P0345 on 2014-2018 Ram 3500 5.7L/6.4L HEMI: Cam Sensor, Wiring, and Lifter Failure Guide

What's Unique About the 2014-2018 Ram 3500

While P0345 often points to a bad sensor on many vehicles, on these Ram trucks it is frequently caused by a wiring issue. The engine wiring harness is susceptible to heat damage and corrosion, leading to a faulty signal. 🎬 Watch: Understanding the P0345 code and common circuit fixes. This is common enough that Ram issued TSB #05149141A advising technicians to gather data before simply replacing the sensor. More critically, on the 5.7L and 6.4L HEMI engines, this code can be an early symptom of the infamous 'HEMI tick,' which signifies a severe mechanical failure of the camshaft and lifters that requires immediate attention to prevent catastrophic engine damage.

Symptoms You May Notice

• Check Engine Light illuminated
• Engine is difficult to start or cranks but won't start
• Engine stalls unexpectedly, especially when coming to a stop
• Rough idle or engine misfires
• Noticeable loss of engine power or acceleration
• Vehicle enters a reduced power or 'limp' mode
• A distinct, rhythmic 'ticking' noise from the engine (HEMI tick) that may be louder on a cold start.
• Increased fuel consumption

Most Likely Causes

1. Damaged Wiring Harness or Connector 🔴 High Probability The engine bay environment causes the wiring loom to become brittle from heat. The harness can chafe against the engine block or brackets, particularly near the front of the driver's side cylinder head, causing wires to melt or break and leading to a short or open circuit.
   How to confirm: Visually inspect the entire wiring harness from the Bank 2 (driver's side) sensor back to the main loom. Look for melted plastic, frayed wires, or green corrosion in the connector. Wiggle the connector and wiring with the engine running to see if it causes a stumble or triggers the code.
   Typical fix: Repair the damaged section of wire or replace the sensor's pigtail connector. Use heat-resistant loom and secure the harness away from heat sources and sharp edges.
   Est. part cost: $15-$40
2. Failed Camshaft Position Sensor 🔴 High Probability → Shop Engine Camshaft Position Sensor Constant heat cycles and engine vibration can cause the sensor's internal electronics to fail over time. It is a common failure item.
   How to confirm: After confirming the wiring is intact, swap the driver's side (Bank 2) sensor with the passenger's side (Bank 1) sensor. Clear the codes and drive. If the code changes to P0340 (Bank 1), the sensor is confirmed bad. The sensor is located on the front of the driver's side cylinder head, held by a single 10mm bolt.
   Typical fix: Replace the Bank 2 camshaft position sensor. It is highly recommended to use an OEM Mopar part to avoid signal issues that can persist with aftermarket sensors.
   Est. part cost: $45-$75
3. Failing Camshaft and Lifters ('HEMI Tick') 🟡 Medium Probability → Shop Engine Camshaft The 5.7L and 6.4L HEMI engines are known to have issues with lifter failure, often due to the roller on the lifter seizing. This destroys the corresponding camshaft lobe. This damaged lobe provides an erratic signal to the sensor, which the PCM flags as a P0345 circuit fault, even though the sensor and wiring may be fine.
   How to confirm: Listen for a persistent, rhythmic ticking noise from the engine that increases with RPM. It can be mistaken for an exhaust leak, but a lifter tick is typically more metallic and originates from the top end of the engine. Professional diagnosis is required, often involving removing the valve cover to inspect the camshaft and lifters for visible damage.
   Typical fix: This is a major engine repair that involves replacing the camshaft, all 16 lifters (often upgrading to a non-MDS design), head gaskets, and other related components. It is not a simple DIY job. 🎬 Watch: A walkthrough of the camshaft removal process.
   Est. part cost: $800-$2000+

Rare But Worth Checking

• Weak Battery or Faulty Alternator: → Shop Alternator A weak battery or voltage fluctuations from a bad alternator can cause the PCM to set spurious electrical codes during cranking. If the battery is old or you've had recent starting issues, it's worth testing the electrical system.
• Worn Timing Chain or Cam Phaser: → Shop Engine Timing Chain At higher mileage, a stretched timing chain or a failing VVT cam phaser can cause the camshaft and crankshaft to be out of sync, triggering correlation codes (like P0016) and sometimes P0345. This is usually accompanied by rattling noises from the front of the engine.
• Faulty Powertrain Control Module (PCM): This is extremely rare. The PCM should only be considered after all other possibilities (wiring, sensors, and mechanical timing) have been definitively ruled out by a professional. Intermittent 5-volt reference loss has been noted in some forums, pointing to a potential internal PCM fault.

