Why is bank-2 VVT repair more expensive than bank 1?

On most transverse V6s, bank 2 is the firewall-side cylinder bank — the back of the engine from the front of the car. Reaching anything on that side often requires removing the intake manifold, sometimes the cowl panel, and occasionally the wiper assembly. Labor estimates for a bank-2 solenoid or phaser are typically 1.5x to 2x what the same job costs on bank 1, even though the part numbers and torque specs are identical.

Can I keep driving with P0024?

Yes, in the short term. The PCM falls back to a safe default exhaust-cam map, so the engine still runs and drives. Avoid extended high-load driving and address the code within a few hundred miles — if chain stretch or a worn phaser is the root cause, those degrade further and can pull in expensive correlation codes like P0017.

How is P0024 different from P0023?

P0023 is an electrical fault — the PCM can't communicate properly with the bank-2 exhaust VVT solenoid. P0024 is a performance fault — the solenoid responds electrically, but the camshaft isn't actually reaching the commanded position. P0023 points to wiring or the solenoid winding. P0024 points to oil flow, the phaser hardware, or the timing chain.

How much should I expect to spend fixing P0024?

Best case: $80-150 for an oil change that resolves the code. Typical case: $300-750 for a bank-2 exhaust solenoid replacement. Worst case: $2,000-3,000 if the underlying cause is timing chain stretch on a platform with known issues (Hyundai Theta II, BMW N20, Audi/VW 2.0 TSI). Get a proper diagnosis before committing to chain or phaser work.

OBD-II trouble code

P0024: 'B' Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 2)

The exhaust camshaft on bank 2 is sitting further advanced than the PCM commanded — the solenoid is responding electrically, but the cam itself isn't tracking the commanded position. Usually oil, phaser, or chain related.

Quick facts

System: Powertrain
Category: Variable Valve Timing
Severity: Medium severity
Drivable: Usually safe to drive short-term
Repair cost range: $80 – $3,000
DIY difficulty: Intermediate DIY

What does P0024 mean?

P0024 is the bank-2 mirror of P0014, and it's a performance code — the camshaft is physically out of position relative to where the PCM told it to be, not an electrical fault. Specifically, the exhaust camshaft on the bank-2 side is more advanced (the exhaust valves opening earlier in the engine cycle) than commanded, and the difference is outside the PCM's tolerance window.

Worth saying out loud: bank-2 repairs are not the same financial story as bank-1 repairs, even though the part numbers and labor steps look nearly identical on paper. On most transverse V6s (Toyota/Lexus, Honda J-series, Nissan VQ, GM 3.6L), bank 2 is the firewall-side cylinder bank, and the labor estimate for a solenoid or phaser job typically runs 1.5x to 2x the bank-1 figure. Plenty of intake-manifold removal, cowl panel work, and sometimes wiper-cowl removal is involved. So before quoting a job from P0024, look at the shop's bank-2 labor figure and adjust expectations accordingly — what's a $300 fix on bank 1 may legitimately be a $600-700 fix on bank 2.

The failure modes themselves are the familiar VVT story: oil maintenance failures, sludged solenoid screens, worn phaser internals, and on certain platforms, timing chain stretch. The exhaust cam phaser tends to fail at slightly different rates than the intake one because it sees a different oil flow path and slightly different load patterns, so it's not unusual to see P0024 set on its own without an intake-side companion code.

Common causes

Dirty or low engine oil restricting flow to the bank-2 exhaust cam phaser
Clogged VVT solenoid filter screen on the bank-2 exhaust circuit
Worn or stuck exhaust cam phaser internals on bank 2
Stuck-open or hydraulically fouled exhaust VVT solenoid
Timing chain stretch — most common on Hyundai/Kia Theta II, BMW N20/N26, Audi/VW 2.0 TSI
Worn timing chain guides allowing exhaust-cam reference to drift
Wrong oil viscosity for the manufacturer spec
Failed cam position sensor on the bank-2 exhaust cam reporting an inaccurate position

Symptoms

Check Engine Light on, often with a noticeable change in mid-RPM response
Loss of low-end and mid-range torque
Worse fuel economy than recent weeks
Occasional rattle on cold start from the timing-cover area
Slightly rough or hunting idle on some platforms

Diagnostic steps

1.Check engine oil level and condition first. Past-due oil resolves a meaningful share of these codes — change the oil with manufacturer-spec viscosity, clear the code, and drive 50-100 miles before re-testing.
2.Read live data and compare commanded vs. actual cam position for bank-2 exhaust. A persistent gap confirms the phaser isn't tracking.
3.Pull the bank-2 exhaust VVT solenoid and inspect the filter screen. A black, sludged screen is the diagnosis right there.
4.Resistance-check the solenoid to rule out an electrical fault masking as a performance issue.
5.Listen for a timing-chain rattle on cold start. 1-3 seconds of rattle at first crank often means chain stretch is the underlying problem.
6.On platforms with known chain history, scope the cam-to-crank phase angle directly — confirms chain wear without timing-cover removal.
7.Check for related codes (P0023 on bank-2 exhaust circuit, P0021 on bank-2 intake, P0017 on crank-cam correlation). A cluster of cam-timing codes usually points to chain or phaser hardware, not solenoids.

Repair cost

$80 – $3,000

Oil change resolves a portion of cases: $80-150. Bank-2 exhaust solenoid replacement typically $300-750 (labor premium vs. bank 1). Cam phaser replacement on bank 2 runs $1,400-2,200 because the timing cover has to come off on a harder-access bank. Timing chain replacement on platforms with known stretch issues is $2,000-3,000.

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DIY vs shop

This is an intermediate DIY job. It usually involves diagnostic steps, specialty parts, and some careful work in tight spaces. If you have the tools and a service manual or trustworthy video for your specific vehicle, it is achievable in a weekend. Otherwise, a competent independent shop will be faster.