On some engines the intake cam phaser (camshaft position actuator A) has its own position sensors, which tell the engine module where the phaser actually is; sensor C is the third of them, bank 1 the side with cylinder 1. P03E6 means the sensor signal is electrically valid but implausible – for example the number or position of its edges per engine cycle does not match the crankshaft sensor, it jumps, or it lies outside the phaser's adjustment range. No manufacturer document available to us uses this code. GM's 2.7-litre engine monitors comparable position sensors on its sliding camshaft under other codes (P2C05 ff), with an open circuit above 200 kΩ and a short below 0.5 Ω in 4 of 5 samples – only as a comparison. Typical causes are a dirty sensor or wrong air gap, a damaged or wrongly fitted phaser, or interference.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?Drive little and gently. If you hear timing chain noise or the oil light comes on, shut off the engine.
Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1. Inline engines only have this bank.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Cam phasing held in its base position, loss of power
- Possibly rough idle or higher consumption
Most likely causes
- Sensor dirty (metal debris on the magnet) or air gap wrong
- Phaser or sensor target damaged or wrongly fitted (timing)
- Loose contact or interference
- Sensor faulty
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: medium
- It can trigger limp mode.
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P03E6 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 3: Ignition and misfires
- E6: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P03E6?
Drive little and gently. If you hear timing chain noise or the oil light comes on, shut off the engine.
What causes code P03E6?
The most common causes are: sensor dirty (metal debris on the magnet) or air gap wrong; phaser or sensor target damaged or wrongly fitted (timing); loose contact or interference.
Related codes
- P03E5A Camshaft Position Actuator Position Sensor C Circuit Bank 1
- P03E7A Camshaft Position Actuator Position Sensor C Circuit Low Bank 1
- P03E8A Camshaft Position Actuator Position Sensor C Circuit High Bank 1
- P03F7B Camshaft Position Actuator Position Sensor C Range/Performance Bank 1
- P2B40A Camshaft Position Actuator Position Sensor B Range/Performance Bank 1
- P0016Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)
Sources
Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.