P0011: Camshaft Position A Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)
The variable valve timing system has the intake camshaft further advanced than the engine computer commanded. Oil pressure and the timing actuator are usually involved.
Green, yellow, red: three ways P0011 can look
The same code can be a quick fix or a reason to pull over. Match your situation to the closest example.
Keep an eye on it
Oil was low or overdue. After an oil change with the right oil, the code doesn't return.
Schedule a repair
Rough idle or a cold-start rattle. Get it diagnosed soon. A stretched timing chain gets expensive if it goes further.
Stop and get help
Loud rattling, stalling, or a no-start. Don't drive it. A jumped or broken timing chain can destroy the engine.
Symptoms you might notice
- Rough idle
- Stalling
- Hesitation
- Rattle at startup
Common causes, cheapest first
- Low oil level or old, sludgy oil (most common)
- Wrong oil viscosity
- Stuck or clogged oil control solenoid
- Worn cam phaser
- Stretched timing chain
What you can check before calling
- Check the oil level and condition right away
- Listen for a rattle on cold start
A code points to a system, not a part. Replacing parts based on the code alone is how people spend money without fixing the problem. Testing confirms the cause first.
Generic codes (second character 0) mean the same thing on every vehicle. Some manufacturers add their own details, so check service information for your exact vehicle.
Related codes
More cam & crank timing codes
- P0017
Crankshaft Position / Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B) - P0008
Engine Position System Performance (Bank 1) - P0010
Intake Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1) - P0335
Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Malfunction - P0336
Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance - P0340
Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)
Look up another code
Cummins fault code (like 1922), J1939 SPN and FMI (like SPN 3251 FMI 0), or an OBD-II code (like P0420).
Questions
What does P0011 mean?
P0011 means "Camshaft Position A Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)". The variable valve timing system has the intake camshaft further advanced than the engine computer commanded. Oil pressure and the timing actuator are usually involved.
Can I drive with code P0011?
It depends on what the vehicle is doing. Green: Oil was low or overdue. After an oil change with the right oil, the code doesn't return. Yellow: Rough idle or a cold-start rattle. Get it diagnosed soon. A stretched timing chain gets expensive if it goes further. Red: Loud rattling, stalling, or a no-start. Don't drive it. A jumped or broken timing chain can destroy the engine.
What causes P0011?
The most common causes are: low oil level or old, sludgy oil (most common); wrong oil viscosity; stuck or clogged oil control solenoid.
Is P0011 a serious code?
It can be. Loud rattling, stalling, or a no-start. Don't drive it. A jumped or broken timing chain can destroy the engine.
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