What Does P001A Mean?
The PCM has detected an open circuit or general electrical malfunction in the Bank 1 intake (A) camshaft profile control solenoid circuit. This solenoid controls cam lobe switching (as used in Honda VTEC, BMW VANOS, Toyota VVTL-i, etc.) to change the camshaft profile between low and high lift lobes. The PCM cannot command the profile change.
Common Causes
35%
Open circuit in the wiring harness between the PCM and the camshaft profile solenoid
30%
Failed camshaft profile control solenoid with open internal coil
20%
Corroded or damaged connector pins at the solenoid or PCM
10%
PCM driver circuit failure for the cam profile solenoid output
5%
Blown fuse in the solenoid power supply circuit
Diagnostic Steps
1
Locate the Bank 1 intake camshaft profile solenoid and inspect the connector for corrosion, bent pins, or water intrusion
2
Measure solenoid coil resistance with a multimeter — typical range is 14-30 ohms depending on manufacturer; infinite reading confirms open coil
3
With the solenoid disconnected, check for battery voltage on the supply wire and verify the PCM ground control wire has continuity back to the PCM (less than 2 ohms)
4
Perform a wiggle test on the harness while monitoring resistance to detect intermittent open conditions in the wiring
5
If wiring and solenoid test good, suspect PCM driver failure — verify by backprobing the PCM connector for a ground pulse when commanding the solenoid
Estimated Repair Cost
$80 - $600
Parts + labor, varies by vehicle and location
The PCM has detected an open circuit or general electrical malfunction in the Bank 1 intake (A) camshaft profile control solenoid circuit. This solenoid controls cam lobe switching (as used in Honda VTEC, BMW VANOS, Toyota VVTL-i, etc.) to change the camshaft profile between low and high lift lobes....
The most common cause of P001A ("A" Camshaft Profile Control Circuit/Open Bank 1) is: Open circuit in the wiring harness between the PCM and the camshaft profile solenoid
Typical repair costs for P001A range from $80 to $600, depending on the vehicle, location, and whether you do it yourself or go to a shop.
The engine will operate on a single cam profile, typically the low-lift profile, resulting in reduced high-RPM performance. Safe to drive but top-end power will be noticeably diminished.
Start by connecting an OBD2 scanner to read the code and any freeze frame data. Then follow the diagnostic steps specific to P001A to identify the root cause.
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Quick Info
Category
Powertrain
System
Variable Valve Timing / Cam Profile Switching System
Difficulty
Type
Generic (SAE)
Recommended Tools
OBD2 Scanner
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