PO 0341

In the last 3 weeks I have replaced an internally defective AC Delco wire and a coil. As soon as I stepped on the gas the car had a dead miss. 2 days later the SES light was going on and off randomly PO 0341 (cam position sensor circuit out of range). I had it replaced with the AC Delco unit. One day later the P0341 is back steady.
The car is not stalling now thankfully. Randomly it will feel like it wants to cut out for A second, especially after I put the car in reverse. I really enjoy driving this car but I'm ready to set it on fire and buy a Honda. I read that a magnet can fall off a sprocket and which is a major job, I really hope it's not that. After doing some reading on here I'm going to have my guy shake the ignition switch.
The car has more power and runs strong, but I would like to get the light off And I feel a rough idle. Any other help would be appreciated.
1999 s/c 85k.

FWIW, I've got 12,000 miles more than you and my magnet hasn't fallen off yet.

Did changing the ignition switch help?

My guy went on vacation and is coming back Tuesday so I'll know this week. Thank you for asking.

Any update on clearing the code? My friend is looking at this neat '98 Riv but also throwing P0341 code. We'll just finish installing the suspension and tis wheels on the truck before we can take a closer look.

Hi Bryan (& Jarred,)

While you haven't mentioned Traction Control problems (lower in this list) I may be able to help you with a diagnostic from my OEM GM SPO eSI Techline manual... Looking up that code, and considering your ignition wire/coil experience, I submit the following (especially becuz I didn't know about the ICM feeding data back to the PCM!)

"The camshaft position PCM input is produced by the ignition control module. The ICM produces the camshaft position PCM input by filtering the camshaft position (CMP) sensor pulses when the engine is running and CKP sync pulses are also being received. The PCM uses the camshaft position PCM input pulses to initiate sequential fuel injection and to determine crankshaft position for the misfire diagnostic. The PCM constantly monitors the number of pulses on the camshaft position PCM input circuit and compares the number of camshaft position PCM input pulses to the number of 18X reference pulses and the number of 3X reference pulses being received. If the PCM receives an incorrect number of pulses on the camshaft position PCM input circuit, DTC P0341 will set and the PCM will initiate injector sequence without the camshaft position PCM input with a one in six chance that injector sequence is correct. The engine will continue to start and run normally, although the misfire diagnostic will be disabled."

"Conditions for Setting the DTC
The engine is running (3X reference pulses are being received).
The ratio of 3X reference pulses to Cam pulses received by the PCM does not equal 6.
The ratio of 3X reference pulses to 18X reference pulses received by the PCM equals 6.
The above conditions are present for 600 engine revolutions."

"Action Taken When the DTC Sets:
The PCM will illuminate the MIL during the second consecutive trip cycle in which the diagnostic test has been run and failed.
The PCM will initiate injector sequence without the camshaft position signal with a one in six chance that injector sequence is correct.
If equipped with traction control, the PCM will command the EBTCM via serial data (CKT 800) to set an ABS/TCS DTC, the EBTCM will turn OFF traction control, and the EBTCM will illuminate the TRACTION OFF lamp.

Good Luck,
Mark

Last week my mechanic check the voltage of all the wires and found no problems. He said He rescued them and told me to try it. Throw the car 450 miles last weekend. The light returned two blocks from my house on the return trip. It's been a tiring 3 year Odyssey to turn this car into a nice car. Yesterday I was ready to drive it into a wall.

I have known that feeling. I'm going to end up overhauling the entire suspension to find one clunk, and who knows, it may end up being something else that worked loose. I was surprised to find the trunk lid was badly out of adjustment.

I'm not ready to switch to Honda though! I doubt the grass gets any greener than 90s Buick.

16 or 17 accord coupe V6. With all the money I'm putting into this piece of junk I can just have a payment.

carguy8888 wrote:

Last week my mechanic check the voltage of all the wires and found no problems. He said  He rescued them and told me to try it. Throw the car 450 miles last weekend.  The light returned  two blocks from my house on the return trip.  It's been a tiring 3 year Odyssey to turn this car into a nice car. Yesterday I was ready to drive it into a wall.

I'd be unhappy but not freaking out.  P0341 is likely...

- the cam sensor (driveway replacement item, a little fiddly to R&R but not diff)
- the ig module (they go from the heat and cgrounding issues, check the coils though
- wiring to the ig module (this is the toughie - we're talking broken-wire-inside-insulation crap.  Tedious, but yes again, no lift required)

There's a lot of stuff involved with affecting timing somewhat and it could be you're overdue for major maintenance. By that I mean new plugs, rebuilt injectors, new wires, maybe coils [MAKE SURE THEY MATCH when you ohm them out], clean or replace MAF sensor, new fuel filter (seriously UNlikely to be a problem with modern gas), repl PCV (also unlikely but mad cheap so it you've got an old one just replace it).

