Audi A5 P0010: “A” Cam Position Actuator – Circuit (Bank 1)

P0010 This is a fairly common trouble code. Vehicles with variable valve timing (VVT) are affected. It is becoming more common to find VVT-equipped vehicles. Audi A5 can be VVT. It is possible to create this code.

 
The generic OBDII number P0010 stands for "ObdII Code". It is the same code regardless of make and model. The definition is the same for both the Ford Taurus and the Audi A5.

Your A5 will usually not pass State emissions tests if it has the P0010 Trouble Code.

P0010 Definition Audi A5

Audi A5 uses camshaft actuators that adjust the valve lift based on RPM. This makes it possible to use a lower cam profile at high speeds. This improves both engine efficiency as well as power.

Camshaft Position Actuators adjust camshaft lift by as much as 25 degrees. They are hydraulic, which means that they use the vehicle’s engine oil to control lift. If your oil pressure is low or you have dirty oil it could prevent them from performing their jobs properly and cause P0010.

The engine may not be able adjust valve timing properly if these camshaft actuators fail. There could be noticeable fuel economy loss and possible power and/or performance drops.

Audi A5 P0010 Symptoms

The engine timing can be affected if the camshaft actuators fail. These are the most common symptoms of P0010 on the Audi A5

• Poor Idle Quality– If the camshaft actuator fails while giving the engine aggressive valve timing, it’ll idle roughly.
• A decrease in gas mileage– Now the engine can no longer adjust its cam timing on the fly, it will no longer be able to produce optimal combustion which equals poor economy.
• Lost Power– The engine will not be able to produce as much power. Because the cam profile does not permit it to use a performance power curve for more power, this is why you will need less power.
• Coming Soon: Service Engine Light– Most of the time, you’ll be able to feel or see one of the above symptoms, but if you can’t, the service engine soon light will still come on and let you know that something is wrong.

Possible Causes of A5 and P0010

P0010 symptoms can occur from many different causes. The most frequent causes of P0010 are:

• Engine timing– If the camshaft(s) are no longer synced to the crank properly (such as if the timing chain jumped a tooth), it can cause the engine timing to be off enough to throw the P0010 even though it’s not the Actuator’s fault. Here’s more on that from this site: Timing Chain Jumped Symptoms and Diagnosis
• Engine oil– If the engine oil is dirty or low, it may cause the actuator to function improperly.
• Bad Intake Camshaft Position Actuator Solenoid– The actuator solenoid itself can go bad over time. You certainly don’t want to start here, since a lot of the time it’ll be something else that causes the P0010 to appear. They usually aren’t that expensive.
• Problems with Wiring– The wiring going from the solenoid to the ECM can become damaged or broken. This can cause the OBDII code P0010 to be displayed. Poor connection may occur between the wiring harness and intake camshaft position sensor. YouTube: Quick and Simple Ways to Find an Open-ended or Short Video..
• Bad ECM (highly unlikely)- If the A5’s computer goes bad, then it may throw this code along with other issues. Here’s how to tell if you have a bad ECM AutoblogThe Signs and Symptoms Of A Bad ECM.

Here’s a phenomenal video on how to test a cam/crank actuator. It’s on the page instead of a link because it’s that worth watching. Before you open an engine, make sure you have checked everything.

You will be able to diagnose the P0010 problem in your Audi A5. Please leave comments below if you have any additional information.