OBD-II Code · Powertrain
P0010
"A" Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1)
Severity
medium
Worth booking. It costs fuel, emissions or comfort until it is fixed.
Can you drive it
Only if running normally
A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety.
Indicative cost (USD)
$80–$500
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
The intake camshaft phaser solenoid circuit on bank 1 has a fault. Common on engines with VVT/VVT-i/VANOS.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- Check engine light
- Rough idle when cold
- Reduced fuel economy
- Hesitation under load
Likely causes
- Failed camshaft phaser solenoidMost common
- Wiring/connector issue
- Low or dirty oil affecting actuator
- Failed VVT actuator
Read the full diagnostic procedureBank 1 intake camshaft position actuator (OCV — oil control valve) circuit fault.
Bank 1 intake camshaft position actuator (OCV — oil control valve) circuit fault. The PCM commands the OCV via PWM duty cycle (typically 0-100%) to route engine oil into the cam phaser advance/retard chambers; this code sets when the PCM sees electrical resistance out of spec, a short, or an open circuit — NOT when the cam itself fails to move (that's P0011/P0012).
Cheapest-first ladder
- Unplug the OCV connector and ohm the solenoid coil — spec is typically 6.9-7.9 ohms on most Toyota/Honda/GM applications, 10-15 ohms on Ford; out-of-spec means replace the solenoid ($35-$120 part).
- Backprobe the connector with key-on: you should see battery voltage on one pin and PCM ground-side PWM switching on the other — no voltage means check fuse and the wire back to PCM.
- Pull the OCV and inspect the screen — metallic varnish or sludge on the inlet screen is the #1 cause of intermittent P0010 and it's a $0 fix with brake cleaner. Don't replace the camshaft phaser or timing chain on a P0010 alone — this is a circuit code, not a mechanical code.
Vehicle-specific patterns2007-2011 Toyota Camry/RAV4 2AZ-FE and 2GR-FE V6 — OCV inlet screen clogs with oil varnish at 80-120k miles, cleaning the screen clears the code 70%…
- 2007-2011Toyota Camry/RAV4 2AZ-FE and 2GR-FE V6 — OCV inlet screen clogs with oil varnish at 80-120k miles, cleaning the screen clears the code 70% of the time (TSB EG053-08).
- 2006-2011Honda Civic/CR-V K24 — VTC OCV solenoid coil opens internally, throws P0010 cold; replace the solenoid, not the actuator.
- 2005-2010Ford Escape/Fusion 2.3L Duratec — OCV connector pin fretting from engine vibration, repin the connector with new terminals before throwing parts.
- 2008-2013GM 2.4L Ecotec (Equinox, Malibu, Terrain) — known OCV harness chafe against the valve cover, inspect the wire loom routing.
Estimated repair$35 to $280.
Look up another code
P0010 — frequently asked
What does a P0010 code mean?
The intake camshaft phaser solenoid circuit on bank 1 has a fault. Common on engines with VVT/VVT-i/VANOS.
What causes a P0010 code?
Common causes: Failed camshaft phaser solenoid; Wiring/connector issue; Low or dirty oil affecting actuator; Failed VVT actuator.
What are the symptoms of a P0010 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light; Rough idle when cold; Reduced fuel economy; Hesitation under load.
Is it safe to drive with a P0010 code?
Only if running normally. A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety. Estimated repair: $80-$500.
How do I diagnose a P0010 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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