Exhaust or inlet cam timing on bank 2 is sitting further retarded than the ECU commanded. On a V6 or V8 this is nearly always oil-related before it is mechanical.
P0022 — also written POO22, P 0022, 0022 — is the OBD-II code for camshaft position 'a' — timing over-retarded (bank 2). Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
P0022 is a engine fault code, typically costing £60–£1600 to put right in a UK garage.
What causes P0022?
- Low or degraded engine oil starving the cam phaser
- Blocked VVT solenoid filter screen
- Sticking oil control valve
- Stretched timing chain on bank 2
- Worn cam phaser
How P0022 is fixed
- Check oil level and condition first — many cases clear with a correct-grade oil and filter change
- Remove and clean the VVT oil control valve and its gauze filter
- Replace the oil control solenoid
- Measure cam deviation on live data before condemning the chain
P0022 repair cost in the UK
Most P0022 repairs land between £60–£1600 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Can you drive with P0022?
Short journeys only. Rattling on start-up alongside this code means stop and get it inspected.
Urgency: high.