P0018

Bank 2 Sensor A (intake cam) — Crank-to-Cam correlation fault on bank 2 intake. V6/V8 engines only (banks are defined by the cylinder containing #1 — bank 2 is the opposite bank). Same diagnostic logic as P0016 but on the other bank. On most V-engines, banks share one timing chain (or two chains driven from one crank gear), so if one bank's chain is stretched, the other bank often throws a correlation code shortly after. Cheapest-first ladder: (1) Check for paired bank 1 codes (P0016/P0017) — paired codes across banks strongly suggest chain wear on a shared-chain engine. (2) Live-data bank 2 intake cam correlation across rpm. (3) Swap bank 2 intake OCV with bank 1 OCV — if the code moves to bank 1, the OCV is the issue, not the cam timing. (4) Verify bank 2 cam sensor connector and air gap. Don't condemn the chain on a single-bank correlation code without confirming the chain stretch mechanically — many V6s throw single-bank codes from a stuck OCV or contaminated cam sensor.

Vehicle-specific patterns: 2007-2013 Nissan Altima/Maxima/Murano VQ35 — bank 2 secondary timing chain guide cracks, chain skips a tooth, P0018 with cold-start rattle; full bank 2 timing job is $1,400-$2,200. 2009-2014 Audi 3.0T supercharged — same chain stretch story as P0016 but on the opposite bank. 2007-2014 Toyota Tundra/Sequoia 5.7L 3UR-FE — bank 2 (passenger side) intake OCV failure, clean screen first. 2008-2013 GM 3.6L LLT/LFX (CTS, Traverse, Acadia) — TSB 10-06-01-007 covers a known timing chain wear pattern that throws P0008/P0009/P0016/P0017/P0018/P0019 in combination; full job $2,800-$3,800. Estimated repair: $90 to $3,800.