Crank/cam correlation Bank 1 on Peugeot — 1.6 THP Prince engine timing chain stretch (208 GTi, 308, RCZ).
Peugeot P0016 — Crank/cam correlation Bank 1 on Peugeot — 1.6 THP Prince engine timing chain stretch (208 GTi, 308, RCZ). Typical UK independent garage cost: £600–£2400.
What actually causes P0016 on a Peugeot
The PSA/BMW Prince engine has a notorious chain stretch problem from 80k onwards — the small primary chain wears, P0016 follows. The repair is engine-out on RCZ and a long job on any Prince variant. VVT solenoid screen also clogs and mimics stretch.
Peugeot engines that log P0016
- 1.6 THP EP6 (208 GTi, 308 GT, RCZ, 3008)
- 1.6 VTi EP6C (208, 308)
How we diagnose P0016 on a Peugeot
- Cold-start listen for rattle from front of engine
- Pull VVT solenoids, inspect mesh screens for sludge
- Read cam/crank correlation live with PP2000 or Lexia
- Inspect chain via cam cover — measure stretch against new
- Quote full timing kit + VVT solenoids together if chain confirmed
The common misdiagnosis to avoid
Don't condemn the chain without checking VVT solenoid screens — a £25 clean cures false P0016 in 30% of cases on Prince engines.
Peugeot P0016 repair cost in the UK
Expect £600–£2400 including parts and labour at an independent garage. Main-dealer quotes on Peugeot are usually higher for the same job, and the spread exists because the cheap cause and the expensive cause throw the same code — pay for the diagnosis before you pay for parts.
Bob's workshop tip
Prince engine P0016 — always clean the VVT screens first. Quickest free win in PSA diagnostics.
Codes usually seen alongside P0016 on Peugeot
- P0017
- P0011
- P0341
Symptoms drivers report with P0016
- Loud metallic rattle for the first 2–4 seconds of a cold start — the classic 'death rattle'
- Long cranking before the engine catches, especially after standing overnight
- Rough lumpy idle at traffic lights, occasionally stalls
- Stop/Start stops working (ECU disables it once cam correlation drifts)
- Turbo feels lazy or flat below 2,000 RPM — timing is retarded to protect the valvetrain
- MPG drops 4–8 mpg with no other obvious cause
- Code P0011, P0014, P0017 or P0341 stored alongside P0016
Repairs that clear P0016
- Measure cam-to-crank deviation with manufacturer-aware scan tool
- Plan full timing chain kit if stretched
- Replace cam phaser if mechanically faulty
For the generic, all-makes explanation of this code — meaning, every known cause and UK cost bands — see our P0016 guide.