Engine

P0015 — Exhaust Camshaft Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P0015 means

The engine computer compares the commanded exhaust camshaft position on bank 1 with the actual position, using the camshaft and crankshaft sensor signals. A variable valve timing phaser, driven by oil pressure through a solenoid, normally shifts the timing. P0015 sets when the cam stays more retarded than requested.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine light on
  • Rough idle
  • Hard starting or stalling
  • Reduced power and worse fuel economy
  • Rattling or knocking from the timing chain area
  • Occasional misfires

Possible causes

  1. Stuck or failed VVT oil control solenoid
  2. Low, dirty or wrong-viscosity engine oil
  3. Faulty camshaft position sensor or damaged wiring
  4. Stretched timing chain or belt, worn tensioner or guides
  5. Failed cam phaser (VVT actuator)
  6. Clogged VVT solenoid screen or oil passages
  7. Rarely, an ECM fault

How to diagnose

  1. Read freeze-frame data and look for related codes (P0014, P0016, P0017, etc.)
  2. Check oil level, condition and viscosity against the spec
  3. Inspect the VVT solenoid and cam sensor connectors and wiring for damage, corrosion or shorts to ground
  4. Compare commanded and actual cam angle in live data
  5. Command the VVT solenoid with a scan tool and watch the response
  6. Remove the solenoid and check coil resistance, screen cleanliness and free movement
  7. Test engine oil pressure
  8. If the deviation persists, check timing marks, chain stretch, tensioner and phaser

Common fixes

  • Change the oil and filter with the correct grade
  • Clean or replace the VVT solenoid and its screen
  • Replace the camshaft sensor or repair the wiring
  • Replace the cam phaser, timing chain, tensioner and guides
  • Reflash or replace the ECM (very rare)

P0015 on different brands

Ford · manuals
On Ford, P0015:00 means the engine monitor detected the bank 1 exhaust camshaft timing over-retarded; it identifies the monitor condition, not a specific failed part.

Questions and answers

What does P0015 mean?

The bank 1 exhaust camshaft is more retarded than the ECM commands. Common causes are bad oil, a VVT solenoid problem or a stretched timing chain.

Can I drive with P0015?

Only briefly and carefully, to a shop. If oil or the timing chain is the cause, continued driving can damage the engine.

Where should I start diagnosing P0015?

Start with oil level and condition, then check the VVT solenoid, wiring and cam sensor. If those are fine, inspect the timing chain.

This is general information about the code. The meaning can differ between makes and models: a scan tool and the repair manual for your car will show the exact cause.