P0011 means Intake Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1). On an engine with variable valve timing, the intake camshaft on bank 1 is more advanced than the computer commanded, or is not responding correctly. It is a generic OBD-II code, so the definition is the same on any make, but the most likely cause varies by engine; confirm with a scan tool and the service information for your vehicle before buying parts.
What P0011 means
The engine computer uses the crankshaft position sensor to know engine speed and piston position, and the camshaft sensors to know which stroke each cylinder is on. On engines with variable valve timing, oil-driven cam phasers rotate the camshafts relative to the crankshaft under the control of solenoids. Timing codes come from a sensor that cannot be read, or from a measured cam angle that does not match the commanded one, so oil level and condition, sensor signals and mechanical timing all need checking.
P0011 symptoms
- Check engine light
- Rough idle or stalling
- Poor power or fuel economy
Common causes of P0011
- Low or dirty oil, since cam phasers are oil-operated
- Faulty variable valve timing solenoid or its screen
- Sticking cam phaser
- Stretched timing chain or incorrect timing
How to diagnose P0011
- Check oil level and condition first; the wrong viscosity can set this code
- Test the timing control solenoid and inspect its screen
- Compare desired and actual cam angle on a scan tool
- Check for timing chain stretch if other timing codes are present
Can you drive with P0011?
Often drivable, but ignoring it can lead to stalling or timing component damage.
P0011 tips
Oil comes first: many variable timing systems are sensitive to oil level and viscosity, and sludge can block the solenoid screen. Changing to the specified oil and cleaning the screen fixes some P0011 codes; if it returns quickly, test the solenoid and then the phaser.
Will P0011 clear itself?
If the fault stops, the computer turns off the check engine light by itself after several drive cycles without seeing it again, and the code stays in memory as history for a while. Clearing P0011 with a scan tool after a repair is fine, but if the cause is still there the code returns, sometimes within one drive. Disconnecting the battery also clears codes on most vehicles, but it erases learned fuel trims and idle settings as well.
Related codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P0016 | Crankshaft Position – Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A) |
| P0017 | Crankshaft Position – Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B) |
| P0340 | Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor) |
Guides that help
- VVT solenoid
- engine ticking noise
- timing chain and cam phaser symptoms
- low oil pressure
- crankshaft and camshaft position sensors
When it is more than a sensor
If a stretched chain has already jumped time and damaged valves, or low oil pressure has worn the engine, a repair can cost more than a replacement; see engine replacement cost and compare engines by code on our engines page.
More guides: bad cam phaser symptoms.
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