EN

Severity: Moderate Code type: Generic (all makes)

P0017 Code: Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)

The bank 1 exhaust cam signal doesn't line up with the crankshaft; think chain, exhaust phaser or sensor.

At a glance

Severity: 3/5 – Moderate3/5

Severity: Moderate

Meaning
Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)
System
Fuel & Air Metering · Powertrain
Safe to drive?
With caution
Typical repair cost
$80–$2,600
DIY difficulty
Hard

P0017 is the exhaust-side twin of P0016: the PCM compares the bank 1 exhaust cam sensor signal with the crankshaft signal and finds them further apart than its learned window allows. It only exists on engines with a separate sensor for the exhaust camshaft, usually because that cam has its own phaser. The first question is always whether P0016 set as well. If both bank 1 cams are off by a similar amount, the chain or belt that drives them both is the prime suspect. If only the exhaust cam is out, look at what is unique to it: the exhaust phaser and its lock pin, the exhaust sprocket and tone wheel, and the exhaust cam sensor, which lives on the hot side of the head.

Can I keep driving? Usually drivable to a shop if the engine is quiet, but treat it as a timing fault: no hard acceleration, no towing, and stop at once if a rattle or clatter appears. If P0016 is stored too, follow the stricter advice for a stretched chain.

How to read P0017

How to read P0017P10203174
  1. P Powertrain
  2. 0 Generic (SAE)
  3. 0 Fuel/air & emissions (aux.)
  4. 17 Specific fault

Symptoms

  • Check engine light, often with no other complaint when only the exhaust side is affected
  • Rattle at startup from the exhaust phaser end of the camshaft
  • Slightly rougher idle and higher fuel consumption
  • Hard starting when the chain is to blame and P0016 is also stored
  • Code that sets mainly once the engine is hot, typical of a heat-stressed exhaust cam sensor

Possible causes

Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).

  1. Exhaust phaser not locking at its base position, or its sprocket slipping on the cam 24%
  2. Timing chain stretch affecting both cams (usually with P0016 alongside) 22%
  3. Exhaust cam sensor failing with heat, oil-soaked connector or a wiring fault 18%
  4. Exhaust cam tone wheel damaged, or its retaining bolt loose 12%
  5. Poor oil supply to the exhaust phaser from sludge, a clogged screen or the wrong oil 12%
  6. Exhaust cam timed incorrectly after a chain or cylinder head job 8%
  7. Aftermarket exhaust cam sensor with a different signal edge 4%

Diagnosis step by step

Diagnostic flow: P00171Sort the code pattern2Compare intake and exhaust deviation3Park the exhaust phaser and watch it4Inspect and heat-test the exhaustcam sensor5Check the exhaust sprocket and tonewheel6Verify the exhaust cam timing mark

  1. Sort the code pattern

    P0017 with P0016 means both cams moved, so focus on chain, guides and tensioner. P0017 alone points to the exhaust cam's own parts. P0017 plus P0014 means the exhaust phaser is both slow and off its base, which points hard at that phaser.

    Tools: OBD-II scanner

  2. Compare intake and exhaust deviation

    In live data, compare the bank 1 intake and exhaust cam deviation values. A healthy engine shows both near zero; an exhaust value several degrees off while the intake stays close to zero isolates the fault to the exhaust side.

    Tools: OBD-II scanner

  3. Park the exhaust phaser and watch it

    Command the exhaust cam to its base position at idle and watch the actual angle for a minute. If it keeps wandering a few degrees while it should be locked, the lock pin or the phaser's internal seals are no longer holding.

    Tools: OBD-II scanner

  4. Inspect and heat-test the exhaust cam sensor

    Remove the sensor and look for cracks, oil inside the connector and metal debris on the tip. Check reference voltage, ground and signal, then warm the sensor gently with a heat gun while watching the signal to catch a sensor that drops out when hot.

    Tools: Multimeter, OBD-II scanner

  5. Check the exhaust sprocket and tone wheel

    With the valve cover off, confirm that the exhaust sprocket bolt is tight and the tone wheel hasn't shifted. On many engines the tone wheel is part of the phaser, so a damaged wheel means a new phaser.

    Tools: Flashlight, Torque wrench

  6. Verify the exhaust cam timing mark

    Lock the crankshaft at top dead center and check that the exhaust cam lines up with its mark or accepts its locking tool. One tooth off on the exhaust side alone is enough to set P0017.

    Tools: Flashlight, Torque wrench

Where the parts are

Ignition: coils and spark plugs per cylinder – P00171234567
Ignition: coils and spark plugs per cylinder
  1. 1Ignition coil
  2. 2Spark plug
  3. 3Fuel injector
  4. 4Camshaft sensor
  5. 5Crankshaft sensor
  6. 6Engine computer (ECM)
  7. 7Intake manifold

Repair options & costs

RepairDIY?Estimated cost
Replace exhaust camshaft position sensor Yes $90–$260
Repair exhaust cam sensor connector or wiring No $80–$250
Re-time the exhaust camshaft after earlier work No $300–$900
Replace exhaust cam phaser No $650–$1,600
Timing chain kit with guides and tensioner No $1,200–$2,600

Rough US estimates for parts and labor; shop rates vary by region. Not a quote.

Notes by brand

Mercedes-Benz

Earlier M272 V6 engines in C-, E- and ML-Class models are known for a worn balance shaft sprocket that lets the bank 1 cam timing drift. It typically logs bank 1 intake and exhaust correlation codes together, P0016 and P0017, and the repair is labor-intensive because the balance shaft sits deep in the engine.

P0017 on Mercedes-Benz in detail

Field data

Chevrolet 57 Traverse, Equinox, Camaro
Mercedes-Benz 24
GMC 15 Acadia, Terrain, Canyon
Hyundai 12 Elantra, Kona, Elantra Gt
Kia 7 Forte, Optima, Forte Koup
Ford 4 Ecosport, Explorer, F-150 SUPER CREW
Jeep 2 Patriot, Wrangler

Source: NHTSA Complaints API (US government open data), analyzed by DTC mention.

Emissions / smog test impact

Will fail

Because P0017 lights the check engine lamp, an OBD-II emissions test will fail. After the repair, especially following chain or phaser work, drive a mix of city and highway for several days so the monitors are complete before you go back.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I have P0017 but not P0016?

Because only the exhaust cam is out of step. Anything shared by both cams, such as the main chain, would usually move both readings. That steers you toward the exhaust phaser, its sprocket and tone wheel, or the exhaust cam sensor.

Is P0017 as serious as P0016?

On its own and without noise, it's often a sensor or exhaust phaser problem and less urgent. With P0016 alongside, or with a rattle, treat it exactly like a stretched chain and keep driving to a minimum.

My engine has no exhaust cam sensor. Can it still set P0017?

Generally not, because P0017 applies to engines that watch the exhaust camshaft separately. If a generic scanner shows it on an engine without such a sensor, confirm it with a manufacturer-level tool before acting on it.

Can I replace the exhaust cam sensor myself?

On most engines, yes: it's usually one bolt and one connector. Use a quality part, lube the O-ring and clear the codes afterward. If the code is back within a drive or two, the sensor wasn't the problem.

Sources