Diagnosis Steps

1. Check the engine oil level and condition. Low or dirty oil can affect the VVT system and contribute to lifter issues.
2. Read all fault codes with an OBD-II scanner and note any other codes present, especially misfire or correlation codes.
3. Perform a thorough visual inspection of the Bank 2 (driver's side) camshaft position sensor and its wiring harness. Look for melted plastic, frayed wires, or corrosion, paying close attention to the area near the front of the cylinder head.
4. If wiring looks good, perform a sensor swap. Disconnect the battery, swap the driver's side and passenger's side cam sensors, reconnect the battery, clear codes, and drive to see if the fault code changes to P0340.
5. If the code remains P0345 after the swap, the problem is in the wiring or is mechanical. Use a multimeter to test the sensor connector for a 5-volt reference signal, a good ground, and a signal wire with the key on, engine off.
6. Check for continuity on the signal wire from the connector back to the PCM. Check for shorts to ground or power on all three wires.
7. Listen carefully for any engine ticking or rattling noises. A rhythmic tick strongly suggests a mechanical camshaft/lifter issue requiring professional diagnosis. Use a mechanic's stethoscope to pinpoint the noise source if possible.

Parts You'll Likely Need

• Camshaft Position Sensor (Bank 2) (OEM #5149054AC) — This sensor is a common failure item. It's the most likely part to be replaced if the wiring is confirmed to be good. The OEM part number 5149054AC supersedes part number 5149054AB.
  Trusted brands: Mopar, NTK, Delphi
  OEM price range: $45-$75
  Aftermarket price range: $25-$50
• Camshaft Position Sensor Connector Pigtail (OEM #Not sold as a standalone Mopar part, must use aftermarket.) — The connector itself often fails due to heat and corrosion. Splicing in a new pigtail is often the correct fix for a circuit fault.
  Trusted brands: Dorman (e.g., 645-744, verify fitment), Standard Motor Products
  OEM price range: $20-$40
  Aftermarket price range: $10-$25
• Camshaft and Lifter Kit — If the code is caused by the 'HEMI tick', a full replacement of the camshaft and all 16 lifters is required to properly fix the mechanical failure. Many owners opt for aftermarket kits that delete the Multi-Displacement System (MDS) for improved reliability.
  Trusted brands: Mopar, Melling, Comp Cams, Texas Speed
  OEM price range: $800-$1500
  Aftermarket price range: $500-$1000

Related Codes That Often Appear With This One

• P0340 — This is the equivalent code for Bank 1 (passenger side). It will appear if you swap a faulty Bank 2 sensor to Bank 1 for diagnosis.
• P0300, P0302, P0304, P0306 — These are misfire codes for Bank 2. Incorrect cam timing data from a faulty sensor, bad wiring, or a damaged cam lobe will cause misfires on the affected cylinders.
• P0016 — This is a Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation code. Seeing this with P0345 is a major red flag for a mechanical timing problem like a stretched timing chain, a failed cam phaser, or a severely damaged camshaft lobe, not just a sensor circuit fault.
• P1628 — This code indicates a loss of the #2 5-volt reference circuit from the PCM. On some Ram trucks, this circuit supplies power to the camshaft position sensor. Seeing this code alongside P0345 strongly points to a wiring issue or a failing PCM.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) & Recalls

• TSB #05149141A: An early TSB that instructed technicians to contact a factory representative and send Freeze Frame data before replacing the camshaft position sensor for codes like P0345, indicating that the sensor itself was often not the root cause.
• TSB #18-002-19 REV. A: A PCM software update for some Chrysler vehicles that changed the P0345 fault from a one-trip to a two-trip fault, making it less sensitive to momentary glitches. While this TSB may not apply directly to all Ram HDs, it shows manufacturer awareness of the circuit's sensitivity.

Platform-Specific Known Issues

• Wiring Harness Chafing/Melting: The wiring for the Bank 2 cam sensor is routed in a way that makes it highly susceptible to damage from heat and abrasion, especially where it passes near the front of the driver's side cylinder head. This is a primary suspect for intermittent P0345 codes.
• HEMI Lifter/Cam Failure: The 5.7L and 6.4L HEMI engines have a well-documented history of lifter failure, where the needle bearings in the lifter's roller fail, causing the roller to seize and grind down the camshaft lobe. This creates an erratic signal that the PCM interprets as a sensor circuit fault (P0345/P0349), even when the sensor and wiring are perfectly fine. This is a severe mechanical issue.

