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Trouble code libraryEngine management

P0016 Crankshaft and camshaft timing don't line up

Generic SAE definitionCrankshaft/camshaft position correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)

Short trips onlyDrive it only if you have to, gently and not far. Get it fixed right away.

Check this first

Listen for a rattle at start-up and check the oil level – then stop driving it hard until it's fixed.

If the engine runs rough as well, get it towed – a chain that jumps further can bend valves.

What usually fixes it

In the order a good shop checks them. Typical total: $113–$2,500 at $130 an hour.

  1. Cam or crank sensor

    $113–$280

    A failing sensor reports the wrong position even though timing is fine.

  2. Variable cam timing solenoid

    $165–$375

    A stuck solenoid holds the phaser away from where the computer asked.

  3. Timing chain, tensioner and guides

    $1,132–$2,500

    A stretched chain or worn guides let the cam drift out of time.

Code titles are the generic SAE definitions. Prices are typical US parts and labor for a common car or light truck – a guide for judging a quote, not a quote. Always confirm a repair against the vehicle in front of you.

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See what your vehicle says about P0016

A stored code is a headline, not the story. The vehicle also holds the conditions from the moment the code set, how close each part is to the limit it fails at, what the fuel trims are doing, and whether the fault is still happening. Drive DTC reads all of it with a USB adapter and a Windows PC – read-only by design.

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More in Engine management

All 26 codes in this group
P0013Exhaust camshaft position actuator circuit (Bank 1) P0014Exhaust camshaft timing over-advanced or system performance (Bank 1) P0015Exhaust camshaft timing over-retarded (Bank 1) P0017Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B) P0018Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation (Bank 2 Sensor A) P0019Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation (Bank 2 Sensor B)