2004 Dodge Neon Cam Sensor Fault Code: Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis
I own a 2004 Dodge Neon with 76,600 miles. About a month ago, while driving on the highway, the vehicle began losing power and the Check Engine Light illuminated. I took it to a repair shop, which diagnosed low oil and recommended an oil change. After the change, the light turned off temporarily. Two days ago, the issue returned — this time, the car shut off completely. It restarted after waiting for several minutes but now exhibits hesitation, jerking, and significant loss of power when attempting to accelerate. I visited another shop, which flushed the fuel injectors and claimed that fixed the problem. The Check Engine Light went out briefly but reappeared shortly afterward. I took it to AutoZone for a diagnostic, where they reported a camshaft position sensor fault — though this was only a basic scan with limited insight. I am currently having the vehicle towed for further inspection. What could be causing this issue? Is the camshaft sensor truly responsible, or are there other potential causes such as timing belt failure or wiring issues? I'm concerned about whether the shops I've visited have properly diagnosed the problem, especially since low oil and fuel injector flushing do not typically cause a camshaft sensor fault. If the sensor is leaking oil around it, that could explain both the code and the low oil level. I'd like to know if the technicians understood what the code meant and where the sensor is located — this seems to suggest they may lack sufficient technical knowledge.
Camshaft position sensors are common on 2004 Dodge Neons, but they typically cause only a long crank with the Check Engine Light on — not a complete engine shutdown. A crankshaft sensor failure is more likely to result in no-start conditions. A broken timing belt could trigger a camshaft fault and lead to engine stalling, so it's essential to have that inspected before replacing any sensors. It appears you've been serviced by shops with limited technical competence. Low oil levels do not cause a camshaft sensor fault, nor does fuel injector flushing resolve this issue. If the camshaft sensor is leaking oil around it, that could explain both the diagnostic code and the low oil level. I'm wondering — did the technicians understand what the specific error code meant or know the exact location of the sensor? This raises concerns about their technical expertise.