Mechanic-Grade Diagnostic Values

• Camshaft Position Sensor 5V Supply Voltage — expected: 4.5 - 5.2 Volts (Key On, Engine Off). Failure: Voltage below 4.5V suggests an open/short in the supply circuit or a PCM fault.
• Camshaft Position Sensor Signal Wire Voltage (Static, Unplugged) — expected: ~5.0 Volts (Key On, Engine Off). Failure: Chrysler systems often use a bias voltage on the signal wire. A reading of 0V could indicate a short to ground on the signal wire.
• Sensor Ground Circuit Resistance to PCM — expected: Below 5.0 Ohms. Failure: Resistance above 5.0 Ohms indicates an open or high resistance in the ground circuit between the sensor connector and the PCM.
• Signal Circuit for Short to Ground — expected: Above 100 Ohms. Failure: Resistance below 100 Ohms between the signal wire and ground indicates a short circuit.
• Camshaft Position Sensor Signal (Dynamic) — expected: A clean square wave switching between ~0V and 5V when viewed on an oscilloscope while cranking/running.. Failure: A missing, noisy, or inconsistent waveform points to a faulty sensor, wiring issue, or mechanical problem (e.g., damaged tone wheel/cam lobe).

Hidden / Shadow Codes Worth Checking

• P0349: Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Intermittent (Bank 2). This code indicates the signal is dropping out sporadically rather than being consistently absent. It often points to a wiring connection issue or a sensor at the beginning stages of failure. (see via Standard OBD-II scanner.)

Scan Tool Commands That Help

• Professional Scan Tool (e.g., wiTECH): Cam Sensor Relearn / Cam/Crank Variation Relearn — Some vehicles may require this procedure after replacing a camshaft position sensor to synchronize the new sensor's signal with the PCM. Failure to perform this can sometimes cause the code to persist or the engine to run poorly even with a good part.

Wiring & Ground Locations

• Engine to Frame Ground Strap — A common ground strap runs from the back of the cylinder head (passenger side) to the frame, accessible from the front passenger wheel well.. A broken or corroded main engine ground strap can cause all sorts of electrical gremlins and sensor errors, including P0345, as the sensors may lose their reference ground. A forum user reported finding this strap broken and just hanging.
• G304 — Center of the vehicle body, under the dash/console area.. This is a major body ground point. While not a direct engine ground, poor grounding here can contribute to electrical noise and intermittent issues with modules like the PCM.
• Camshaft Sensor Connector Pinout (Typical 3-wire) — At the sensor on the front of the driver's side cylinder head.. For testing: one pin is the 5V supply from the PCM, one is the sensor ground, and the third is the signal wire that sends the square wave back to the PCM. Testing voltage and continuity at these specific pins is essential for diagnosing a circuit fault.

Real Owner Repair Stories

• iFixit forum user (Ford F-150, but relevant principle) (Ford F-150 with similar EFI system) — Rough idling with P0345 code.
  ❌ Tried (didn't work) A dealership replaced multiple unspecified parts in a $1200 repair attempt that did not solve the problem.
  ✅ What actually fixed it A different repair shop found a severely corroded and failing main engine ground cable. Replacing the ground cable resolved all symptoms and the P0345 code.

OEM Part Supersession History

• 5149054AB → 5149054AC — Standard part revision and improvement by the manufacturer.
  Heads up: The older part numbers 5149054AA and 5149054AB are replaced by 5149054AC. While the older parts may work, it is best practice to use the latest revision (AC) for any replacement.

Model Year Variations Within This Range

• 2014: A Technical Service Bulletin (TSB #05149141A) was issued specifically mentioning 2014 models with a range of cam sensor codes including P0345. It instructs technicians to contact a factory representative before replacing the sensor, indicating a known complex issue or high rate of misdiagnosis in the early part of this generation.

Diagnostic Flowchart

Real Owner Stories

Aggregated from forums and TSBs cited above. Mileages and costs reflect what owners reported in those sources.

Related OBD-II Codes

• P0340 — Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit (Bank 1). This code will appear if you swap a faulty Bank 2 sensor over to the passenger side (Bank 1) during diagnosis.
• P0349 — Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Intermittent (Bank 2). Often triggered alongside P0345 when a seized lifter grinds down the camshaft lobe, creating an erratic signal.
• P0344 — Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1). Mentioned in technical discussions as appearing alongside 5-volt reference circuit issues on the 6.4L HEMI.
• P1628 — Sensor Reference Voltage 2 Circuit Erratic. Can appear with camshaft position sensor codes if the shared 5-volt reference circuit is lost or shorted.
• P0300 — Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detect. Misfire codes frequently accompany P0345 if the root cause is a mechanical failure like a wiped camshaft lobe or collapsed lifter.

Frequently Asked Questions