Number P0016: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)
The engine control module checks whether the signal of the intake camshaft on bank 1 (sensor A) arrives at the expected crankshaft position, usually while the camshaft phaser is in its rest position. P0016 is set when the deviation stays outside a calibrated window. The camshaft is then out of step
Can you drive with P0016?
Severity: Plan the repair. Yes — this is an emissions-system fault. The car will generally drive normally, but it will fail an emissions inspection with the light on.
If you ignore it: Fuel economy and emissions creep up, and some faults in this family (rich/lean running) stress the catalyst over time.
This is the #35 most common code in our top-150 library, in the variable valve timing family (Powertrain system). Severity is Number Nest's editorial triage — if the light is flashing or the car feels unsafe, stop driving it whatever any page says.
What P0016 means
The engine control module checks whether the signal of the intake camshaft on bank 1 (sensor A) arrives at the expected crankshaft position, usually while the camshaft phaser is in its rest position. P0016 is set when the deviation stays outside a calibrated window. The camshaft is then out of step with the crankshaft: a timing belt or chain has jumped a tooth, the chain is stretched, the phaser is stuck at an end stop, or a reluctor wheel has slipped. On engines with a single camshaft, sensor A is simply the only camshaft sensor.
Systems involved: timing chain, timing belt, cam phaser intake bank1, camshaft position sensor, crankshaft position sensor.
Causes, ranked by likelihood
| # | Cause | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timing chain stretched, or belt or chain jumped a tooth | most likely |
| 2 | Camshaft phaser stuck at an end stop, oil control valve or oil pressure faulty | possible |
| 3 | Incorrect assembly after a belt or chain replacement | possible |
| 4 | Camshaft or crankshaft sensor signal disturbed | less common |
| 5 | Reluctor wheel on crankshaft or camshaft slipped | less common |
Check them in order — the list is ranked so the likely, cheaper causes come before the expensive part.
Symptoms you may notice
- Check engine light on
- Long cranking or hard starting
- Rough idle and loss of power
- Chain rattle at cold start on chain-driven engines
- Risk of valve damage on interference engines if the timing has jumped
Misdiagnosis traps
- Replacing the part named by the code title without testing. The code reports a failed self-test; the cause list above is ranked so the likely, cheap causes are checked before the expensive part is condemned.
- Clearing the code and declaring victory when the light stays off for a day — the monitor that sets this code runs only under specific driving conditions.
(General diagnostic guidance for this code family — no code-specific trap is published for this code.)
How a good shop confirms it
- Confirm the code and record any companion codes — companions narrow the system fast.
- Inspect the affected components and their wiring/connectors for damage, corrosion and looseness.
- Test the top-ranked cause with live data or a multimeter before replacing anything.
(Standard diagnostic path for this family, labeled as general guidance.)
Repair options & costs
| Repair | Shop total (parts + labor) | DIY (parts only) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| VVT / oil control solenoid | $123 – $330 | $60 – $180 (parts only) | 2/5 |
National ranges from Number Nest's cost model (midsize car, independent shop, US-average labor).
OBDex repair data for this code rates the job difficulty hard with a typical labor time in the 0.5–20 hour range and DIY possible: see the guide above.
Price this repair in your state
Estimated total: — (midsize car, independent shop)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix P0016?
The fix most associated with this code — vvt / oil control solenoid — runs $123 – $330 at an independent shop for a midsize car in our cost model (parts + labor, US average). The code names a system, not a part, so confirm the cause before spending: the ranked causes above are ordered by likelihood.
Can I drive with P0016?
See the can-you-drive verdict above — it is based on the system involved and the cascading-damage risk, and it is our editorial triage, not a manufacturer instruction. If the light is flashing or the car feels unsafe, stop driving it regardless of any code.
Will P0016 clear itself?
If the fault was a one-off (a loose cap, a cold-start glitch), the light can go out after several clean trips and the code ages into history. A fault that is still present re-sets the code as soon as the car runs that self-test again — monitors run under specific conditions, which is why "it hasn't come back in two days" is not proof of a fix.
Will my car fail inspection with P0016?
In states with OBD-based emissions inspection, yes — an illuminated check-engine light or an incomplete readiness monitor fails the test regardless of what the tailpipe would show. C-codes (ABS) fall under safety inspection instead in states that have one.
What should I check first for P0016?
The first item on the ranked-causes list above — it is ranked likelihood-first for exactly this reason — plus the free checks: recent work in the area (connectors left loose are a classic), fluid levels, and the battery and grounds on electrical codes.
Where this data comes from
Code facts, causes and symptoms come from OBDex — an open dataset of independently authored descriptions of the standardized generic OBD-II codes (CC0 1.0, public domain; github.com/foerbsnavi/OBDex). The SAE J2012 document itself is copyrighted and is not reproduced here. Cost ranges are Number Nest's own US planning model: national parts and labor ranges cross-checked against the CarMD Vehicle Health Index 2026 published averages, with labor adjustable by the BLS OEWS May 2025 state wage index for auto technicians (occupation 49-3023) — a wage index, not a surveyed shop rate. Severity and can-you-drive notes are our editorial triage, not a manufacturer instruction.