# P0016: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A) **Verdict:** Drive to a shop this week Camshaft timing - Generic OBD-II code, applies to all gasoline cars and light trucks sold in the US since 1996. - **Typical cost:** $150-$3,000 - **Urgency:** This week - **Most likely:** Stretched timing chain or worn timing parts - **DIY?:** Shop job ## Quick answer P0016 means the engine computer sees the bank 1 camshaft and the crankshaft out of step with each other. The most common reason is a stretched timing chain or a timing belt that has jumped a tooth. A bad cam or crank sensor, or a cam phaser problem, can cause it too. ## What does P0016 mean? The crankshaft and camshafts are linked by a timing chain or belt so the valves open in step with the pistons. The engine computer reads a crankshaft position sensor and a camshaft position sensor, and on engines with variable valve timing it knows how far the cam is allowed to move. If the two signals do not line up within that window, the mechanical link between them is suspect. P0016 sets when the bank 1 cam signal (sensor A, usually the intake cam) is out of its expected relationship with the crank signal. Most makers run the check at idle or steady speed with the cam phaser parked in its rest position, and many light the check engine lamp only after two trips with the fault. Bank 1 is the side with cylinder 1. P0017 is the matching check for the bank 1 "B" (exhaust) cam, and P0018 and P0019 cover bank 2. ## What are the symptoms of P0016? - Check engine light on - Rattling noise from the front of the engine, especially at startup - Rough idle and lower power - Hard starting or longer cranking - Engine may stall ## What causes P0016? Ranked from most to least likely. Check them in this order: the cheap, common causes first. 1. **Stretched timing chain or worn guides and tensioner** (most common). As a timing chain wears, its pins and links loosen and the chain grows longer, so the camshaft falls behind the crankshaft. Plastic guides and the hydraulic tensioner wear too. High mileage and long oil change intervals make it more likely. A rattle at startup along with P0016, and often P0017 or P0008, points strongly here. 2. **Timing belt or chain jumped a tooth, or installed wrong** (common). If the code appeared soon after a timing belt or chain job, the timing marks may not have been lined up exactly. A belt can also skip a tooth when its tensioner or an idler pulley fails. On interference engines, a belt or chain that jumps several teeth can let the pistons strike the valves, which is a major repair. 3. **Cam phaser stuck out of position** (less common). A cam phaser stuck away from its rest position, or a cam solenoid stuck open, can move the cam far enough to fail the correlation check even with a healthy chain. Low or sludged oil makes this more likely. Watching cam angle on a scan tool while commanding the solenoid helps tell a phaser problem from chain stretch. 4. **Faulty cam or crank position sensor or tone ring** (less common). A weak or noisy cam or crank sensor signal, or a damaged or shifted reluctor ring, can make the timing look wrong when it is not. Poor-quality replacement sensors and rings damaged during engine work are typical sources. Codes such as P0335 or P0340 often appear alongside, and a scope comparison of both signals tells them apart. ## How do you diagnose P0016? 1. Read all codes; P0016 with P0017 or P0008 points to chain stretch rather than a sensor. 2. Check the oil level and condition, since oil problems affect cam phasers. 3. Use a scan tool to view cam/crank correlation or cam angle values; many systems show how far off the timing is. 4. A shop can use a scope to compare cam and crank sensor signals without taking the engine apart. 5. Remove the timing cover or inspect through access points to check chain slack and timing marks. ## How do you fix P0016, and what does it cost? | Fix | Typical cost | What it involves | | --- | --- | --- | | Replace cam or crank position sensor | $150-$400 | Only when testing shows the sensor signal is bad and timing is correct. | | Replace timing chain kit (chain, guides, tensioner) | $1,200-$3,000 | The usual fix for chain stretch; labor varies widely by engine. | | Replace timing belt and reset timing | $500-$1,200 | For belt-driven engines where the belt has jumped a tooth. | Full price breakdowns: [timing chain replacement cost](/cost/timing-chain-replacement), [timing belt replacement cost](/cost/timing-belt-replacement). ## Is it safe to drive with P0016? > **Drive to a shop this week.** Drive as little as possible and get it checked within days. A stretched chain can jump teeth or break, and on many engines that bends valves and ruins the engine. ## Will P0016 fail an emissions test? P0016 keeps the check engine light on, so the vehicle fails an OBD-II emissions test in most states. Timing that is off can also raise emissions and keep other monitors from finishing. After a timing chain or sensor repair, clearing codes resets the readiness monitors, so allow several days of normal driving and confirm the monitors are ready before testing. ## After the repair: clearing P0016 Clear the code after the repair and, if your scan tool shows it, check cam and crank correlation values; they should sit near zero or within the maker's range. Any startup rattle from a stretched chain should be gone. Drive several trips, including cold starts, and recheck for pending codes before calling the job finished. ## How to prevent P0016 - Change oil on schedule with the specified grade; dirty oil speeds chain, guide and tensioner wear. - Replace a timing belt at the interval in the owner's manual, along with its tensioner. - Have a startup rattle from the timing cover checked promptly instead of waiting for codes. - Choose a shop that verifies timing marks and uses quality parts for any timing job. - Keep the oil topped up; low oil starves the chain tensioner on many engines. ## P0016 by make | Make | What to know | | --- | --- | | Chevrolet | The GM 2.4L four-cylinder used in models like the 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox is known for timing chain stretch