P0014 Code: B Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)

What the P0014 code means

On engines with variable valve timing on both camshafts, each one has its own actuator and its own control solenoid. The system rotates the camshaft a few degrees relative to its sprocket to advance or retard valve opening depending on engine speed and load.

That rotation is not produced by an electric motor. It comes from oil pressure, directed by the solenoid that the computer controls. The result is checked by reading the position sensor for that camshaft.

The P0014 code is set when the real position of the exhaust camshaft, identified as sensor B, does not match the commanded position. P0011 covers the same thing for the intake camshaft.

Because the code is about performance and not about the circuit, the order of work is clear and runs from cheap to expensive. Oil first, because without pressure, or with sludge, the actuator will not move. Then the solenoid and its internal screen. Then the actuator itself. And only at the end the timing chain, which is where the expensive repairs are.

A useful rule for deciding how far to go: check whether the actuator responds to the active test with the engine hot and freshly changed oil. If it moves under those conditions, the problem was hydraulic and it is solved. If it still does not respond with correct oil pressure and a clean solenoid, the actuator is stuck internally and has to be replaced.

P0014 code symptoms

• Check engine light on.
• Unstable idle, especially with a cold engine.
• Loss of low-rpm torque and a sluggish response.
• Longer cranking than usual.
• Higher fuel use.
• A brief metallic noise at startup if the actuator does not hold oil.
• A P0017 correlation code may appear at the same time.
• The actuator does not respond to the active test even with new oil and a hot engine.

Likely causes of the P0014 code

1. Degraded oil, sludge or oil of the wrong viscosity. The dominant cause.
2. Low oil level, not enough to build the required pressure.
3. Clogged internal screen in the exhaust solenoid.
4. Exhaust variable valve timing actuator stuck or worn.
5. Oil passages in the control circuit blocked by sludge.
6. Stretched timing chain.
7. Worn chain tensioner or one with no pressure.
8. Oil pump with insufficient pressure when hot.
9. Exhaust camshaft position sensor with an imprecise signal.

How to diagnose the P0014 code step by step

1. Check oil level, viscosity and condition first. Black, thick oil explains most of these codes by itself.
2. Compare commanded and actual position in live data and note under what conditions it drifts.
3. Command the solenoid with an active test at idle. The engine should run rough. If nothing changes, oil is not reaching the actuator.
4. Remove the solenoid and clean its internal screen.
5. Measure oil pressure hot and at idle, which is the most demanding condition.
6. Listen to the engine when cold for timing chain rattle.
7. Check whether a P0017 is also stored. That would strengthen the timing chain theory.
8. Verify the system response with the engine hot and under load, not only at cold idle.
9. Repeat the active test with freshly changed oil and a hot engine. If it still does not respond, the actuator is stuck internally and it is not a pressure problem.

How to fix the P0014 code

• Change the oil and filter with the exact viscosity the manufacturer specifies. In quite a few cases the P0014 code goes away with this alone.
• Clean or replace the exhaust control solenoid and its internal screen.
• Replace the variable valve timing actuator if it is stuck and does not respond to active tests.
• Replace the complete timing kit when the chain is stretched.
• Replace the oil pump if hot pressure is too low.
• Do an internal engine cleaning if there is heavy sludge, and shorten the oil change interval.
• Replace the actuator only when it does not respond with new oil, a hot engine and a clean solenoid.

Verify the repair with the engine hot and under load, not only at cold idle. That is when oil pressure is lowest and the fault shows up.

Technical reference data

• Allowed deviation between commanded and actual position: 5 to 10 degrees.
• Minimum oil pressure for the system to operate: about 1.5 bar (22 psi) at hot idle.
• Typical control solenoid resistance: 6 to 12 ohms.
• Sensor A is the intake camshaft. Sensor B is the exhaust camshaft.
• The system does not act at cold idle or during the first seconds after startup.
• Oil thicker than specified slows the actuator response.
• The active test with new oil and a hot engine separates a hydraulic problem from a stuck actuator.

Brand-specific notes

Like the other variable valve timing codes, the P0014 code is in practice an indicator of maintenance history. On engines with timely oil changes it shows up rarely. On engines where the intervals have been stretched it is common.

If the code goes away after an oil change but comes back within a few thousand miles, sludge has built up in the internal passages, and it is worth considering an engine cleaning before replacing parts.

Frequently asked questions about P0014