What did your mech try?

Ty Albert,
New A C Delco cam sensor 41-101 iridium plugs, Delphi wires, AC Delco wire developed a short after three months, pcv valve, one bad coil, cleaned tb and
egr and the lim. My guy checked all of the wires.  I'm just frustrated because I've been putting  money into this car for 3 years since I bought it. It does run and ride nice though.

Between Albert's input & my factory e-manual info, I should think that replacing the ICM should be just about the last item on the list...

I'm not planning to replace that unless it's definitely bad.  I did forget to add that the maf was cleaned and the fuel filter was changed. I'll probably wait for it to become worse so hopefully the problem will be easy to detect.  I was told that code will not leave me stuck and the car is not stalling anymore.

Well, I can only repeat what I said when I quoted the FSM for you, I didn't know that the cam sensor did not report directly to the computer.  I know it's about $150 for a Standard Motor Products module shipped from RockAuto, but as the ICM sends the data back, it seems like you've changed everything else that could cause that code...  Also, while I've been lucky, I know that a LOT of guys on here have had there ICMs go out from heat or lack of thermal paste.

Thank you for all of the great knowledge. If it ends up needing it I'll replace it with an AC Delco because I had bad luck with a couple of standard products. Between parts and labor I could have bought the car twice more. After a 3 hour trip turned into 6 and a 1/2, then the light went back on I was definitely twisted.

In this case the ICM is definitely a DIY job. On the other hand, I just spend 20 hours replacing a "genuine GM" steering pump that should never have gotten out on the market... though I didn't know that SMP has gone down the tube as well.

carguy8888 wrote:

16 or 17 accord coupe V6. With all the money I'm putting into this piece of junk I can just have a payment.

It seems like I've read that Honda's interior quality has gone down, and I don't believe their quality overall has been as high as Buick's in the last few decades. One things for sure, you'll be seeing other people with your car more often in an Accord than you will in a Riviera.

After living 50 plus years I I'm smart enough to realize that I am absolutely not handy lol.  Even if I was My garage is really not conducive for doing it.
I may wing it and put in a new oe icm from Rock Auto.  Hopefully it will take care of the only other problem that's haunting my car.  

If I'm rolling at roughly 30mph light throttle where the car has to down shift to get on the highway, it bogs. Up shifting from a standstill is flawless and so is down shifting from highway speeds.  From what I read that could be the ICM as well so I'll probably just take a shot.  At this rate another couple of hundred is a deck chair of the  Titanic.

Eldo wrote:

In this case the ICM is definitely a DIY job.  On the other hand, I just spend 20 hours replacing a "genuine GM" steering pump that should never have gotten out on the market...  though I didn't know that SMP has gone down the tube as well.

You're probably right but I would not buy a newer GM.

Jack the R wrote:

carguy8888 wrote:

16 or 17 accord coupe V6. With all the money I'm putting into this piece of junk I can just have a payment.

It seems like I've read that Honda's interior quality has gone down, and I don't believe their quality overall has been as high as Buick's in the last few decades.  One things for sure, you'll be seeing other people with your car more often in an Accord than you will in a Riviera.    

I would think long and hard before touching anything past mid-2000's. I like the look of the new GM's though.

carguy8888 wrote:

I'm not planning to replace that unless it's definitely bad.  I did forget to add that the maf was cleaned and the fuel filter was changed. I'll probably wait for it to become worse so hopefully the problem will be easy to detect.  I was told that code will not leave me stuck and the car is not stalling anymore.

...that bad coil probably crippled the ICM long ago.

Albertj

Thank you, I feel better with that validation. There has been an awful lot wrong. Could a slightly rough idle in drive when it gets warm be another indicator?

I, too, am glad for Albert's validation. That last symptom, though, "a slightly rough idle in drive when it gets warm" is way too general for the ICM I think. When the engine is cold it has a richer mixture & a higher idle-speed, which generally translates to a smooth idle in gear. At operating temp it is trying to be smog-compliant and little things like dirty injectors or valves, even slightly low fuel pressure can cause that. That is why I just tried Gumout Regane in the tank - if I could just fix the damned steering & drive that fuel mix through...

Hey Jack, does your signature need updating or are you really still below 100,000 miles?
Mark

Makes sense Eldo. I am going to have this done in a few weeks.

Eldo wrote:

Hey Jack, does your signature need updating or are you really still below 100,000 miles?
Mark

Both, I'm at 97-something.