Error code P0015

obewan

obewan

Senior member
 End of A590 cul de sac (South Cumbria)
My mate has a 2011 E89, 2.0L with 64k on the clock.
A couple of weeks or so a go the Engine performance light came on (half black, half yellow)

I've had my basic code reader on it and it came up with P0015 - Camshaft Position B – Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)
I also couldn't delete the code, however while he was driving home it went off
It's been coming on intermittently since.

I read up on potential causes
Oil levels low/oil dirty - No it was serviced a month ago and level is 'full' (light came on 2 weeks later btw)
Dirty petrol - usually associated with driving abroad apparently, not the case here
Camshaft position sensor
Spark plugs - not checked yet, but car running well
Vanos - After watching YouTube videos I was all set up to clean both and swap over. Then I noted on the N20 engine they are in the centre of the crankshaft pulleys and a special tool is required. As well as locking down the timing etc :cry:

With the light ON the car is running fine, no loss of power, no mis-fire and not difficult to start
Could the oil change have disturbed some crud that then temporarily blocked the vanos???
Italian tune up?? :D
A tank of V-Max??

Your thoughts appreciated
 
I guess this is where are more advanced code reader would be helpful...

I’ve no specific idea but by exclusion the oil, petrol and Vanos seem not to be likely causes...

The N20 Vanos system seems pretty robust and is a much better / later design compared to other Zeus..

I’m not aware of issues of this type on the N20 generally..

Based on similar error codes on other engines a faulty cam shaft sensor would be my best guess..

Again better diagnostic tools / person who knows what to look for is probably the answer..

If there was enough crud to disturb the Vanos then your crank would be on a rapid way out..

Of course without the oil change frequency who knows?
 
Cheers Pbondar
I did consider the Cam shaft sensor but thought that would be a OK/Fail situation not intermittent??
Like you say a more professional diagnostic reader is probably the way to go (and what my mate will do)
I've told him just to keep an eye on it in case it suddenly turns RED! :wink:

It's been off a few days now so fingers crossed

Thanks for your input :thumbsup:
 
obewan said:
Cheers Pbondar
I did consider the Cam shaft sensor but thought that would be a OK/Fail situation not intermittent??
Like you say a more professional diagnostic reader is probably the way to go (and what my mate will do)
I've told him just to keep an eye on it in case it suddenly turns RED! :wink:

It's been off a few days now so fingers crossed

Thanks for your input :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


Without delving into it I’m not sure if there are two cam sensors and they cross check each other...

If it’s a single one then despite the concept of digital electronics being binary these devices can fail intermittently..
 
Pbondar said:
obewan said:
Cheers Pbondar
I did consider the Cam shaft sensor but thought that would be a OK/Fail situation not intermittent??
Like you say a more professional diagnostic reader is probably the way to go (and what my mate will do)
I've told him just to keep an eye on it in case it suddenly turns RED! :wink:

It's been off a few days now so fingers crossed

Thanks for your input :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


Without delving into it I’m not sure if there are two cam sensors and they cross check each other...

If it’s a single one then despite the concept of digital electronics being binary these devices can fail intermittently..
Click to expand...

Spot on. Makes sense
Thanks again
 
Pooltee said:
Does it sound ok when idling and starting up?

Hope it is not the start of chain failure...
Click to expand...

Yep. Absolutely fine. Runs ok as well. No power loss
Hopefully electronics
 
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