) on 2 cynlinders rough rather than just a cold engine.

I've gotten a Crank Position Sensor code before, basically the rough shut-down with the key on must cause the computer to get all confused... mine happened when the wife stalled it while learning a manual.

Smarty said Camshaft sensor signal...

I take it you weren't plugged in?

You would be wrong then. Plugged in and the turnover rate was fine, fast actually, just no fire.

 

[steved]

Then I'd be looking hard at that sensor...

I never get a rough cold idle if I'm plugged in...

Ohh, and IIRC, while they look at different things, the Camshaft and Crank sensors are identical... I would expect them to cause the computer to react the same way. That was why I said that... you COULD possibly have something else wrong that caused the ECM to kick that code...

steved

 

[Cattletrkr]

I'm a little stupid at times. Yesterday morning it was 32*F ABOVE so I wasn't plugged in. However 32*F above should not give any trouble. It wasn't like it spit and sputtered, just plain old no fire.

The sensors are identical??? Sweet!! I still have my factory crank sensor in the shop desk drawer... rokktech in truck. Can I just use that?

Today was normal although it ran rough like it always does when the weather is changing. How much is it changing you ask?? Yesterday I saw 45* on the overhead, tonigh I saw -13*. Truck is plugged in tonight.

 

[steved]

Might want to check, but I seem to remember those being the same sensor, just a different location?

steved

 

[ColoradoKing]

Be interesting to find out if they are the same sensors. I plug in pretty much every night, except when skiing. I got the same P0341 code on two or three occasions when it was really cold (-12 or so) but it still fired. Rough idle for 15 or 20 seconds, but cleared up. Lot's of blue smoke until all cylinders grabbed. Dealer was useless, but in the end I believe it had something to do with the crank sensor being exposed and subject to the elements. Perhaps it needs time to warm up before the hall-effect sensor can read properly?

 

[Cattletrkr]

Did it again about an hour ago. -20*F overnight, -14* at time of "start". Plugged in since I got hokme last night, plugged in hot. Same thing, crank crank crank godawful rough for a couple minutes. i don't have much work the rest of the week so it's going in the shop tomorrow. Can't do it today 'cause the loader tractor has to sit outside then and when it's this cold, it won't start even being plugged in the whole time.

time to search for camshaft sensor...