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Emergency
FAULT CODE READING

OBD2 codes.

A code identifies a signal or system that needs to be checked, not a part you should replace.

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1 code entry · 2 related faults

P0017The exhaust camshaft is out of sync with the crankshaft (bank 1)Urgency high

Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)

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 B camshaft —usually the exhaust 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

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Related faults in the database

M271 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

View full entry
M272 / 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

View full entry