Number P2090: "B" Camshaft Position Actuator Control Circuit Low (Bank 1)
P2090 refers to actuator B, on engines with twin phasers the exhaust camshaft valve, on bank 1. What Low means depends on how the ECM drives the solenoid. GM's usual high-side output flags a ground short while the valve is energised; the 3.6 L LFX V6 (19OBDG03B) sets P2090 after 20 of 25 samples as
Can you drive with P2090?
Severity: Fix promptly — drivability fault. Short trips at moderate speed only. If the car has entered limp mode (won't rev, stuck in one gear), have it towed rather than forcing it.
If you ignore it: Limp-mode faults tend to strand you, and several of them (misfires, throttle faults) damage other parts while you wait.
This is the #142 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 P2090 means
P2090 refers to actuator B, on engines with twin phasers the exhaust camshaft valve, on bank 1. What Low means depends on how the ECM drives the solenoid. GM's usual high-side output flags a ground short while the valve is energised; the 3.6 L LFX V6 (19OBDG03B) sets P2090 after 20 of 25 samples as Type A, the 2018 hybrid table 18OBDG02 as Type B. A GM controller with a low-side driver in table 23OBDG07 flips the test: it looks for a low voltage while the output is off and flags the code after only 0.2 s, two trips to the lamp. In both cases the threshold is below 0.5 ohms to ground. An open line on this valve is P0013, not P2090. With the exhaust phaser parked, the engine loses some internal exhaust recirculation and part-load efficiency.
Systems involved: oil control valve exhaust bank1, oil control valve wiring, engine control module (ECM/PCM).
Causes, ranked by likelihood
| # | Cause | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exhaust valve control wire shorted to ground or engine block | most likely |
| 2 | Shorted coil in the exhaust oil control valve | possible |
| 3 | Damaged or oil-soaked valve connector | less common |
Check them in order — the list is ranked so the likely, cheaper causes come before the expensive part.
Symptoms you may notice
- Engine warning lamp on, immediately on some GM V6 engines
- Slightly higher consumption and emissions at part load
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 medium with a typical labor time in the 0.3–2 hour range and DIY possible: yes.
Price this repair in your state
Estimated total: — (midsize car, independent shop)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix P2090?
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 P2090?
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 P2090 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 P2090?
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 P2090?
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.