Hey guys! I've been having some issues with my cam angle sensor in my 2010 JCW. I was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences.
It will sometimes be completely fine for hours of driving on end, then just randomly lose most of it's power. Often times I can shut the car off/on and it will be fine, but sometimes that won't make a difference.

Finally at one point, it showed a CEL and it was code P1338 (Cam pos sensor Bank 1 open circuit).
I tried ordering another bosch sensor and it was even worse than the first one. So I tried a napa sensor and it seems to be fine about 70% of the time I drive. And whenever the power loss comes on, there is no CEL.

It just stumps me because the problem is so intermittent. I would think if my cam timing was off, or the sensor was truly bad, it would just not work period.
The first time it ever had this problem was when I pulled off the cam cover to check on my timing chain guides (occasionally gets a weird rattle when completely cold). I forgot to plug the cam angle sensor back in initially and fixed it when I noticed power loss, and it just seems to have problems ever since. Not sure if I could have done something then, or if it was just coincidental timing.

I've read that it could be timing, timing chain, or carbon build-up. But I'm hoping it's none of those because I replaced the timing chain/tensioner/guides and cleaned the carbon out of the intake when I got the car in 2019.

Thank you to anyone who reads this far haha!

 

What does the connector look like? Any corrosion on the contacts?

 

The connector looks perfect. All clean and shiny. I was hoping it might be that, but it doesn't look that way.