What are the most common causes of P0014?

The most common causes are: Low or dirty engine oil; Wrong oil viscosity for the engine; Faulty exhaust oil control valve (VVT solenoid); Clogged oil control valve screen or oil passages; Worn exhaust cam phaser or stretched timing chain.

How much does it cost to fix P0014?

Typical US independent-shop repair cost for P0014 runs about $80 - $900, depending on the root cause. Common fixes: Change the oil and filter with the specified grade (about $60 - $150 at a shop); Replace the exhaust oil control valve (about $150 - $400 at a shop); Replace the exhaust cam phaser or timing chain (about $500 - $900 at a shop).

Will P0014 clear itself?

No, not on its own. P0014 will keep coming back every time the relevant monitor re-runs until the underlying cause is actually repaired - clearing it with a scan tool without fixing what triggered it only delays the light coming back on.

P0014: Exhaust Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)

P0014 quick answer

P0014 means the bank 1 exhaust cam is not where the computer commanded. Check and change the oil first; the next usual fix is the exhaust oil control valve (VVT solenoid).

Severity: Moderate
Can I drive? Usually yes for a short time, but check the oil right away. P0014 rarely strands you, and most cars drive with only a rough idle or mild hesitation.
Typical fix: $80 - $900

Also written as PO014 or P014 or PO14.

Save P0014 to your vehicle and get a repair reminder - create a free account

What P0014 means

P0014 means the exhaust camshaft on bank 1 (the B camshaft) is more advanced than the engine computer commanded, or is not responding to commands in time. On engines with variable timing on the exhaust cam, oil pressure moves the cam phaser through an oil control valve, so low, dirty, or wrong-grade oil is the most common trigger. It is the exhaust-side counterpart of P0011.

Symptoms of P0014

Check-engine light on
Rough idle or occasional stalling
Reduced power or hesitation
Brief rattle at cold start in some cases
Slightly worse fuel economy

Is it safe to drive with P0014?

Usually yes for a short time, but check the oil right away. P0014 rarely strands you, and most cars drive with only a rough idle or mild hesitation. Because the usual cause is low or tired oil starving the timing system, driving for weeks without an oil check risks wear to the phaser and chain that turns a cheap fix into an expensive one.

What the P0014 fix costs

Fix	DIY parts	At a shop
Change the oil and filter with the specified grade	$25 - $60	$60 - $150
Replace the exhaust oil control valve	$40 - $150	$150 - $400
Replace the exhaust cam phaser or timing chain	$150 - $450	$500 - $900

Ranges are rounded and for the US market only - actual price depends on region, shop labor rates, and the exact make and model.

Parts that commonly fix P0014

VVT solenoid (oil control valve) - After an oil change, the cheapest likely cause - a stuck or screen-clogged VVT solenoid
Camshaft position sensor - A failing cam sensor can report a false correlation - test before replacing
Crankshaft position sensor - Less common for correlation codes, but a cheap check on the crank side
Timing chain kit - The expensive cause: a stretched chain. Buy a full kit (chain, guides, tensioner) only after it is confirmed
OBD-II scanner - Reads and clears codes, and shows live data so you fix the cause rather than the symptom

Most of these open an Amazon search - add your year, make and model, because most of these parts are fitment-specific. A few link straight to the exact tool or part we have verified, because it fits any vehicle.

Affiliate Disclosure: ServiceSage Auto participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep our content free and up-to-date.

What P0014 actually means

P0014 means the exhaust camshaft on bank 1 (the "B" camshaft) has moved further advanced than the engine computer commanded, or is not responding to commands within the expected time. Engines with variable timing on the exhaust cam use engine oil pressure, routed through an oil control valve, to rotate the exhaust cam phaser. Anything that disturbs that oil supply - low oil, the wrong viscosity, sludge, a sticking valve, or a worn phaser - shows up as P0014. It is the exhaust-side counterpart of P0011, and the cheapest checks are also the most likely fix.

How to diagnose P0014 step by step

Step 1: Check the oil level and condition on the dipstick Pull the dipstick on level ground with the engine off. If the level is below the add mark, or the oil is black, thick, or overdue, that alone can set P0014. Top up or change it with the exact viscosity on the oil filler cap, clear the code, and drive. If it does not return, you are done.
Step 2: Confirm the oil grade matches the manufacturer specification Variable timing systems are calibrated for a specific oil viscosity. A thicker oil than specified responds slowly and can hold the phaser out of position. If the last oil change used a heavier grade than the cap or manual lists, change it to the correct grade before buying parts.
Step 3: Test the exhaust oil control valve (OCV) electrically Unplug the exhaust-side OCV and measure its coil resistance with a multimeter, comparing to the service manual range. An open or shorted coil means a failed valve. If resistance is in range, the valve may still be sticking mechanically, which the next step checks.
Step 4: Command the exhaust cam with a bidirectional scan tool On scan tools that support it, command exhaust cam timing and watch actual versus desired cam angle. If the actual angle does not follow the command, remove the OCV and inspect its screen and spool for debris or varnish. A clogged screen points back to oil condition; a clean but stuck spool means replace the valve.
Step 5: Swap the intake and exhaust OCVs where they are identical On many engines the intake and exhaust oil control valves are the same part. Swapping them and clearing codes is a free test: if the fault moves to the intake side (P0011), the valve is bad. If P0014 stays on the exhaust side, the problem is downstream at the phaser or chain.
Step 6: Inspect the exhaust phaser and timing chain If oil, valve, and wiring all check out, the exhaust cam phaser may be worn or its lock pin may be failing, often heard as a brief rattle on cold start. Check for P0017 or P0016 alongside it, which suggest chain stretch. This is the expensive branch - confirm with cam and crank correlation data before committing.

The most common P0014 misdiagnosis

Replacing the exhaust cam phaser or timing chain when the real cause was old or low oil. Change the oil with the correct grade and clear the code first - a sticky oil control valve fed with sludgy oil will set P0014 on a perfectly healthy phaser.

Tools you need for P0014

Digital multimeter - Measures the oil control valve coil resistance so you can rule the valve in or out before buying it.
OBD-II scanner with live data - Shows desired versus actual exhaust cam angle, which is how you tell an oil problem from a mechanical one.
Oil filter wrench - An oil and filter change with the correct grade is the first real repair for this code.

Parts you may need for P0014

Engine oil in the specified grade - Fresh oil at the viscosity on the filler cap resolves a large share of exhaust cam timing codes.
Exhaust camshaft oil control valve - The usual part when the valve fails its resistance test or the spool sticks.
Oil filter - Change it with the oil - a clogged filter can restrict flow to the VVT system.

P0014: DIY or pay a shop?

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Time: 0.5 - 2 hours. DIY parts: $30 - $180. Shop total: $80 - $450.

The oil change and the oil control valve are both driveway jobs on most engines - the valve is usually held by a single bolt on the front of the cylinder head. Phaser or chain work is a different story and belongs at a shop, so work through the cheap checks yourself before paying for a teardown diagnosis.

How to stop P0014 coming back

Change the oil on time with the specified viscosity. Variable cam timing is hydraulic. It depends on clean oil at the right thickness reaching a small screen and valve, and stretched intervals are the most common reason those passages varnish up. Add this car to ServiceSage and get a reminder before each oil change is due, so the VVT system never runs on tired oil. Track this maintenance free.