P0010 Intake (A) camshaft position actuator circuit/open (bank 1)
What P0010 means
The engine computer adjusts intake camshaft timing on bank 1 by switching an oil control (VVT) solenoid. P0010 means it found an open circuit or electrical fault in that solenoid's circuit. Variable valve timing stops working, so the engine may idle roughly and lose power.
P0010 is a generic SAE J2012 code: it means the same on every make. The exact cause still depends on the car, so read the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
At a glance
- Severity
- High
- Typical repair cost
- 80–400 €
- Workshop time
- 0.5–2.5 h
- Repair difficulty
- Medium
- DIY possible
- Yes
- Check engine light
- Yes
- Affects emissions test
- Yes
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Rough idle
- Loss of power
- Higher fuel consumption
Common causes
- Failed VVT oil control solenoid
- Damaged wiring or corroded connector
- Oil leaking into the connector
- Blown fuse
- Engine computer driver fault (rare)
Can I keep driving with P0010?
Have it checked soon, ideally the same day. The engine may run poorly or stall, and timing problems can lead to engine damage.
What to check first
- Inspect the solenoid connector for damage or oil
- Measure solenoid resistance
- Check wiring and supply voltage
- Replace the solenoid if faulty
Related codes
- P0011 Intake (A) camshaft timing over-advanced or system performance (bank 1)
- P0012 Intake (A) camshaft timing over-retarded (bank 1)
- P0013 Exhaust (B) camshaft position actuator circuit/open (bank 1)
- P0014 Exhaust (B) camshaft timing over-advanced or system performance (bank 1)
- P000A Intake (A) camshaft position slow response (bank 1)
- P0016 Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, bank 1 sensor A (intake)
- P0017 Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, bank 1 sensor B (exhaust)
- P0018 Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, bank 2 sensor A (intake)
Data: TORKO fault-code catalogue, built on OBDex (CC0-1.0) and reviewed against workshop practice. Informational only — it does not replace a diagnosis by a mechanic.
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