P0021 Intake (A) camshaft timing over-advanced or system performance (bank 2)
What P0021 means
Variable valve timing uses oil pressure, controlled by a solenoid, to rotate the intake camshaft. P0021 means the intake camshaft on bank 2 (the side without cylinder 1) is more advanced than commanded or not responding properly. Oil condition and a sticking solenoid are the most common causes.
P0021 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
- 100–900 €
- Workshop time
- 0.5–4 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 or stalling
- Loss of power
- Higher fuel consumption
Common causes
- Low, old or wrong-grade engine oil
- Sticking bank 2 VVT solenoid
- Clogged oil passages or solenoid screen
- Worn camshaft phaser
- Stretched timing chain
Can I keep driving with P0021?
Have it checked within a day or two and avoid high revs until then. Check the oil level now.
What to check first
- Check oil level and condition; change oil and filter if overdue
- Inspect and clean or replace the bank 2 VVT solenoid
- Compare commanded and actual camshaft angle
- Check timing chain stretch and the phaser if the fault persists
Related codes
- P0020 Intake (A) camshaft position actuator circuit/open (bank 2)
- P0019 Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, bank 2 sensor B (exhaust)
- P0018 Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, bank 2 sensor A (intake)
- P0017 Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, bank 1 sensor B (exhaust)
- P0016 Crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, bank 1 sensor A (intake)
- P0014 Exhaust (B) camshaft timing over-advanced or system performance (bank 1)
- P0013 Exhaust (B) camshaft position actuator circuit/open (bank 1)
- P0012 Intake (A) camshaft timing over-retarded (bank 1)
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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