P0021: Camshaft Position A — Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 2)
What to do
Check oil level and service history first — variable valve timing is an oil-pressure system, and a great many of these codes are cured by an overdue oil change with the correct grade.
What this code means
The bank 2 intake camshaft is running further advanced than commanded, or is not responding at all. When this appears alongside its bank 1 twin P0011, stop looking at solenoids: two banks failing the same way at the same time points at what they share, which is oil condition and oil pressure. A single-bank fault points at that bank's own solenoid and phaser.
Likely causes
Start here
Less common
- Incorrect engine oil viscosity · easy
- Worn camshaft phaser · specialist
- Stretched timing chain · specialist
Symptoms
Components involved
Information, not instruction
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Have anything you intend to act on checked by a trained person against the manufacturer's own procedure for your vehicle. Nothing here replaces that procedure.
Community experience
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What makes one worth reading:
- The car — make, model, year and engine. The same fault behaves differently on each.
- What you measured, not only what you replaced.
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