Engine codes
P0016: crankshaft and camshaft position correlation (bank 1)
The crankshaft and camshaft are tied together by a chain or belt, so their sensor signals should always line up. P0016 says they do not: one has moved relative to the other beyond what valve timing can explain.
P0016: can I drive, and what will the labor cost?
Estimated labor, replace camshaft or crankshaft position sensor
$55 to $110
| Labor time (estimate) | 0.5 to 1 h |
| Rate used | $110/h |
| Technician wage, United States (average) | $27.13/h |
| High: limit driving, fix within days Limit driving: on many engines this points to a stretched or jumped timing chain, and a chain that fails can damage valves. | |
Labor only: parts and the diagnostic fee are not included. Hours are our estimate for a typical car; book times vary by model. Wage: BLS, May 2025.
P0016 is the generic OBD-II code for "crankshaft position, camshaft position correlation, bank 1 sensor A". The engine computer knows exactly where the camshaft should be for each crankshaft position, allowing for whatever variable timing it has commanded. When the two signals disagree by more than a calibrated number of degrees, it sets P0016. On engines with a timing chain the most frequent cause is wear: the chain stretches, the tensioner extends to its limit and guides break, so the cam falls behind. A belt or chain that has jumped a tooth, a faulty position sensor and a variable timing problem make up the rest. The concern is what happens next: on interference engines a chain that skips further lets valves meet pistons. We rate it high: limit driving, fix within days, and the labor table spans a sensor swap to a full chain job of four to ten hours.
Is this repair still under the emission warranty?
Catalytic converter
Likely covered: ask a dealer
| Federal emission warranty, 8 years or 80,000 miles | within |
Age counts from delivery to the first buyer; whichever limit comes first ends the warranty. Your warranty booklet lists the covered parts and prevails.
Codes, rules and labor data checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
P0016 at a glance
| Code | P0016 |
| Standard description | Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A) |
| System | Camshaft and crankshaft timing |
| Severity | High: limit driving, fix within days |
| Common symptoms | rattle at cold start, hard starting, rough running, loss of power |
Why a chain stretches
Timing chains are meant to last the life of the engine, but long oil change intervals let wear particles and sludge into the pins and rollers. Each link wears a little and the chain grows longer. Some engines have a reputation for it, and a rattle for a few seconds at cold start, when oil pressure has not yet filled the tensioner, is often the first sign before any code appears.
How a shop confirms it
A technician reads the cam and crank correlation values that many engine computers report as live data; a value near the limit at idle, with the cam retarded, points to stretch. Checking the sensors and their reluctor rings comes first because it is quick, and a jumped tooth can be seen once the front cover is off. If P0011 or another cam timing code is stored too, the variable timing solenoid is part of the picture, and a low oil level must be ruled out before anything is ordered.
What to do in the meantime
Drive as little as you can, gently and without high revs, until it is diagnosed. A chain replacement on an engine still under the powertrain warranty is usually covered; the emissions warranty, which the check on this page applies, covers emission parts, so a timing chain normally falls outside it while a sensor may be inside.
Likely causes of P0016, in order
| Cause | How often |
|---|---|
| Stretched timing chain, worn tensioner or guides | most frequent |
| Timing chain or belt that has jumped a tooth | frequent |
| Camshaft or crankshaft position sensor fault | frequent |
| VVT oil control solenoid or low oil pressure | frequent |
| Damaged reluctor (tone) ring | less frequent |
P0016 repairs and labor time
| Repair | Labor (estimate) | At $110/h |
|---|---|---|
| Replace camshaft or crankshaft position sensor | 0.5 to 1 h | $55 to $110 |
| Replace the oil control (VVT) solenoid | 0.5 to 1.5 h | $55 to $165 |
| Replace timing chain, guides and tensioner | 4 to 10 h | $440 to $1,100 |