Cam and crank timing
P0016
Crankshaft Position and Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)
The crankshaft and camshaft sensors disagree about where the engine is in its cycle. The timing chain or belt may have stretched or jumped a tooth.
Stop driving
Can I keep driving? No. Stop as soon as it's safe, and have the car checked before you drive it again. If the timing has slipped, the valves and pistons can touch on many engines. That wrecks the engine.
What the words mean
- Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1. A four-cylinder engine has only one bank.
Common causes
- A stretched timing chain or worn guides
- A timing belt that has jumped a tooth
- A failed cam phaser
- A damaged sensor or tone ring
- Low or dirty oil on engines with oil-driven timing
Listed roughly from most to least likely. The same code can have different causes on different cars.
What to do
- Check the oil level.
- Don't keep driving on it. Have the timing checked by a shop.
- Mention any rattle at start-up. It points to the chain.
General guidance. Your owner's manual wins. If a red warning light is on or the car drives differently, stop safely and get help.
Related codes
Track this automatically in Tagwell Auto
Tagwell Auto keeps your car's service dates and mileage, so when a code shows up you know what was done last. With a Bluetooth reader for the car's diagnostic port (called OBD-II), the phone app can read the code itself.