P0017 Code: Crankshaft Position Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)

What the P0017 code means

Engines with variable valve timing on both camshafts have a position sensor for each one. The computer constantly compares both signals with the crankshaft signal and checks that the relationship stays within a narrow margin.

The P0017 code is set when that comparison fails on the exhaust camshaft, identified as sensor B. Sensor A is the intake camshaft, which is the one P0016 covers.

What makes this code serious is what it implies. The computer is not saying a sensor is working badly. It is saying the physical position of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft is not what it should be. That points to the timing system, not the electronics.

There is one important and frequent exception: oil. The actuator that turns the camshaft moves on oil pressure, so degraded oil, sludge or oil of the wrong viscosity keeps it from reaching the commanded position. In that case there is no mechanical damage yet, but if it is ignored, chain wear speeds up until there is.

Check whether the code shows up together with P0016. If both camshafts are out of position at the same time, a single bad actuator is practically ruled out and the chain or the timing is the likely cause, because it is very unlikely that both actuators fail at once. If only one of the two codes appears, the actuator or solenoid for that camshaft are candidates again.

P0017 code symptoms

• Check engine light on.
• Long, hard starting, especially when cold.
• Unstable idle with vibration.
• Noticeable loss of power and a sluggish response.
• Metallic chain noise from the front of the engine, especially at startup.
• Higher fuel use.
• In advanced cases, the engine will not start.
• A P0016 or misfire codes may show up at the same time.
• P0016 and P0017 stored together, with both camshafts out of position.

Likely causes of the P0017 code

1. Degraded oil, sludge or oil of the wrong viscosity. The most frequent cause and the first to rule out.
2. Stretched timing chain.
3. Worn chain tensioner or one without oil pressure.
4. Exhaust variable valve timing actuator stuck.
5. Exhaust oil control solenoid clogged with sludge in its internal screen.
6. Low oil level, not enough to build the required pressure.
7. Damaged or loose exhaust camshaft reluctor wheel.
8. Timing set incorrectly after a previous repair.
9. Exhaust camshaft position sensor with an imprecise signal.
10. Worn oil pump with insufficient pressure when hot.

How to diagnose the P0017 code step by step

1. Check oil level, viscosity and condition first. Black, thick oil explains most of these codes by itself.
2. Listen to the engine when cold. A metallic rattle in the first seconds points to the chain or tensioner.
3. Read the freeze frame data to see whether the fault appeared when cold, at idle or under load.
4. Check whether a P0016 is also stored. That would mean both camshafts are shifted and supports the chain theory.
5. Remove the exhaust control solenoid and clean its internal screen.
6. Measure oil pressure with a gauge, hot and at idle, which is the most demanding condition.
7. Overlay the signals on an oscilloscope to measure the real offset between the crankshaft and the exhaust camshaft.
8. Verify the timing mechanically with the engine at top dead center on cylinder one. This is the definitive test.
9. Compare with the P0016 result. Both camshafts out of position points to the chain or the timing. A single camshaft leaves the actuator and solenoid for that camshaft as the candidates.

How to fix the P0017 code

• Change the oil and filter with the exact viscosity the manufacturer specifies if the oil is in poor condition.
• Clean or replace the exhaust camshaft oil control solenoid and its screen.
• Replace the complete timing kit, with chain, tensioner, guides and sprockets. Replacing only the chain brings the fault back within a few months.
• Replace the variable valve timing actuator if it is stuck and does not respond to active tests.
• Re-time the engine following the manufacturer procedure and torque specifications.
• 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 from then on.
• Prioritize the timing kit if the P0017 code and P0016 appear together, and the solenoid or actuator of the affected camshaft if there is only one.

After the repair, clear the P0017 code and do several cold starts before you call the job finished.

Technical reference data

• Typical allowed offset between the crankshaft and the camshaft: 5 to 10 degrees, depending on the manufacturer.
• Sensor A is the intake camshaft. Sensor B is the exhaust camshaft.
• 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.
• Usual actuator travel: 20 to 50 crankshaft degrees.
• Oil thicker than specified slows the actuator response.
• Both camshafts out of position at once points to the chain or the timing. A single camshaft points to its own actuator or solenoid.

Brand-specific notes

In practice this code is a thermometer of the maintenance history. On engines with timely oil changes it rarely appears. On engines where the intervals have been stretched it is common and often comes with chain noise.

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

Frequently asked questions about P0017