P0019 Code: Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 2 Sensor B)
The bank 2 exhaust cam signal doesn't match the crankshaft; chain, bank 2 exhaust phaser or a heat-hit sensor.
At a glance
Severity: Moderate
- Meaning
- Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 2 Sensor B)
- System
- Fuel & Air Metering · Powertrain
- Safe to drive?
- With caution
- Typical repair cost
- $100–$4,500
- DIY difficulty
- Hard
P0019 is set when the PCM sees the bank 2 exhaust cam signal land outside its learned window relative to the crankshaft. Only engines with a sensor on each of four camshafts can store it, typically DOHC V6 and V8 engines with phasers on both intake and exhaust cams. On many of these the bank 2 exhaust cam sensor sits closest to the exhaust manifold or crossover pipe, often tucked against the firewall, so heat and oil leaks play a bigger role here than on the other three sensors. Mechanically, the same suspects apply as for any correlation fault: a worn chain or tensioner, a phaser that won't lock at its base position, or a cam timed wrong after repair work. Whether P0018 is stored alongside decides where you start.
Can I keep driving? If the engine is quiet and running smoothly, you can drive it to a shop, but avoid high revs and heavy loads. Any rattle from the timing covers or new roughness means stop driving, because the cause may be a chain that could skip.
How to read P0019
- P Powertrain
- 0 Generic (SAE)
- 0 Fuel/air & emissions (aux.)
- 19 Specific fault
Symptoms
- Check engine light, frequently on its own with the engine feeling normal
- Code that sets after heat soak, such as restarting after a short stop on a hot day
- Mild loss of power and slightly higher fuel use
- Startup rattle from the bank 2 end of the engine when a phaser or tensioner is involved
- Oil seepage visible around the bank 2 valve cover near the sensor
Possible causes
Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).
- Wear in the bank 2 timing drive or the primary chain (look for P0018 as well)
- Bank 2 exhaust phaser lock pin or return spring failing
- Bank 2 exhaust cam sensor weakened by heat from the nearby manifold or crossover pipe
- Oil leaking from the bank 2 valve cover gasket into the sensor or its connector
- Low or degraded oil starving the bank 2 tensioner and exhaust phaser
- Bank 2 exhaust camshaft timed wrong after a repair
- PCM software with correlation limits the manufacturer has since revised
Diagnosis step by step
Confirm the engine has four cam sensors
P0019 needs a dedicated exhaust cam sensor on bank 2. Count the sensors or check service information before anything else; it saves you chasing a code that a generic scanner may have mislabeled.
Tools: Flashlight
Look for a heat pattern in the freeze frame
If the code only sets after a long drive or a hot restart, and the bank 2 exhaust deviation jumps rather than drifts, the sensor or its connector is the likely culprit rather than the chain.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Compare bank 2 intake and exhaust deviation
If the bank 2 intake reading is also off, or P0018 is stored, the bank 2 drive or the primary chain is the likely cause. When only the exhaust side deviates, the bank 2 exhaust phaser, sprocket or sensor is where to look.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Swap exhaust cam sensors between banks
If both exhaust sensors are the same part, swap them and clear codes. A fault that moves to bank 1 as P0017 condemns the sensor; one that stays as P0019 is mechanical or in the bank 2 wiring.
Tools: Screwdriver, OBD-II scanner
Inspect the connector for oil and heat damage
Unplug the sensor and look for oil from the valve cover gasket, melted or hardened insulation and green terminals. Fix the oil leak at the same time, or a new sensor will soon fail the same way.
Tools: Flashlight, Multimeter
Check the bank 2 exhaust phaser and timing
Command the bank 2 exhaust cam to its base position and see whether the actual angle stays steady. If it wanders, or if the code keeps returning with a good sensor, check the timing marks and phaser with the covers off.
Tools: OBD-II scanner, Torque wrench
Where the parts are
- 1Ignition coil
- 2Spark plug
- 3Fuel injector
- 4Camshaft sensor
- 5Crankshaft sensor
- 6Engine computer (ECM)
- 7Intake manifold
Repair options & costs
| Repair | DIY? | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Replace bank 2 exhaust camshaft sensor | Yes | $100–$320 |
| Replace bank 2 valve cover gasket and clean the sensor connector | No | $200–$550 |
| Replace bank 2 exhaust cam phaser | No | $800–$1,800 |
| Bank 2 timing chain, guides and tensioner | No | $1,200–$2,400 |
| Full V6 or V8 timing chain set | No | $2,000–$4,500 |
Rough US estimates for parts and labor; shop rates vary by region. Not a quote.
Notes by brand
Mercedes-Benz
On M272 V6 and M273 V8 engines, a worn idler sprocket in the timing drive is a known cause of camshaft/crankshaft correlation faults, frequently on the bank 2 camshafts. Like the M272 balance shaft problem, it's a labor-heavy repair that means opening up the front of the engine.
Field data
| Chevrolet | 6 | Traverse, Malibu Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford | 3 | F-150 REGULAR CAB, F-150 SUPER CREW, F-150 SUPERCAB | |
| Kia | 2 | Sedona |
Source: NHTSA Complaints API (US government open data), analyzed by DTC mention.
Emissions / smog test impact
Will fail
P0019 lights the check engine lamp, and any OBD-II emissions station will fail the car until it's repaired. Clearing the code without a repair won't help either: the monitors will read not ready and the code usually returns before you reach the test lane.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the bank 2 exhaust cam sensor so often hit by heat?
On many V engines it sits at the rear of the back cylinder head, close to the exhaust manifold or crossover pipe and with little airflow. Years of heat cycles make its housing and connector brittle, so it may drop out only when the engine is hot.
P0019 showed up after a valve cover gasket job. Coincidence?
Probably not. The sensor's connector is often unplugged or moved during that job, and a loose plug, a pinched wire or a sensor that isn't fully seated can set P0019. Check that area first.
What does P0018 plus P0019 together mean?
On many engines both bank 2 cams are driven by the same secondary chain, so wear there moves both readings at once. The pair points to the bank 2 drive, while codes on all four cams point to the primary chain.
Is P0019 cheaper to fix than P0018?
Often, because heat-damaged sensors and connectors play a bigger role on the bank 2 exhaust side. But if the chain turns out to be the cause, the cost is the same as for any V-engine chain job.
Sources
- SAE J2012 – Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions
- ISO 15031-6 – Road vehicles, diagnostic trouble code definitions (EOBD)
- Manufacturer public service information (cross-checked)
- NHTSA Complaints API
- Methodology: How We Build Code Pages · Data Sources We Use · Editorial Policy