Engine Code P0348 (Cam Position Sensor Connector): 2nd Gen Lexus IS350

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A few months ago, I replaced all the spark plugs on our 2006 Lexus IS350. If you’re familiar with the spark plug replacement on the 2nd gen IS, you’ll know that it involves removing or moving quite a few electrical components in the engine bay. Over time, many of these electrical harnesses and connectors will have seen numerous heat cycles. This eventually will cause the materials to become brittle. After I completed the job, I found that I got an engine light trouble code: P0348.

The P0348 code relates to: Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor A, Bank 2 – High Input

I immediately went looking at the camshaft position sensor to see if I forgot to plug it back in when I was putting everything back together. It turns out that the sensor connector had a wire that had broken off. To repair this, you will need to either splice the wire back into a terminal lead to be plugged back into the connector, or a new harness can be used to replace the old.

Tools & Materials

Camshaft Position Sensor Connector or Repair Kit

In my case, one of the wires had broken off of the connector that plugs into the camshaft position sensor. If you are in a similar situation, you have two options. One is to simply repair the single wire and the other is to replace the whole connector with a new one that includes three wires already attached to it. In either case, you will need to do some wire splicing whether by soldering or by electrical connectors.

Camshaft position sensor connector with wiring (Lexus OEM Part #: 90980-12353): Ebay / Amazon

Repair Kit – Wire with lead (Lexus OEM Part #: 82998-24250): Ebay

Soldering Gun Station

This is the soldering gun station that I use and it is everything you’ll need to solder electrical wires.

Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station

Helping Hands

Sometimes you need something that will help hold wires together so that you can solder. This set of “helping hands” does that.

Neiko 01902 Adjustable Helping Hand With Magnifying Glass | Dual Alligator Clips

Solder

If soldering, then this is obviously needed.

MAIYUM 63-37 Tin Lead Rosin Core Solder Wire for Electrical Soldering (0.8mm 50g)

Wire Strippers

You’ll need this to strip wires whether you use connectors or choose to solder.

IRWIN VISE-GRIP Wire Stripping Tool / Wire Cutter, 8-Inch (2078309)

Pick Set

Using a pick set helps with disassembly of the camshaft position sensor connector. If you are completely replacing the whole connector, then this won’t be necessary.

TEKTON 6943 Precision Pick and Hook Set, 4-Piece

Heat Wrap or Electrical Tape

After your repairs and/or splices are made, you should use a heat wrap or electrical tape to help insulate the splice.

560PCS Heat Shrink Tubing 2:1, Eventronic Electrical Wire Cable Wrap Assortment Electric Insulation Heat Shrink Tube Kit with Box(5 colors/12 Sizes)

3M Safety Super33 7100002398 Scotch Super 33+ Vinyl Electrical Tape, 3/4 in x 66 ft, Black, 66′

Diagnosing the P0348 Engine Code

When I turned on the car, I saw the engine light, as well as several other warning lights. I got my handy-dandy engine code reader and got one code: P0348.

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As mentioned previously, the P0348 code relates to: Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor A, Bank 2 – High Input.

Identifying the Issue – Camshaft Position Sensor

I looked at the Sensor A, Bank 2 camshaft position sensor (CPS) and nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first. I unplugged the connector that was plugged into the CPS and upon closer inspection, it looked like one of the wires had pulled out of its socket.

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Before going further, it would be wise to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery since we’re working with electrical wiring.

Before you continue, take a picture of the orientation of the colored wires of the camshaft position sensor harness so that you know how to arrange them during re-installation.

I then disassembled the connector to see what exactly had caused the one wire to pull out of the connector. In order to take apart the connector, you will need to take a pick (or similar tool with a sharp point) and pry this little white wedge clip until it slides out.

Once the white wedge clip slides out, it will allow the three wires to be pulled out. So pull the three wires out to inspect.

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After looking more closely, I found that the one wire that appeared to have pulled out of the connector, did not actually pull out, but in fact broke off of the terminal lead.

Fixing the Camshaft Position Sensor Connections

Depending on your situation, your repair may be different from the one I performed below. However, if the camshaft position sensor’s connector/harness has failed in some way, then the repair will involve restoring the connections back to its original condition.

If you haven’t already, disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. In my case below, I needed to get the broken wire crimped to a new terminal lead. This would then need to be put back into its spot in the camshaft position sensor connector.

I first stripped off the blue wire that had broken. I then used a new terminal lead with wire attached, and stripped that one back too. I then wrapped the two wires together to basically install a new terminal lead on this section of wire.

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At this point if you’re using heat shrink tubing rather than wrapping these connections with electrical tape, you should slide them onto the wire and have it sitting to the side. Once the splice has been made, you can slide them back over the splice and then apply heat to wrap the connection.

It may be necessary to cut back the corrugated wire loom to get access to the CPS wiring.

Using some helping hands to hold this connection up, I then used my soldering iron to solder this connection together. Once that connection was made, I then plugged the newly made terminal lead (along with the other two leads) into the connector. Make sure the wires are installed in the correct order (reference the photo you took before when taking it apart).

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You can now plug the connector back, re-attach the negative terminal of the battery, and re-test the car. It may be a good idea to turn on the car to ensure the car still turns on and runs properly.

You’ll need to clear the codes and read for codes again. Once you have verified that you no longer have the P0348 code, you can turn off the car again.

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If you did not use heat shrink tubing, you can now proceed with wrapping all your connections with electrical tape. With everything wrapped up, plug the connector back into the camshaft position sensor. Put all the engine covers and trim back on and you are done.

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