Expert: Roland Finston - 12/24/2011

Question
QUESTION: Roland,
A friend has a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica that has the CEL on all the time, and code P0344 is flagging all the time.  The car will not rev above 2400 RPM without sputtering.
The research I've done on this code says that this is the problem: P0344 Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Intermittent.
Do you have access to wiring diagrams and component locations for the camshaft position sensor and the PCM for this vehicle?
Thanks,
Daniel

ANSWER: Hi Daniel.
Yes, I have the '05 manual which shows the sensor for both the 3.5 and the 3.8L engine. I will tell you about the 3.5L set up. It may be that the sensor is failing or it could be an issue with the three-wire harness/ black plug that connects it to the pcm. It is mounted on the front of the engine, just below and to the right (as you look from the front) of the throat of the throttle body. You would remove the air intake box to see it.
The plug has a pink/yellow wire at pin 1 that caries 5v to operate the sensor, a signal wire  at pin 3 which is dark blue/gray, and a ground wire at pin 2 that is dark blue/dark green. You could verify that the pink/yellow shows aolid 5v at pin 1 when the key is in the run position, that the pin 2 is continuous to pin 27 of the pcm black/orange plug , and that the signal wire on pin 3 is continuous to pin 34 of the black/orange plug at the PCM. The 3-wire plug 'locks' onto the sensor but the exact detail is not given. The PCM is located at the left front of the engine compartment and has 4 many-wire plugs arranged vertically.
You can replace the sensor by removing the bolts that hold it in place. Insert the new, tighten the bolts to 106 inch-pounds (about 9 foot-pounds) and hook up the plug.
Let me know if you have the 3.8L engine, or any other questions.
Roland
PS: Thanks for the kind remarks and the nomination, Daniel. I can copy a few pages from the '05 manual and attach them to an email I will send it directly to you. To do that you need to let me know the email address because I am not shown it by Allexperts. To do that you have to ask a NEW question and click on PRIVATE. Then in the body of message tell me your email address.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Roland,
I put in my words for volunteer of the month for you, and thank you for the info.  I'll put it to use on the car.  Also, it is a 3.5L engine.  For clarification, though, can you please tell me that the sensor is beneath the air intake box, right side of the car (front of the engine), and the PCM is on the left front side of the car (back of the engine)?  If these are correct, it should be no problem to check the circuits.  I'll let you know what I find.
Thanks again,
Daniel

Answer
Hi Daniel,
Yes the cam sensor is on the front of the engine, and after you remove the air intake box just key to the throttle body throat, look down and to the right to find it where you would imagine the camshaft sprocket of the front bank of cylinders to be located.
On the PCM, on closer inspection it may be that it is actually located in the left front wheel well, in front of the left tire, because I also see that the harness for the left fog light goes right by it, and the wheel speed sensor (abs) and plug for the windshield washer pump are also near by which to me suggests that while its plugs' harnesses go to the engine that they may indeed go thru the inner fender at the left front corner of the engine compartment to get to the pcm which may be in the wheel well!.
Roland