The P0016 code on a Dodge means the crankshaft and camshaft position signals no longer agree — the two shafts that must stay perfectly synchronized are reading out of step (P0016 = Bank 1 sensor A, P0017 = Bank 1 sensor B). Unlike a plain sensor code, this one is usually telling you something mechanical or oil-related: a VVT phaser starved by low or worn-out oil, a stuck cam-timing solenoid, or — the expensive classic on high-mileage 3.6L Pentastars — a stretched timing chain. Start with the dipstick, not the parts catalog: the cheapest cause is also the most common.
What Do P0016 and P0017 Mean on a Dodge?
Your engine’s crankshaft and camshafts are tied together by the timing chain, and modern Dodge engines adjust the cams on the fly with variable valve timing (VVT): oil-pressure-driven phasers rotate the cams slightly, commanded through small oil control solenoids. The PCM constantly compares the crank sensor’s signal with each cam sensor’s signal. When the measured relationship drifts outside the window the phasers can explain, it stores a correlation code:
- P0016 — Crank/Cam Correlation, Bank 1 Sensor A (intake side)
- P0017 — Crank/Cam Correlation, Bank 1 Sensor B (exhaust side)
- V6/V8 relatives: P0018/P0019 are the same complaints for Bank 2
The crucial distinction: P0340/P0344 say a cam signal is electrically faulty or missing; P0016/P0017 say both signals are present and readable — they just disagree about where the cam is. Electrical codes point at sensors and wiring. Correlation codes point at oil, VVT hardware, and the chain itself.
Dodge P0016 / P0017 Symptoms
- Check engine light — sometimes the only symptom early on
- Rattle from the front of the engine on cold start — a few seconds of chain noise before oil pressure rises is the classic stretched-chain/worn-guide soundtrack
- Rough idle, reduced power, worse fuel economy — cam timing stuck away from target
- Hard starting or stalling in advanced cases
- Misfires riding along as collateral when timing drifts far enough
Common Causes of P0016 and P0017 on a Dodge
In rough order of how often they turn out to be the culprit — note how many are oil-related:
- Low, dirty, or wrong-viscosity oil — the #1 overlooked cause. VVT phasers are hydraulic: starved of clean oil at the right pressure, they lag or stick, and the PCM reads it as a correlation fault. Stretched oil-change intervals also sludge the tiny solenoid screens.
- A stuck VVT/oil-control solenoid — the valve that routes oil to the phaser; cheap, accessible, and a frequent true fix on Pentastar and HEMI engines alike.
- A worn cam phaser — internal wear lets the cam flutter or sit off-target; often announced by a distinctive rattle.
- A stretched timing chain or worn guides/tensioner — the high-mileage classic, especially on 3.6L Pentastar engines past ~100k with casual oil habits. Every link wears a little; together they retard the cam enough to flag.
- A jumped tooth — a worn chain or failed tensioner letting the timing skip a tooth; symptoms get dramatic (hard start, heavy misfires, big power loss). Treat as urgent — see the red box below.
- Tone wheel/reluctor or sensor faults — least common; usually these set the electrical codes first.
Cause → Symptom → Fix at a Glance
| Cause | Typical pattern | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Low/worn/wrong oil | Code after delayed oil change; no mechanical noise | Proper oil change (correct viscosity), clear and monitor |
| Stuck VVT solenoid | Code returns with fresh oil; rough idle; no chain rattle | Replace the oil-control solenoid (clean its screen) |
| Worn cam phaser | Rattle at idle/start; correlation drift on live data | Replace the phaser — usually with chain service |
| Stretched chain/guides | High mileage, cold-start rattle, codes persist after oil and solenoid | Timing chain kit (chain, guides, tensioners) |
| Jumped tooth | Sudden hard start, heavy misfire, big power loss | Stop driving; mechanical timing inspection now |
| Sensor/tone wheel | P0340-family codes alongside; correlation values erratic, not offset | Diagnose per the cam-sensor guide first |
How to Diagnose P0016 / P0017 on a Dodge Step by Step
Cheapest first — this code family rewards patience and punishes parts-cannon spending:
- Check the oil now. Level, color, and your service history. If the oil is low, black, or overdue, do a proper change with the exact specified viscosity, clear the code, and drive. A meaningful share of correlation codes end here.
