EngineLightCodes
Powertrain code

P0017 Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)

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

The crankshaft and exhaust camshaft on bank 1 are out of sync. A stretched timing chain, a stuck cam phaser or low oil pressure are the usual causes.

How the engine computer detects it

The engine control module checks whether the signal of the exhaust camshaft on bank 1 (sensor B) arrives at the expected crankshaft position, usually while the camshaft phaser is in its rest position. P0017 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 P0017

  1. Check the oil level and condition first and correct it if needed.
  2. Look for P0016 or other cam timing codes. Several together usually point to the timing chain.
  3. Check the exhaust camshaft sensor and its wiring.
  4. Test the exhaust cam oil control valve (VVT solenoid) and clean its screen.
  5. If correlation values on a scanner show the chain has stretched, replace the timing chain kit.

Vehicles that report P0017 most

VehicleYearsReportsMedian miles
Chevrolet Traverse2009–20122592k
Chevrolet Equinox2008–20201697k
Kia Soul2020–202213—
Mercedes-Benz E3502006–20091191k
GMC Terrain2010–2023998k
Hyundai Kona2019–20219—
GMC Acadia2007–20118120k
Saturn Aura2007799k
Chevrolet Malibu2009–20197—
Buick Enclave2008–20127135k

Counts of owner complaints to the NHTSA that mention P0017 (199 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
17
Specific fault

Questions drivers ask

Can I drive with code P0017?

Drive only to a shop. If the timing is off because the chain stretched or jumped, the engine can be damaged.

Will my car pass an emissions inspection with P0017?

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 P0017. 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.