P0369
Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1)P0369 is a generic OBD-II powertrain diagnostic trouble code: Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1). It is logged by the engine control unit when the ckp/cmp monitor detects that a specific fault threshold has been exceeded — typically resulting in the malfunction-indicator lamp (MIL / check-engine light) being illuminated.
What P0369 means
P0369 — "Camshaft Position Sensor \"B\" Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1)" — is stored when the PCM detects that the CMP \"B\" signal on Bank 1 is dropping out or behaving erratically at irregular intervals rather than failing continuously. The signal may be present and correct for several cam revolutions and then disappear or shift to an incorrect level for a few cycles before recovering. Because the fault is not consistently present, the PCM may log the code as a pending code first and promote it to a confirmed DTC after a set number of fault events accumulate within a drive cycle.
Intermittent CMP codes are among the more challenging to diagnose because the fault will often not be present when the technician connects a scan tool. The root causes are typically mechanical or thermal: a connector that passes current at room temperature but loses contact when the engine bay heats up, a wiring harness that intermittently chafes against a moving component, a sensor that is beginning to fail with its output becoming marginally unreliable, or a cam reluctor ring with one or two damaged teeth that produces a dropout once per revolution at certain speeds.
Engine symptoms may come and go in parallel with the dropout events — brief stumbles, a momentary misfire sensation, or a VVT lurch that the driver notices as an unexpected torque change. In many cases the MIL may illuminate, extinguish, and re-illuminate across multiple drive cycles as the fault crosses the threshold intermittently.
Common causes
Most-frequently reported root causes when P0369 is logged.
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1
Partially corroded or loosely seated CMP \"B\" connector that loses contact when thermally expanded or vibrating.
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2
Chafed or cracked signal wire insulation that creates an intermittent short to ground or open circuit during engine movement.
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3
Marginal or beginning-to-fail CMP \"B\" sensor with degraded internal signal output that becomes unreliable under heat or vibration.
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4
One or more damaged, worn, or missing teeth on the cam reluctor ring, causing a recurring signal dropout once per cam revolution.
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5
High-resistance splice or repair in the signal circuit that causes dropouts under thermal expansion.
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6
Excessive air gap between the sensor tip and the reluctor ring due to sensor mounting wear or looseness.
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7
Oil or debris contamination on the sensor face reducing magnetic field coupling and causing intermittent signal loss.
Symptoms drivers notice
How to diagnose P0369
A typical diagnostic flow when this code is present.
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1
Connect a scan tool and check for stored and pending codes; P0369 stored alongside a P0300 misfire or VVT code strengthens the case for a reluctor ring or sensor issue.
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2
Perform a thorough visual inspection of the CMP \"B\" sensor wiring harness, looking for chafing points near the valve cover, cam timing cover, or engine mounts where the harness may flex during running.
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3
Wiggle-test the sensor connector and harness while monitoring the CMP signal on a scan tool live data screen; a dropout during wiggling pinpoints a connector or wiring fault.
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4
Perform a road-test or extended idle while monitoring the CMP \"B\" PID; intermittent faults often appear after the engine reaches full operating temperature as connectors and solder joints expand.
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5
Inspect the sensor mounting for looseness and the air gap between sensor tip and reluctor ring; compare with OEM specification.
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6
If connector and harness checks are inconclusive, remove the sensor and inspect the reluctor ring through the bore for chipped, worn, or missing teeth.
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7
Replace the sensor if it is original and high-mileage, even if the sensor itself tests within range — an aging Hall-effect sensor can produce intermittent signal degradation that bench tests do not reveal.
Related powertrain codes
- P000A — A Camshaft Position Slow Response Bank 1
- P000B — B Camshaft Position Slow Response Bank 1
- P000C — A Camshaft Position Slow Response Bank 2
- P000D — B Camshaft Position Slow Response Bank 2
- P0010 — A Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1)
- P0011 — A Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)
Frequently asked questions
Why does P0369 appear and disappear on its own?
Intermittent faults are typically heat- or vibration-dependent. The connection or sensor may function adequately when cold and fail after the engine bay reaches full operating temperature, then appear to recover as it cools between trips. The PCM uses a counter-based logic and may set the MIL only after a threshold number of fault events, so the light cycling on and off reflects the fault crossing and clearing that threshold.
Can P0369 be caused by a worn timing chain?
Indirectly. A stretched timing chain causes the cam to run slightly retarded relative to crank position. This in itself does not produce an intermittent signal — it would more likely set a P0014 cam over-retarded code. However, if the chain stretch is severe enough that the cam position oscillates back and forth past the CMP sensor's plausibility window, erratic signal behaviour becomes possible.
How many fault events does it take to confirm P0369?
The exact trip and event count is manufacturer-calibration-dependent. Most PCMs require the dropout or erratic condition to be detected a minimum number of times within a single drive cycle before storing a confirmed code. Pending codes appear sooner and give a useful early warning before the MIL lights.
Should I replace the sensor even if it tests fine on the bench?
If wiring and connectors are confirmed good and the code is persistent across multiple drive cycles, replacing the sensor is reasonable — especially on higher-mileage vehicles. Hall-effect sensors can degrade in a way that is only apparent under the thermal and vibration load of an installed, running engine.
Disabling P0369 in software
RaceTune can permanently disable P0369 — and any other OBD-II diagnostic trouble code — on every ECU family we support. The monitor is disabled inside the ECU itself, so the fault stops being logged: the warning light stays off and the engine never enters limp mode for this code. The change is tied to your exact software version.
Software modifications affect emissions compliance and are not road-legal in many jurisdictions. RaceTune service files are intended for motorsport, off-road, and export use.
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