- Listen to a cold start. A few seconds of rattle from the timing cover before oil pressure builds points at the chain/guides/phaser; silence argues for oil or a solenoid.
- Read the companions. P0340-family codes alongside → work the cam sensor guide first. Misfires alongside are usually collateral, not cause — see P0300 after timing is sorted.
- Test or swap the VVT solenoid. It’s the cheap, accessible suspect: pull it, inspect the screen for sludge, and on engines with twin solenoids swap sides to see if the code follows (the same logic as the coil-swap test). A bidirectional scanner can command the phaser and watch whether actual cam timing tracks the target — the definitive live-data check.
- Measure the correlation on live data. A steady offset that grows with RPM is chain stretch’s signature; values that wander erratically point back at sensors or a flaky solenoid.
- Confirm mechanically before the big job. A shop verifies chain stretch by checking timing marks or measuring phaser/chain play — an hour of labor that either confirms or saves a four-figure repair.
- After any fix: clear the codes, complete several warm-up cycles, and verify the correlation values sit near zero — the routine is in our reset guide.
Dodge P0016 / P0017 Repair Cost
Typical US shop prices (parts + labor) by root cause:
DIY note: the oil change and solenoid swap are accessible jobs; a timing chain on a Pentastar or HEMI is a serious teardown best left to experienced hands. The best DIY contribution to this code is prevention — on-time oil changes with the right viscosity are literally timing-chain insurance.
Is It Safe to Drive a Dodge with P0016 or P0017?
If there’s no rattle, no misfires, and the engine drives normally, you have time to do the oil-first diagnosis properly over days, not months. Keep revs moderate until it’s resolved.
These engines are interference designs: if a worn chain jumps far enough, pistons and valves occupy the same space and the repair multiplies tenfold. A correlation code plus chain noise or dramatic running problems is a park-it-and-inspect situation, not a drive-it-and-see one.
FAQ: Dodge P0016 and P0017 Codes
What is the difference between P0016 and P0340 on a Dodge?
P0340 is an electrical complaint — the camshaft sensor’s signal is missing or faulty, pointing at the sensor, its connector, or wiring. P0016 is a mechanical disagreement — both crank and cam signals read fine, but they no longer line up, pointing at oil supply, VVT solenoids and phasers, or a stretched timing chain. When both appear together, resolve the electrical side first, because a bad signal can fake a correlation problem.
Can low oil really cause a P0016 code on a Dodge?
Yes — it is the most common overlooked cause. The cam phasers that adjust valve timing are hydraulic devices run by engine oil; low level, worn-out oil, or the wrong viscosity makes them lag or stick, and the PCM logs the resulting timing error as a correlation fault. An on-spec oil change is both the first diagnostic step and, in a meaningful share of cases, the complete fix.
How do I know if my Dodge’s timing chain is stretched?
The pattern: high mileage (typically past 100,000), a brief rattle from the front of the engine on cold start before oil pressure builds, and a correlation code that returns after fresh oil and a known-good VVT solenoid. On live data, a steady cam-timing offset that grows with RPM is the chain’s signature. A shop confirms mechanically by checking the timing marks or measuring chain play — always worth the hour before authorizing the full chain job.
Is it safe to drive my Dodge with a P0016 or P0017 code?
With only the light and a smooth, quiet engine — yes, gently and briefly, while you work the oil-first diagnosis. With cold-start rattle, stalling, or sudden rough running — no: these are interference engines, and a chain that jumps timing far enough lets pistons strike valves, turning a four-figure chain job into an engine rebuild. Noise plus a correlation code means park it and verify the timing mechanically.
How much does it cost to fix P0016 or P0017 on a Dodge?
It spans the widest range on the site. An oil change at $50–$120 genuinely fixes some cases; a VVT oil-control solenoid runs $100–$300 installed; and a mechanical timing verification costs $100–$200. The big outcome is a timing chain kit — chain, guides, tensioners — at $800–$2,500+, more if cam phasers are replaced with it. That spread is exactly why the cheap steps come first, in order.
Correlation codes and cam-sensor codes are neighbors with different fixes — keep the P0340/P0344 cam sensor guide open next to this one, and if misfires came along, finish with P0300.