EngineLightCodes
Powertrain code

P0016 Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)

Severity
Stop soon
Typical repair cost
$70–$4,400
Do it yourself
Shop job
Shop time
0.5–20 hours

The crankshaft and intake camshaft aren't lined up the way the computer expects. That often means a stretched timing chain or a problem with variable valve timing. Low or dirty oil makes it worse.

How the engine computer detects it

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.

Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages

Symptoms

  • 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

Common causes

  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 likely
  5. Reluctor wheel on crankshaft or camshaft slipped Less likely

How to diagnose P0016

  1. Check the oil level and condition. Top up or change it with the correct viscosity, clear the code and see if it returns.
  2. Listen for a rattle at cold start. It's a classic sign of a stretched timing chain.
  3. Inspect the camshaft and crankshaft sensors and their connectors.
  4. A shop can check cam-crank correlation values on a scanner to tell how far the timing is off.
  5. If the chain is stretched, replace the timing chain kit, including guides and tensioner.

Vehicles that report P0016 most

VehicleYearsReportsMedian miles
GMC Sierra 15002019–202632113k
Chevrolet Silverado 15002018–20242385k
Ford F-1502011–20142177k
Mercedes-Benz E3502006–20091291k
Chevrolet Equinox2010–20177110k
GMC Terrain2010–20236—
Chevrolet Malibu2008–2017588k
Mazda CX-92008–20155132k
GMC Yukon XL2021–20224—
Cadillac Escalade2022–20244—

Counts of owner complaints to the NHTSA that mention P0016 (191 in total), not failure rates: popular models get more complaints simply because more of them are on the road. Models with fewer than 3 complaints are left out.

Reading the code

P
Powertrain
0
Generic (SAE) code
0
Fuel and air metering, auxiliary emission controls
16
Specific fault

Questions drivers ask

Can I drive with code P0016?

Don't put it off. If the timing chain has stretched or jumped a tooth, it can damage the engine. Drive only to a shop, and check the oil level first.

Will my car pass an emissions inspection with P0016?

Probably not in states that test vehicles with an OBD-II scan: an emissions-related code that keeps the check engine light on is usually an automatic fail. Rules differ by state and county, so check yours.

Often reported together

Codes that owners mention in the same NHTSA complaints as P0016. They can point to a shared cause, so it's worth checking them together.

This page is general information, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis. Repair costs are rough estimates for parts and labor and vary by vehicle and region.