P0013 Exhaust (B) camshaft position actuator circuit/open (bank 1)
What P0013 means
The exhaust camshaft on bank 1 is adjusted by an oil control (VVT) solenoid switched by the engine computer. P0013 means it found an open circuit or electrical fault in that solenoid circuit. Exhaust valve timing control is lost, which can cause rough running and power loss.
P0013 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 exhaust VVT solenoid
- Damaged wiring or corroded connector
- Oil leaking into the connector
- Blown fuse
- Engine computer driver fault (rare)
Can I keep driving with P0013?
Have it checked straight away. The engine may run poorly or stall, and timing faults can lead to serious 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
- P0012 Intake (A) camshaft timing over-retarded (bank 1)
- P0014 Exhaust (B) camshaft timing over-advanced or system performance (bank 1)
- P0011 Intake (A) camshaft timing over-advanced or system performance (bank 1)
- P0010 Intake (A) camshaft position actuator circuit/open (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)
- P0019 Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, bank 2 sensor B (exhaust)
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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