EngineLightCodes
Powertrain code

P0365 Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Bank 1

Severity
Fix soon
Typical repair cost
$70–$280
Do it yourself
Possible, easy
Shop time
0.3–1 hours

Camshaft position sensor B is the exhaust camshaft sensor (bank 1 = side with cylinder 1), usually a Hall sensor on the exhaust cam phaser.

How the engine computer detects it

P0365 means no or too few exhaust cam pulses arrive while the crankshaft turns in sync. GM sets it after 4 s of cranking or 5.5 s without a cam pulse, or fewer than 4 pulses in 3 s running, 8 of 10 samples, after two trips; on GM's 3.6-liter V6 (Saab 9-4X) also with no pulse in 800 of 1,000 engine cycles. Ford checks the ratio of crank to cam events from 200 rpm, detected within 5 s, and collects all electrical faults here. The exhaust phaser then goes to its park position; the engine keeps running but cranks longer and loses some power. FCA advises saving the cam/crank synchronization data before replacing the sensor, as the fault is often elsewhere.

Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages

Symptoms

  • Check engine light on
  • Longer cranking before the engine starts
  • Loss of power or rough idle (exhaust cam timing in its base position)
  • Higher fuel consumption

Common causes

  1. Exhaust camshaft position sensor faulty Most likely
  2. Connector or wiring open or corroded, 5 V reference missing Most likely
  3. Oil in the connector from a leaking sensor O-ring Possible
  4. Tone wheel on the exhaust phaser damaged or loose Less likely
  5. Engine module (5 V supply) Less likely

How to diagnose P0365

  1. Read every stored code with an OBD-II scanner. If misfire or fuel trim codes are there too, fix those first: they often cause this one.
  2. Inspect the parts involved: camshaft position sensor exhaust, camshaft tone wheel, sensor wiring, engine control module.
  3. Work through the causes above from most to least likely, cheapest checks first.
  4. Clear the code and drive a full drive cycle to confirm the repair held.

Vehicles that report P0365 most

VehicleYearsReportsMedian miles
Ford F-1502013–20194—

Counts of owner complaints to the NHTSA that mention P0365 (23 in total), not failure rates: popular models get more complaints simply because more of them are on the road. Models with fewer than 3 complaints are left out.

Reading the code

P
Powertrain
0
Generic (SAE) code
3
Ignition system or misfire
65
Specific fault

Questions drivers ask

Can I drive with code P0365?

Drive gently and only as far as you need to. The engine computer may limit power to protect the engine, so avoid highways and heavy traffic until it's fixed. If the check engine light starts flashing, pull over.

Will my car pass an emissions inspection with P0365?

Probably not in states that test vehicles with an OBD-II scan: an emissions-related code that keeps the check engine light on is usually an automatic fail. Rules differ by state and county, so check yours.

Will P0365 clear by itself?

The light can go off after several drive cycles without the fault, but the code returns if the cause is still there. After a repair, the readiness monitors need a full drive cycle before an inspection.

Can I fix P0365 myself?

Often yes, with an OBD-II scanner and basic tools. Difficulty: easy. Start with the cheapest checks before replacing expensive parts.

Often reported together

Codes that owners mention in the same NHTSA complaints as P0365. They can point to a shared cause, so it's worth checking them together.

This page is general information, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis. Repair costs are rough estimates for parts and labor and vary by vehicle and region.