P0008 Engine Position System Performance (Bank 1)

Common causes

• Stretched timing chain (common on some GM V6 engines)
• Worn chain guides or tensioner
• Faulty cam phaser or VVT solenoid
• Low or dirty oil

Symptoms

• Check engine light
• Rough idle
• Rattling at startup
• Loss of power
• Sometimes no other symptoms at first

Can I drive with it?

Usually drivable short term, but don't ignore it. A stretched chain gets worse and can eventually jump a tooth and damage the engine.

Tip: Oil changes on time with the correct grade are the best prevention – chain stretch is often linked to long oil change intervals.

Which scanner reads it?

Any OBD2 scanner reads it. A tool that shows cam/crank correlation values in live data helps judge how far the chain has stretched.

Budget tools like the ANCEL AD310 read it; tools with live data and graphing – like the BlueDriver or OBDLink MX+ – help you find the cause. Not sure which fits you? Try the Find My Scanner quiz.

In the data

Of the vehicle complaints owners filed with NHTSA from 2015 to 2025, 101 quote P0008 – most often from Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac owners. Complaints lean toward serious problems, so treat this as a sign of how often the code turns up in real reports, not how often cars get it.

Both sources are compared on the Trends page.

Related codes

• P0016 Crankshaft Position – Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)
• P0017 Crankshaft Position – Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)
• P0011 'A' Camshaft Position – Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)
• P0010 'A' Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1)
• P0014 'B' Camshaft Position – Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)
• P0325 Knock Sensor 1 Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)
• P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Malfunction

General information to help you understand a code – not a diagnosis. Your car’s service information or a qualified mechanic has the final word. See how we research.