Fault codes › Powertrain › Generic (SAE standard) › Fuel and air metering, plus auxiliary emission controls
P0011 Camshaft position — timing over-advanced (bank 1)
Needs attention Have it looked at soon. The car is usually driveable with care in the meantime.
What does P0011 mean?
P0011 is a generic powertrain code, defined by the SAE standard, so it means the same thing on every make and model: camshaft position — timing over-advanced (bank 1). It belongs to the fuel and air metering, plus auxiliary emission controls group of codes.
A control module stores the code when something it watches stays outside what it expects for long enough. On its own the code says which system complained, not which part has failed — the causes below, most likely first, are where to start.
Is it safe to drive with P0011?
Needs attention. Have the timing chain assessed before long journeys — a stretched chain can fail expensively.
Common causes of P0011
- Stuck variable-valve-timing solenoid.
- Worn timing chain or tensioner.
- Incorrect oil viscosity.
- Camshaft phaser wear.
Symptoms
- Rattle on start-up.
- Rough idle.
- Loss of low-end torque.
What to check first
- Timing chain stretch.
- Oil grade and level.
- Phaser and solenoid operation.
Can I just clear P0011?
You can, and the light goes out — but a fault that is still there sets the code again, often within a drive or two. Clearing also erases the freeze frame (what the engine was doing when the code was stored) and resets the emissions readiness monitors, so an MOT, smog or inspection test will wait until they have run again. Fix the cause first, then clear it, then watch whether it returns.
Read and clear P0011 from your iPhone with OBDTrip
Plug a Bluetooth OBD-II adapter into the car and OBDTrip reads every stored, pending and permanent code, explains each one in plain English like this, shows what the engine was doing when it was set, and clears the check engine light once the fault is fixed. It keeps a history of when each code comes back, and records every drive on its own from then on.
Needs a Bluetooth Low Energy adapter such as the Vgate iCar Pro — which adapters work with iPhone. Reading and clearing codes is part of an OBDTrip subscription.
Related codes
- P0010 Camshaft position actuator circuit (bank 1)
- P0016 Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation (bank 1)
- P0030 Oxygen sensor heater circuit (bank 1, sensor 1)
- P0071 Ambient air temperature sensor range/performance
- P2002 Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold
- P2096 Post-catalyst fuel trim system too lean (bank 1)
General guidance from OBDTrip's fault-code catalogue, not a diagnosis of your car. When a code points to brakes, steering, overheating or a flashing check engine light, have the car looked at before driving on.