FAULT CODE READING
OBD2 codes.
A code identifies a signal or system that needs to be checked, not a part you should replace.
Got an OBD2 Bluetooth adapter? Read the codes straight from your car.1 code entry · 8 related faults
P0016The intake camshaft is out of sync with the crankshaft (bank 1)Urgency high
Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)
The crankshaft (turned by the pistons) and the camshafts (which open the valves) turn linked by the timing chain or belt. This code means the sensor A camshaft —usually the intake one— on bank 1 (the cylinder 1 side) is not in the position that matches the crankshaft.
What the car has detected
The engine computer compares the crankshaft and camshaft sensor signals and has seen the cam running advanced or retarded by more degrees than allowed.
The most serious cause is a stretched timing chain or one that has jumped a tooth: if it gets worse, the valves can hit the pistons and wreck the engine. Avoid long trips and get it to a garage as soon as possible.
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on
- Chain noise or rattle, especially on cold start
- Rough idle or hesitation
- Loss of power or limp mode
- Hard starting
Possible causes
- Stretched timing chain (common at high mileage) or one that has jumped a tooth
- Worn timing tensioner or guides
- Stuck camshaft phaser (variable timing) or its control valve
- Low, old or wrong-viscosity oil that doesn't feed the phaser properly
- Faulty camshaft or crankshaft sensor, or a shifted reluctor wheel
- Timing assembled incorrectly after a repair
Checks for the garage
- Ask whether engine or timing work was done recently
- Check the oil level and condition
- Compare requested and actual cam angle in live data
- Look for other timing codes: several at once point to the main chain
- Verify the timing marks per the manual and the condition of chain and tensioners
- Check the phasers and their control valves
Next step
Check the oil level and have the timing (chain or belt, tensioners) and the camshaft phaser checked.
Go to a garage as soon as possible, especially if you can hear the chain. Checking timing and the chain needs specific tools and the engine manual.
Original sources · Date indicated: 2026-10-12
Ross-Tech Wiki: P0016, crankshaft–camshaft correlationSaab service information (WIS): DTC P0016 or P0017 (crankshaft–camshaft correlation)Saab service information (WIS): DTC P0016, P0017, P0018 or P0019 (V6 engine)
View full entryRelated faults in the database
Timing chain tensionerTiming system
- Engine / equipment
- 1.8 / 2.0 TSI-TFSI EA888, 1st and 2nd generation
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2008–2015
- Symptoms
- Metallic rattle for a few seconds on a cold start, engine light for camshaft/crankshaft correlation; in the worst case the engine won't start after a loud noise.
- Possible cause described
- The hydraulic chain tensioner (old design) loses pressure on cold starts, the chain goes slack and can jump teeth, causing valves to hit pistons.
- Check for the garage
- An inspection plug on the lower timing cover shows the tensioner position. Listen to a cold start.
- Cost cited in the source
- €1,500–4,000 (chain, guides and tensioner)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
View full entryEA111 TSI chain and tensionerTiming system
- Engine / equipment
- 1.2 / 1.4 TSI-TFSI EA111 (Polo, Golf V/VI, Ibiza, Fabia, Octavia, Audi A1, Yeti, Touran…)
- Period mentioned
- 2006–2014
- Symptoms
- Rattle on a cold start, engine light for timing deviation; if the chain jumps, the engine cranks but won't start.
- Possible cause described
- A narrow chain and a hydraulic tensioner that loses pressure: the chain stretches, often between 60,000 and 100,000 km. VW revised the chain, guides, tensioner and camshaft.
- Check for the garage
- Listen to a cold start and read the timing deviation values with VCDS. Ask for an invoice showing the revised kit was fitted.
- Cost cited in the source
- €800–1,500A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Mileage cited in the database: 60,000–100,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.
Sources from the original database
Carwiki: EA111 engine (1.2 and 1.4 TSI)Autoscore: 1.2 TSI EA111Au7o: Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSIAu7o: Audi A1 1.2 / 1.4 TFSI
View full entryM271 chain and camshaft adjustersTiming system
- Engine / equipment
- M271 1.8 Kompressor / CGI (C 180/200 W203 and W204, E 200 W211/W212, CLK 200, SLK 200)
- Period mentioned
- 2002–2015
- Symptoms
- Rattle for 2–3 seconds or more on a cold start; engine light for camshaft timing deviation.
- Possible cause described
- A single-row chain that stretches and cast-iron camshaft adjusters whose teeth wear. On later versions the hydraulic tensioner fails more often.
- Check for the garage
- Listen to a cold start, read timing fault codes and check the chain replacement history.
- Cost cited in the source
- €1,500–3,000A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
Autoscore: M271 1.8 KompressorAustralian Car Reviews: M271 cam adjustersMBClub UK: M271 chain and sprocketsAu7o: Mercedes SLK with M271
View full entry1.6 THP chain and tensionerTiming system
- Engine / equipment
- 1.6 THP / VTi (EP6, PSA-BMW “Prince” engine): Peugeot 207/208/308/3008/5008/508/RCZ, Citroën C4/C5/C4 Picasso, DS 3/4/5
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2007–2018
- Symptoms
- Metallic rattle for several seconds after a cold start; engine light for timing deviation.
