P0019 — Crank/Cam Correlation (Bank 2 Exhaust)

What does P0019 mean?

P0019 is the Bank 2 exhaust-camshaft member of the P0016–P0019 correlation family. The ECM compares the crankshaft position signal to the Bank 2 exhaust ("B") camshaft position signal and finds them more than a calibrated number of degrees out of alignment. Because Bank 2 is the cylinder bank that does NOT contain cylinder number 1, P0019 only appears on engines with two banks — V6, V8, V10, V12, and flat / boxer layouts. The three explanations are almost always the same: timing chain stretch on that bank, a cam phaser that cannot return to base position, or a position sensor feeding bad data.

What are the symptoms of P0019?

• Check Engine Light is illuminated
• Cold-start rattle or chirp from the timing cover
• Hard cold start with long crank times
• Loss of low-end torque
• Rough idle and reduced throttle response
• Reduced fuel economy
• Possible no-start if cam timing has slipped far enough

What causes P0019?

Repair costs are typical US ranges and vary by make, model, model year, and labor rate. A diagnostic trouble code is a symptom, not a guaranteed failed part — confirm the root cause before replacing anything.

Is it safe to drive with P0019?

In most cases a vehicle stays drivable for short trips with P0019 active, but you should diagnose and repair it promptly. This is a high-severity code — ignoring it can lead to further damage or a failed emissions test. Exact tolerance depends on your specific make and model.

How to diagnose P0019

1. Check oil level and pressure before anything else

   A correlation code with low oil pressure is often the phaser unable to hold or return to its commanded position, not a worn chain. Confirm level on level ground with a warm engine, check the oil for sludge, and measure pressure with a mechanical gauge at idle and 2500 RPM. This is the cheapest test and it rules out the most expensive misdiagnosis.

   Tools: Dipstick or level check procedure, Mechanical oil pressure gauge

2. Watch Bank 2 exhaust cam position against crank position

   The cam-crank offset should stay fixed. An offset that drifts wider as RPM climbs is the signature of a chain stretching under load. An offset that is wrong but stable suggests the chain has already jumped a tooth, or that a sensor is reading with a constant error.

   Tools: Scan tool with dual position PIDs

3. Compare Bank 2 against Bank 1

   A two-bank engine gives you a reference on the same engine. If Bank 1's correlation is textbook and only Bank 2 drifts, the problem is specific to that bank's chain, phaser, or sensor. If both banks drift together, look at the primary chain, the tensioner, or oil pressure feeding the whole system.

   Tools: Scan tool with multi-PID graphing

4. Listen for chain noise at cold start

   Put a stethoscope on the front timing cover and start the engine cold. A healthy chain is essentially silent. A rattle lasting one to three seconds that quiets as oil pressure builds is early chain wear. A rattle that continues at idle is advanced wear, and at that point the chain needs replacing before it skips.

   Tools: Mechanic's stethoscope

5. Test the Bank 2 exhaust cam sensor

   Scope the sensor signal and compare it to the equivalent sensor on Bank 1. A clean square wave with consistent spacing means the sensor is fine and the mechanical timing is genuinely off. Noise, missing pulses, or an irregular pattern means you may be chasing a chain that is perfectly healthy — replace the sensor first as the cheap test.

   Tools: Oscilloscope, or scan tool with raw sensor PIDs, Multimeter

How do I fix P0019?

• Replace timing chain, guides, tensioner, and sprockets as a complete kit
• Replace the Bank 2 exhaust cam phaser / VVT actuator
• Replace the Bank 2 exhaust cam position sensor
• Service or replace the Bank 2 exhaust-side VVT oil control valve
• Correct the underlying oil pressure or sludge problem

P0019 by make and model

Select your exact year, make, and model below to get a P0019 diagnosis tuned to your vehicle's known failure patterns, recalls, and TSBs.

Related diagnostic codes

• P0016 — Crank/Cam Correlation Fault (Bank 1 Intake)
• P0017 — Crank/Cam Correlation (Bank 1 Exhaust)
• P0011 — Intake Cam Over-Advanced (Bank 1, VVT)
• P0014 — Exhaust Cam Over-Advanced (Bank 1, VVT)
• P0024 — Exhaust Cam Over-Advanced (Bank 2, VVT)
• P0345 — Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit (Bank 2)

Common symptoms of P0019

P0019 often shows up as one of these symptoms. Start from what your car is actually doing:

• Rough or unstable idle
• Hard starting / long crank
• Poor fuel economy