P0016Crankshaft Position — Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)
Caution
What it means
The crankshaft and camshaft each have position sensors, and the computer constantly cross-checks that they agree. P0016 means the intake cam on bank 1 is out of step with the crank — either a sensor is misreporting, or the mechanical timing between crank and cam has genuinely slipped.
Is it safe to drive?
Caution
Take this one seriously until it's proven benign. If it's just a sensor, nothing bad happens; if the timing chain has stretched or jumped, continuing to drive risks the pistons meeting the valves on interference engines — a destroyed engine. If the code arrived with a startup rattle, rough running, or hard starting, stop driving and have it diagnosed. If the car runs perfectly, get it checked within days anyway.
Common causes
Most likely first.
- A stretched timing chain or failing tensioner letting the cam lag — increasingly common with age and long oil-change intervals
- A stuck VVT phaser holding the cam in the wrong position
- A faulty cam or crank sensor, or a damaged tone wheel
- Oil problems disturbing the VVT system — level, pressure, or sludge
- A timing belt or chain installed one tooth off after recent engine work
What the live data shows
Look for companions: P0016 plus VVT codes like P0011 and a cold-start rattle point mechanical; a lone, intermittent P0016 with the engine running normally leans toward a sensor. Cam/crank correlation isn't a standard PID, so hard proof of chain stretch needs a scope or a mechanical inspection — but the freeze-frame conditions (cold start vs warm) and idle stability are honest clues.
A scanner that reads all 139 standard sensors shows you these readings live. ScanMyCar charts them as you drive, keeps the freeze-frame stored with the code, and pulls codes from every module — free, with any cheap Bluetooth adapter.
Typical fixes
Cheapest first, where honesty allows.
- Verify oil level and condition first
- Inspect or replace the cam and crank sensors and their wiring, if the engine runs normally
- Replace the timing chain, guides, and tensioner if stretch is confirmed
- Replace a stuck phaser or VVT solenoid where the diagnosis points there
- If timing work was done recently, re-check the alignment marks
A guide, not a diagnosis. This page describes what P0016 generally means across OBD-II cars. What's actually wrong with your car depends on its live data and its history — and any repair decision deserves a proper diagnosis, whether that's you with a scanner or a professional with a lift.