P0369 Code: Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1)
The bank 1 exhaust cam signal drops out now and then. Usually heat or vibration at the sensor connector.
At a glance
Severity: Low
- Meaning
- Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1)
- System
- Ignition & Misfire · Powertrain
- Safe to drive?
- Yes, short term
- Typical repair cost
- $60–$300
- DIY difficulty
- Moderate
P0369 is logged when the exhaust cam sensor signal on bank 1 (sensor B on most makes) comes and goes: edges go missing for a few revolutions, or bursts of extra edges appear, and then the signal is normal again. Because the crank sensor and intake cam sensor keep the engine synchronized, a brief exhaust cam dropout rarely affects starting or running. At worst you might feel a short stumble as the computer freezes the exhaust phaser. The trouble is finding the cause, since the fault is usually absent when the car is inspected. The pattern points to something that changes while driving: heat soaking the connector above the exhaust manifold or turbo, a terminal that loses contact at a certain vibration frequency, or a harness that moves with the engine.
Can I keep driving? Safe to keep driving in most cases. Keep an eye on it: if P0365 or P0366 appear, or the engine starts running rough, the fault is getting worse and should be fixed promptly.
How to read P0369
- P Powertrain
- 0 Generic (SAE)
- 3 Ignition / misfire
- 69 Specific fault
Symptoms
- Check-engine light that comes on, goes off after a few trips, then returns
- Pending code with no noticeable symptoms
- Brief hesitation or a slight stumble, often in hot weather or after a long climb
- Idle that is occasionally a little uneven
- Fault appears at a particular speed or rpm range
Possible causes
Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).
- Connector terminal fretting or loose fit at the exhaust cam sensor
- Sensor breaking down internally when heat-soaked by the exhaust manifold or turbo
- Harness rubbing or stretching as the engine moves
- Oil film inside the connector causing intermittent contact
- Electrical noise from nearby coils or a damaged shield
- Intermittent engine computer fault
Diagnosis step by step
Use the freeze frame to recreate conditions
Note coolant temperature, intake air temperature, rpm and speed when P0369 set. Repeating those conditions on a test drive, for example a long uphill pull on a hot day, gives you the best chance of catching the fault live.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Log exhaust cam data while driving
Record the exhaust cam actual angle or deviation along with rpm on a scan tool. A sudden jump to zero or a frozen value that recovers after a second marks the dropout. Mark the time and note what you were doing, such as hitting a bump or turning.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Check terminal grip
Unplug the sensor and slide a matching test terminal into each female contact. It should feel a definite drag. A loose one, or a dull, worn plating spot, is a prime suspect. Replace the terminal or the pigtail rather than bending it tighter.
Tools: Flashlight, Pliers
Wiggle and heat test
With the engine idling and the scan tool showing exhaust cam data, flex the connector and the harness along the exhaust side of the head. Then, with the engine hot, watch for a dropout after a few minutes of idling with the hood closed, when heat soak peaks.
Tools: OBD-II scanner, Flashlight
Fix, protect and verify
Replace the sensor or connector as indicated, clean oil from the connector, and add heat-reflective sleeving where the harness passes the manifold. Because the fault is intermittent, confirm it by repeating the original conditions and checking that no pending code returns.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Where the parts are
- 1Ignition coil
- 2Spark plug
- 3Fuel injector
- 4Camshaft sensor
- 5Crankshaft sensor
- 6Engine computer (ECM)
- 7Intake manifold
Repair options & costs
| Repair | DIY? | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Replace exhaust cam sensor connector pigtail | No | $80–$250 |
| Replace exhaust camshaft position sensor | Yes | $90–$280 |
| Secure harness and add heat protection | Yes | $60–$200 |
| Diagnostic time for an intermittent fault | No | $100–$300 |
Rough US estimates for parts and labor; shop rates vary by region. Not a quote.
Notes by brand
Field data
| Honda | 13 | Pilot, Odyssey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford | 7 | Escape, F-150 SUPERCAB, Ecosport | |
| Jeep | 2 | Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited |
Source: NHTSA Complaints API (US government open data), analyzed by DTC mention.
Emissions / smog test impact
Depends
Whether the car passes depends on the check-engine light at the time of the test. If the light is on, it fails; if the fault hasn't repeated and the light has turned itself off with monitors ready, it can pass, but the code will likely return.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the check-engine light keep coming and going?
Most computers turn the light off after several trips without the fault. With an intermittent exhaust cam dropout, the light goes out, then comes back the next time the conditions line up, like a hot day or a rough road.
Is P0369 as serious as the crank sensor intermittent code?
No. An intermittent crank signal (P0339) can stall the engine. An intermittent exhaust cam signal only affects exhaust phasing, and the engine stays synchronized through the crank and intake cam sensors.
Should I just replace the sensor?
It's a reasonable first step if the sensor has been heat-soaked for years, but check the connector first. Worn or loose terminals are at least as common a cause, and a new sensor plugged into a bad connector won't fix anything.
Could the problem be in the intake cam sensor instead?
Not if the code is P0369 and your engine follows the usual convention where B is the exhaust cam. Confirm the naming in service information, because swapping the wrong sensor is a common mistake.