00740 Camshaft Position / Cylinder Recognition Sensor (G40) - Malfunction
The ECU sees a problem in this circuit but cannot narrow it to a specific short or open. Start at the connector and the wiring before condemning the part.
Can you drive it? The engine light will stay on and the car may run in a reduced-power mode. Read the freeze-frame data to see the conditions the fault was logged under.
The definition
00740: Camshaft Position / Cylinder Recognition Sensor (G40) - Malfunction.
What to check first
Cheapest and fastest checks first:
- Check the oil level and when it was last changed. These adjusters run on oil pressure and are the first thing to suffer from old or low oil.
- Check the cam adjuster solenoid and its screen for sludge.
- Only then suspect the timing chain or belt and its tensioner.
Reading the code is the easy part
A code names the circuit that complained. What tells you why is watching the sensor behind it while the engine runs — and that is where a code reader stops and a diagnostic tool starts.
VAGPULSE reads every module in a VW, Audi, Skoda or SEAT — not just the engine — shows the live measuring blocks behind this fault, gives you the freeze-frame conditions it was logged under, and clears it once you have fixed it. It also does what a generic OBD reader cannot on a VAG: service resets, coding, adaptations, and Stage 1–3 flashing with your original file saved first.
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Prefer to work on your phone? The VAGPULSE Android app is a free download and its demo mode runs against a sample car with no hardware at all, so you can see exactly what it reads before spending anything. Reading your car with it needs the VAGPULSE cable, which comes with the licence.
Common questions
What does 00740 mean?
00740 means Camshaft Position / Cylinder Recognition Sensor (G40) - Malfunction. The ECU sees a problem in this circuit but cannot narrow it to a specific short or open. Start at the connector and the wiring before condemning the part.
Can I drive with 00740?
The engine light will stay on and the car may run in a reduced-power mode. Read the freeze-frame data to see the conditions the fault was logged under.