[blndweasel]

The cam sensor, when it fails, should switch over to the crank sensor for timing information. It is a little less accurate, but enough to keep the engine running. On my car when the cam sensor failed, the engine would be idling fine, then when the cam sensor dropped out, the idle behavior would stumble and choke for 2-3 seconds, then come back into control once the crank sensor took over.

Perhaps it's worth checking the crank sensor next, because it sounds like perhaps the engine isn't getting secondary timing information to plug into the idle circuit. Then again, if your MAF was dead/bad, causing poor mixture selection, that could cause a misbehaved idle as well.

The wiring harness connection -- never heard of that one before. check the little bullet connectors inside the plug itself, to see if they look clean and tight. Perhaps oxidation or dirt is preventing the connection? Just a wild guess.

good luck

tbw