P0372–P0377 Timing Reference High Resolution Signal A Too Few Pulses
The ECU has logged a fault on P0372. The definition below is the exact wording the standard uses for this code.
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.
Which code is which
Same fault, different cylinder or bank — diagnosed the same way. Several set together usually means one shared cause.
| Code | Definition | Severity |
|---|---|---|
P0372 | Timing Reference High Resolution Signal A Too Few Pulses | Investigate soon |
P0377 | Timing Reference High Resolution Signal B Too Few Pulses | Investigate soon |
The definition
P0372: Timing Reference High Resolution Signal A Too Few Pulses.
P0372 is a powertrain code (the engine or gearbox), defined by the SAE standard - it means the same thing on any make of car, and any generic OBD-II reader will decode it.
What to check first
Cheapest and fastest checks first:
- Read the freeze-frame data stored with the fault - engine speed, load and temperature at the moment it logged tell you whether this happens cold, hot or under load.
- Check the connector at the part for corrosion, and that it is fully seated.
- Clear the code and see whether it returns, and under what conditions.
What actually causes this on a VAG
Again this is the engine-position signal, but here the ECU counted fewer pulses than it expected - it is missing teeth it should have seen. Because the sensor has to detect each tooth as it passes, anything that weakens what it sees will cause this: too large a gap to the wheel, something sitting on the sensor tip, damaged teeth, or a sensor that no longer produces a strong enough signal. Note that this is a generic industry code rather than VAG's own wording, so have it read with software that also shows the manufacturer text - that will name the actual sensor on your engine.
Most likely causes, in order
- Metal debris stuck to the sensor tip. These sensors have a magnet in the tip, and over the years they collect swarf and clutch or gearbox dust, which builds up until it masks the teeth. Pull the sensor and look at the end of it before ordering anything - wiping it clean is a genuine and common fix, and it costs nothing but the time to get at it.
- Sensor not fully seated, or the wrong gap. If the sensor has recently been out for a clutch, starter, gearbox or sump job and is not pushed fully home, or its mounting is damaged, the distance to the wheel is too great to read every tooth. Check it sits flush and the fixing is tight. If this code appeared straight after work in that area, start here.
- A weak or ageing sensor. An old sensor can still produce a signal, just not a clean enough one for every tooth to register, and it usually gets worse when hot. If the tip is clean and it is properly seated, this is the reasonable next step, and it is not normally an expensive part.
- Damaged teeth on the reluctor wheel. Physically damaged or worn teeth cannot be fixed by a new sensor. This is the least common cause and much the most involved to confirm, so leave it until the cheap checks are done.
Worth knowing: Do not skip pulling the sensor out and looking at its tip - it is a common finding on this code, and people regularly fit a new sensor into the same debris and get the fault straight back. One caveat on effort: on some VAG engines the sensor is a two-bolt job you can do on a driveway, and on others it is buried behind the crank pulley or under the intake. Find out which yours is before you commit to starting.
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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Common questions
What does P0372 mean?
P0372 means Timing Reference High Resolution Signal A Too Few Pulses. It is logged when the ECU sees this circuit outside its expected operating window.
Can I drive with P0372?
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.