Parts for your 2000 Toyota Rav4-Camshaft sensor

2000 Toyota RAV4 Camshaft Sensor — Is It Fitted and What That Means

For the 2000 Toyota RAV4 (first-gen, typically running the 3S-FE 2.0L petrol), a separate, bolt-on camshaft position sensor isn’t used. Instead, the engine management reads the camshaft reference signal from the distributor. Inside that distributor are magnetic pickups that generate the NE (engine speed) and G (cam reference/cylinder identification) signals the ECU needs for fuel injection and ignition timing. So while the engine absolutely uses a cam signal, it isn’t a standalone “camshaft sensor” mounted on the cam cover like later coil-on-plug setups.

This layout is confirmed in Toyota’s factory material for the 1996–2000 RAV4: the Engine Control System section of the Toyota Repair Manual explains the NE and G inputs are sourced from the distributor, the Electrical Wiring Diagram shows those circuits from the distributor to the ECM, and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue for the 2000 RAV4 lists a distributor assembly rather than a separate camshaft position sensor. Many diagnostic procedures for DTCs such as P0340 on this model point straight to the distributor’s G signal, wiring, or ECM, not to a separate CMP sensor.

What this means for servicing: if someone is searching for a camshaft sensor for a 2000 RAV4, they won’t find a separate sensor to swap. The practical maintenance path is to inspect and service the distributor assembly and its wiring. Typical checks include:

• Inspecting the distributor connector and loom for heat-hardening, corrosion, or broken conductors.
• Verifying air gap and internal condition of the pickup(s) if the unit is serviceable, many are replaced as an assembly when faulty.
• Confirming good engine earths and stable battery voltage, as low voltage upsets the G/NE signals.

Common symptoms of a failing G signal include hard starting, intermittent stalling, misfire, no-spark, rough running, or an engine light with codes like P0340/P0341. If the distributor is worn (play in the shaft, oil intrusion) or the pickup has failed, replacement of the complete distributor is often the most reliable fix. Always clear codes and road test after repair to ensure the ECU sees stable NE and G signals.

Technical sources referenced: Toyota Factory Repair Manual (Engine Control System, 1996–2000 RAV4), Toyota Electrical Wiring Diagram for 2000 RAV4, and Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue listings for the 3S‑FE RAV4. These identify the cam reference (“G”) signal as part of the distributor, not a separate camshaft sensor.

Popular questions

Does a 2000 Toyota RAV4 have a camshaft position sensor?
No separate, external camshaft position sensor is fitted on most 2000 RAV4s with the 3S‑FE engine. The cam reference signal comes from the distributor’s internal pickup, which the ECU uses the same way it would use a cam sensor on newer engines.

Where does the ECU get the cam signal on a 2000 RAV4, and how is it serviced?
It comes from the distributor’s “G” pickup. Servicing involves checking the distributor assembly, wiring and connectors, and replacing the distributor if the pickup or shaft is worn or contaminated. There isn’t a separate cam sensor to replace on the cam cover.

Why might a 2000 RAV4 show a P0340 code if there’s no separate cam sensor?
On this model, P0340 flags a fault with the distributor’s G signal (or its circuit), not a standalone sensor. Causes include a failing distributor pickup, wiring issues, poor earths, or, less commonly, an ECU fault.