Low, dirty or degraded engine oil, or the wrong grade, affecting the variable timing actuator; Faulty or sticking camshaft phaser or actuator (oil control valve/solenoid) on the bank 1 B camshaft; Blocked oil passages or clogged oil control valve screen restricting oil flow to the phaser; Stretched timing chain or belt, worn tensioner or guides, or timing jumped a tooth; Wiring or connector fault on the oil control valve or camshaft/crankshaft position sensor circuits; Faulty camshaft or crankshaft position sensor, or a damaged reluctor wheel giving a false timing reading; Outdated ECU software where the manufacturer has issued a known fix for timing correlation faults.

P0015

B Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded Bank 1.

Generic
Powertrain
Generic code
Medium severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
0: Defined bySAE, the same on every car
0: AreaFuel and air metering, auxiliary emission controls
15: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P0015 means the engine control unit has found that the bank 1 'B' camshaft, which is usually the exhaust camshaft, is running too far retarded compared with the crankshaft position. The ECU compares the camshaft position sensor signal with the crankshaft signal and the commanded variable valve timing position. When the measured angle stays behind the target by more than the allowed amount, the code is set.

Symptoms

Check engine light on
Rough or unstable idle
Hesitation or reduced power under acceleration
Poor fuel economy
Rattling or ticking from the timing drive area on start-up
Hard starting or occasional stalling

Possible causes

Low, dirty or degraded engine oil, or the wrong grade, affecting the variable timing actuatorlikely
Faulty or sticking camshaft phaser or actuator (oil control valve/solenoid) on the bank 1 B camshaftlikely
Blocked oil passages or clogged oil control valve screen restricting oil flow to the phaserpossible
Stretched timing chain or belt, worn tensioner or guides, or timing jumped a toothpossible
Wiring or connector fault on the oil control valve or camshaft/crankshaft position sensor circuitspossible
Faulty camshaft or crankshaft position sensor, or a damaged reluctor wheel giving a false timing readingrare
Outdated ECU software where the manufacturer has issued a known fix for timing correlation faultsrare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes and the freeze frame data, noting engine temperature, load and rpm when the fault set
Check the engine oil level, condition and grade against the specification for that engine, and note any sludge
Inspect the wiring and connectors to the oil control valve and the camshaft and crankshaft sensors for damage, corrosion or oil contamination
Use live data to compare the commanded and actual bank 1 B camshaft angle at idle and under load
Command the variable timing actuator with a scan tool and check that the cam angle responds smoothly
Test the resistance and operation of the oil control valve and remove it to check for debris or a blocked screen, following the model-specific procedure
Check the oil pressure to confirm it meets the specification
Check the mechanical timing for chain stretch or incorrect alignment, using the manufacturer's method for the engine

How to fix

Change the oil and filter to the correct grade and top up to the right level
Clean or replace the oil control valve and its filter screen if blocked or faulty
Replace the camshaft phaser if it is sticking or worn
Repair damaged wiring or connectors in the actuator and sensor circuits
Replace a faulty camshaft or crankshaft position sensor
Replace the timing chain, tensioners and guides, and reset the timing correctly, if the drive is stretched or worn

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

Short, gentle journeys are usually possible, but get it checked soon because poor timing can cause further engine wear. Stop driving if you hear loud rattling, the engine runs very roughly, or the oil pressure warning light comes on.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.