- Possible cause described
- The chain stretches and the tensioner is soft. Later units have a revised chain and tensioner, which reduce but do not eliminate the fault.
- Check for the garage
- Listen to a cold start and check whether the chain was replaced with the revised parts.
- Cost cited in the source
- Approx. €800–1,500 (converted from dollars)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
View full entry4.2 V8 rear chains and carbon build-upTiming / intake
- Engine / equipment
- 4.2 V8 40-valve (S4 B6/B7) and 4.2 FSI V8 (RS4 B7, S5 8T until 2011, RS5, R8, Q7 4L)
- Period mentioned
- 2003–2015
- Symptoms
- Rattle from the rear of the engine on a cold start, misfires or an engine light for timing deviation; on FSI engines, power loss and rough idle from carbon build-up.
- Possible cause described
- The timing chains sit at the rear of the engine, against the bulkhead, with plastic guides and tensioners that crack; replacing them means removing the engine. FSI direct injection builds carbon on the intake valves from about 40,000–60,000 km.
- Check for the garage
- Listen to a cold start, read crank-cam correlation codes and inspect the intake valves with a borescope.
- Cost cited in the source
- Chains (engine out): approx. €6,500–11,000 on a Q7 4.2 FSI (converted from dollars); carbon cleaning: far lessA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Mileage cited in the database: from 40,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.
Sources from the original database
Go-Parts: P0019 on the Audi Q7 4.2 FSICarComplaints: 2007 Audi S4, 4.2 engineAutodoc: Audi S5 problemsEuro Auto Pro: RS4 B7 problemsRS246 forum: 4.2 chain tensioners
View full entryM272 / M273 balance shaft sprocketTiming system
- Engine / equipment
- M272 V6 (280, 300, 350) and M273 V8 (450, 500, 550) in the C, E, CLK, CLS, SLK, ML, GL, R, S and CL
- Period mentioned
- 2004–2008 (engines below serial number 2729..30 468993)
- Symptoms
- Engine light with P0016 and P0017 (1200 and 1208 on Mercedes diagnostics), rattle on start-up, hesitation, misfires and, in severe cases, stalling.
- Possible cause described
- Balance shaft sprocket (M272) or timing idler gear (M273) made from metal that is too soft: the teeth wear, the chain goes slack and the timing slips. Mercedes changed the material in mid-2008.
- Check for the garage
- Compare the engine serial number with the 2729..30 468993 cut-off, read cam correlation codes and, if in doubt, inspect the sprocket with a borescope. First rule out the cam adjuster magnet (a cheap fault).
- Cost cited in the source
- Engine-out repair: over €3,700 (converted from dollars)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
Mercedes Medic: checking the balance shaft by VIN8020 Automotive: M272 balance shaft failureGo-Parts: P0017 on the M272Go-Parts: P0017 on the M273
View full entryM270/M274 chain, adjusters and thermostatTiming / leaks
- Engine / equipment
- M270 and M274 1.6/2.0 turbo petrol (A, B, CLA, GLA, C, E, GLC, SLC)
- Period mentioned
- 2012–2020
- Symptoms
- Chain rattle on cold starts; engine light with camshaft timing codes (for example P0016 or P001685); oil leaks at the camshaft adjusters; slow coolant loss.
- Possible cause described
- The hydraulic tensioner loses pressure overnight and the plastic guides wear, especially with long oil change intervals. The camshaft adjuster magnets leak oil (common between 65,000 and 110,000 km) and the plastic thermostat housing cracks.
- Check for the garage
- Listen to a cold start, read camshaft codes, look for oil on the adjuster magnets and coolant residue at the thermostat. Use Mercedes 229.5 oil.
- Cost cited in the source
- Chain and tensioner: approx. €320–1,650 (converted from dollars)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Mileage cited in the database: 65,000–110,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.
Sources from the original database
Au7o: B-Class problems with the M270Euro Premium Parts: M270 engine guideEuro Premium Parts: C-Class W205 reliabilityMBClub UK: camshaft faults on the M270/M274
View full entryStretched timing chain on the 0.9 and 1.2 TCeTiming system
- Engine / equipment
- 0.9 TCe (H4Bt) and 1.2 TCe (H5Ft) turbo petrol
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2012–2020
- Symptoms
- Metallic chain rattle, especially when cold or at idle; engine light with a crankshaft–camshaft correlation code; in serious cases the chain jumps and damages the valves.
- Possible cause described
- The chain, meant to last the engine’s life, can stretch early; tensioners and plastic guides wear, and very long oil-change intervals speed up the wear.
- Check for the garage
- With any chain noise or a P0016 code, diagnose straight away: measure the stretch and check the tensioner and guides before the timing jumps. Shorten oil-change intervals.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote for the chain kit.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.