Minimize driving until the timing chain is checked. P0017 means the crankshaft position and the Bank 1 exhaust camshaft position are out of sync beyond the allowed range. The most serious cause is a timing chain that has stretched or jumped a tooth, though VVT and sensor faults can also set it.
What P0017 means
The ECM constantly compares the crankshaft position signal with the Bank 1 exhaust (“B”) camshaft position signal. If the learned correlation between them falls outside the specified window across consecutive driving cycles, it sets P0017. On many engines the defining trigger is the timing chain shifting by one tooth or more, which is why worn chains, guides, and tensioners are the headline suspect. A VVT phaser stuck off-position, a faulty cam/crank sensor, or a damaged reluctor ring can produce the same mismatch.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Rough idle or a misfire-like stumble
- Hard starting or long cranking
- Noticeable loss of power
- Rattle or chain noise on start-up
- Stalling in more severe cases
Common causes
- Stretched timing chain or worn guides/tensioner allowing the chain to jump a tooth
- VVT camshaft phaser stuck away from its commanded position
- Faulty camshaft or crankshaft position sensor
- Damaged reluctor/tone ring on the cam or crank
- Low oil pressure or sludge affecting the phaser and chain tensioner
- Wiring or connector faults on the sensor circuits
Severity & driving advice
Severity: High — Because a jumped or breaking timing chain can cause major internal engine damage on interference engines, treat recurring P0017 as urgent.
Can I drive? Minimize driving until the timing chain is checked.
Diagnostic approach
- Check oil level and condition — The chain tensioner and VVT phaser both rely on oil pressure; low or sludged oil can shift timing and must be ruled out first.
- Scan for companion timing/VVT codes — P0017 alongside other P0016–P0019 or VVT codes helps localize which bank and cam are involved.
- Verify camshaft and crankshaft sensor signals — Confirm both sensors produce clean signals and their connectors and reluctor rings are intact.
- Check timing chain stretch — Compare cam-to-crank alignment or use live data to judge whether the chain has jumped a tooth. Suspect the chain kit on high-mileage engines.
- Test the VVT solenoid and phaser — Rule out a phaser stuck off-position by commanding the solenoid and watching actual cam timing respond.
- Stop driving if chain wear is likely — On interference engines a jumped or broken chain can bend valves, so confirm chain integrity before extended driving.
Make & model notes
Toyota: The monitor checks the VVT learned value at idle once coolant reaches about 75°C or higher; a chain shifted by one tooth or more is a defined trigger. Chain and tensioner wear on higher-mileage engines is a common real-world cause.
Ford / GM: Chain-driven V6 and V8 engines are well known for setting the P0016–P0019 correlation codes from stretched chains and worn guides as mileage climbs.
FAQ
Can I drive with P0017?
Keep it to a minimum. If the timing chain has jumped, continued driving risks bending valves on interference engines. Get the timing chain checked promptly.
Is P0017 always the timing chain?
No, but it's the most serious possibility. VVT phasers, cam/crank sensors, and reluctor rings can also cause it — the chain just has to be ruled out first because of the damage risk.
What's the difference between P0016 and P0017?
P0016 is the Bank 1 intake (“A”) cam-to-crank correlation; P0017 is the Bank 1 exhaust (“B”) cam. Both compare a camshaft against the crankshaft.
How much does P0017 cost to fix?
A sensor or VVT solenoid is modest, but a full timing chain job with guides and tensioners is labor-intensive and can be one of the more expensive engine repairs.