that sets P0016 and P0008. | ## Codes often seen with P0016 - [P0335](/codes/p0335): Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit - [P0340](/codes/p0340): Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor) - [P0341](/codes/p0341): Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1 or Single Sensor) - [P0011](/codes/p0011): "A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1) - [P0014](/codes/p0014): "B" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1) ## Frequently asked questions ### Is P0016 always a timing chain problem? No, but it is the most common cause. A failing cam or crank sensor, a damaged tone ring or a stuck cam phaser can set the same code. A shop can check the timing with a scan tool or an oscilloscope before you pay for a chain job, often the costliest repair on the list. ### How much does it cost to fix P0016? Most fixes cost $150-$400 for a sensor or $1,200-$3,000 for a timing chain kit at an independent shop. A timing belt job to correct a jumped belt runs about $500-$1,200. The engine design decides most of the labor cost, so get a confirmed diagnosis before approving the repair. ### Can I keep driving with P0016? Only briefly, and only if the engine runs smoothly and is not rattling loudly. If a stretched chain jumps or breaks, many engines suffer bent valves or worse. Treat P0016 as a repair to schedule within days, keep trips short and gentle, and have the car towed if the noise gets louder. ### What does a stretched timing chain sound like? A stretched chain often makes a rattling or slapping noise from the front of the engine for a few seconds after a cold start, and sometimes at idle. The noise comes from the loose chain hitting its guides before the tensioner pumps up. Not every case is noisy, so silence does not rule it out. ### Can a bad crankshaft sensor cause P0016? Yes, though it is less common than chain stretch. If the crank sensor signal is weak or erratic, the computer may misjudge where the crank is compared with the cam. A crank sensor fault often also sets P0335. An oscilloscope comparison of both signals shows whether the sensor or the timing is at fault. ### Can low oil cause P0016? It can contribute. Low or dirty oil can let a cam phaser drift away from its rest position, and many chain tensioners are fed by engine oil, so low oil lets the chain slap and wear faster. Check the oil level and condition first, but expect a mechanical problem if the oil is fine. ### What does P0016 with P0017 mean? When P0016 and P0017 appear together, both cams on bank 1 are out of step with the crank. That points to something they share, usually a stretched timing chain or a timing job done incorrectly, rather than a single sensor or phaser. A shop should inspect the chain, guides and timing marks. ### Can I fix P0016 myself? Usually not, beyond checking the oil and reading live data. Timing chain and belt work requires locking tools, exact timing mark alignment and often removing major engine parts, and a mistake can destroy the engine. A sensor swap may be DIY-friendly, but only after testing proves the sensor is wrong. ### Will P0016 cause the engine to stall? It can. If the cam timing is far enough off, the engine may run roughly, stall at idle or crank a long time before starting, and some computers also limit power. Stalling with P0016 is a sign the timing is badly off, so the car should be repaired before more driving. ### Is P0016 covered by warranty? It may be, if the car is still under its powertrain warranty, since the timing chain is an internal engine part. Some makers have also extended coverage or issued service bulletins for chain problems on specific engines. Check the NHTSA recall site with your VIN and ask a dealer about bulletins. ## Sources - [SAE J2012: Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions](https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j2012_201812/) - [EPA: On-Board Diagnostics (OBD)](https://www.epa.gov/state-and-local-transportation/vehicle-emissions-board-diagnostics-obd) ## Other camshaft timing codes - [P0010 "A" Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0010) - [P0011 "A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0011) - [P0012 "A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0012) - [P0013 "B" Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0013) - [P0014 "B" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0014) - [P0015 "B" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0015) - [P0017 Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0017) - [P0018 Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 2 Sensor A)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0018) - [P0019 Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 2 Sensor B)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0019) - [P0021 "A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 2)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0021) - [P0320 Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0320) - [P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0335) - [P0336 Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0336) - [P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0340) ## Symptoms - [Why is my car idling rough?](https://diagxcar.com/symptoms/rough-idle) - [Why does my car crank but not start?](https://diagxcar.com/symptoms/car-cranks-but-wont-start) - [Why does my car stall while driving?](https://diagxcar.com/symptoms/car-stalls-while-driving) - [Why is my engine knocking?](https://diagxcar.com/symptoms/engine-knocking-noise) ## Repair costs - [Timing chain replacement cost](https://diagxcar.com/cost/timing-chain-replacement): $1,200-$3,500 - [Timing belt replacement cost](https://diagxcar.com/cost/timing-belt-replacement): $500-$1,300 - [Camshaft position sensor replacement cost](https://diagxcar.com/cost/camshaft-position-sensor-replacement) - [Crankshaft position sensor replacement cost](https://diagxcar.com/cost/crankshaft-position-sensor-replacement) --- Source page: https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0016 Updated: 2026-11-03 General information, not a substitute for a qualified mechanic.