What does P0014 mean?

The exhaust camshaft on Bank 1 is over-advanced — the exhaust-side counterpart to P0011.

medium severity
Drive with caution

Quick Decision Guide

Can you drive?
Drive with caution
Urgency
Medium — investigate soon
Likely causes
  • Low or dirty engine oil
  • Faulty exhaust oil control valve (OCV)
  • Clogged VVT oil passages

When to stop driving

Same guidance as P0011 — if oil is critically low or there is audible engine knocking, stop driving immediately. Otherwise drive cautiously to a workshop.

Reviewed by ratchit Automotive Solutions for clarity and inspection-first safety framing. Not a substitute for professional diagnosis.

Repair Decision & Cost Guide

Use this guide to decide what to inspect first, what it may cost, and when to move from DIY checks to professional diagnosis.

P0014 is a clue, not a confirmed diagnosis. Inspect simple causes before replacing parts.

DIY vs. Shop

Medium — investigate soonAdvanced — scan tool + mechanical experience

Can you keep driving?

Same guidance as P0011 — check oil immediately. Stop if knocking.

Best first DIY check

Check and top up oil, or perform an oil change with the manufacturer-specified grade and viscosity.

Don't replace this first

Do not replace VVT solenoids or timing components before checking oil condition and viscosity.

When to seek a shop

If basic inspection (oil, sensors, connectors) does not resolve it within an hour, hand it to a shop with live-data scan capability.

Recommended next action

Run a free scan to confirm related codes, then start with the inspect-first check above.

Estimated Repair Cost

Inspection cost

$0–$25 DIY scanner

DIY parts cost

$25–$400

Shop relevant inspection tools

Inspect first before replacing parts.

Shop diagnostic cost

$80–$150 (typical shop diagnostic fee)

Shop repair cost

$50–$2,000

Diagnostic uncertainty: This code points to a system or condition, not a guaranteed failed part. Inspect before replacing.

Cost variation: Costs vary by vehicle, location, part quality, labor rate, and the confirmed root cause.

Inspect Before Replacing

These checks are cheap, fast, and rule out the most common causes before spending money on parts.

  1. 1Check and top up oil, or perform an oil change with the manufacturer-specified grade and viscosity.

Track this ignition/timing issue

Save this issue to My Garage, track what you inspect, and build service history for this vehicle.

V-IQ readiness preview: Medium impact — resolving and tracking this issue may improve your V-IQ readiness. Tracking active codes and resolutions builds a service history we use to estimate V-IQ readiness over time.

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Understanding P0014 in detail

P0014 is the exhaust-side equivalent of P0011, indicating the exhaust camshaft on Bank 1 is advanced beyond the ECM's commanded position. The root causes and diagnostic approach are nearly identical to P0011: oil quality and level are the primary suspects, followed by the exhaust oil control valve and timing chain. The exhaust camshaft phaser uses the same oil-pressure-controlled mechanism as the intake side. Low or degraded oil starves the phaser, causing it to drift. The main difference is that P0014 specifically implicates the exhaust cam, which may point to the exhaust-side OCV solenoid rather than the intake side.

Symptoms of P0014

  • Check engine light on
  • Rough idle on cold start
  • Rattling or ticking from engine
  • Reduced power and efficiency

Common causes

  • Low or dirty engine oil
  • Faulty exhaust oil control valve (OCV)
  • Clogged VVT oil passages
  • Worn or stretched timing chain
  • Failed exhaust camshaft phaser

How to diagnose P0014

Steps ordered by urgency — tackle Now items first.

  1. NowCheck and top up oil, or perform an oil change with the manufacturer-specified grade and viscosity.
  2. SoonTest and replace the exhaust OCV solenoid if oil is in good condition.
  3. LaterIf the code persists, have the timing chain and cam phaser inspected.

How to fix P0014

Fixes listed in order of likelihood and cost-efficiency.

  1. 1Oil change with correct specification
  2. 2Replace exhaust OCV / VVT solenoid
  3. 3Replace timing chain and tensioner
  4. 4Replace exhaust camshaft phaser

Want to check your full vehicle?

Run a free maintenance scan to see what else needs attention based on your year, make, model, mileage, and climate.

Recommended tools & parts

These recommendations appear because this issue commonly requires inspection in this system area. ratchit does not recommend replacing parts until the likely cause is confirmed.

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Estimated Repair Cost — P0014

Ranges vary by vehicle, region, and shop. Use as a ballpark — always get a quote.

Oil change

DIY estimate

$25$60

Shop estimate

$50$120

Exhaust VVT solenoid

DIY estimate

$30$80

Shop estimate

$150$350

Timing chain replacement

DIY estimate

$200$400

Shop estimate

$800$2,000

Cost data is estimated and may not reflect your specific vehicle or location.

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Related OBD codes

Frequently Asked Questions

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