P0017: The crankshaft and exhaust cam positions do not match on the left side
Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)
Exhaust cam and crank timing are out of sync, which can mean a slipped timing chain. Get it checked today. If it rattles, runs poorly or stalls, stop and have it towed.
Stop driving and get help if
- The check engine light is flashing
- The temperature gauge runs high, or you see steam (overheating)
- The car loses power, hesitates badly or stalls
- You smell burning or see smoke
- A brake warning light comes on, or the brakes feel different
Pull over as soon as you can, turn the engine off, and call a tow or roadside help.
What it means
P0017 is the exhaust-cam version of P0016. The crankshaft position sensor and the exhaust camshaft position sensor on bank 1 are reporting positions that do not agree with each other. The diagnosis path is the same: rule out a faulty sensor first, then look at the VVT phaser, then inspect the timing chain. On engines that use cam phasers on both intake and exhaust cams, a worn exhaust phaser is a frequent trigger at higher mileage.
Common causes
- Stretched or jumped timing chainA slipped chain changes exhaust cam position relative to the crank, triggering correlation failure.
- Faulty exhaust camshaft position sensorA failing sensor is cheaper to fix than a chain. Test or swap it first on lower-mileage engines.
- Worn exhaust VVT phaserA phaser that slips out of the commanded position creates a false correlation error.
- Faulty crankshaft position sensorLess common but possible. The crank sensor signal feeds both P0016 and P0017 calculations.
What the fix could involve
From the cheaper fix to the bigger one. Prices depend on your car, your area and the shop, so ask for a written quote that names the part and the labor before you approve it.
- Exhaust camshaft position sensor
- Exhaust VVT phaser
- Timing chain kit
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Rough idle or misfires
- Hard start
- Cold-start rattle from the timing chain area
- Poor performance at all RPMs
What to do next
Stop driving beyond what is needed to reach a shop. A technician should scan live data to compare the cam and crank signals before opening the engine. If there is a cold-start rattle or the vehicle has over 100,000 miles without a timing chain service, prioritize a chain inspection. Do not clear the code and drive hoping it resolves on its own.
Lewis reads P0017 alongside any related cam and crank sensor codes, so your technician starts with the full set of codes instead of just one. Get Lewis on the App Store or Google Play.
Related codes
FAQ
- What is the difference between P0016 and P0017?
- P0016 is the intake cam correlation error on bank 1. P0017 is the exhaust cam correlation error on bank 1. Both point to the same timing system but involve different camshaft sensors.
- Can an oil change prevent this code?
- Regular oil changes reduce timing chain wear and keep VVT phasers working. They will not fix a chain that has already slipped, but they do prevent the gradual wear that leads here.
- Will P0017 fail an emissions test?
- Yes. Any stored powertrain code will fail an OBD emissions test. The code also needs to be addressed before the monitors can complete.
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