Here the bank 1 position signal for actuator B is neither stuck low nor high; instead it jumps, flickers or briefly vanishes faster than the mechanism could physically move. The engine controller compares successive readings and flags P265E when the rate of change or the number of dropouts exceeds what a motor-driven lift mechanism can produce. Typical culprits are fretting corrosion on the terminals, a conductor broken inside its insulation that only opens under vibration, or electrical noise from nearby ignition wiring. CARB asks for such signal quality checks on valve lift inputs. No manufacturer documents P265E publicly. The fault may come and go with temperature and road surface; the lift controller can hunt or fall back to a fixed setting.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?If the car is running normally, drive in moderation to a repair shop. If it loses power or another warning appears, do not continue.
Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1. Inline engines only have this bank.
Symptoms
- MIL on and off over several trips
- Surging or uneven power delivery
Most likely causes
- Fretting corrosion on sensor B terminals
- Conductor broken inside its insulation, opening under vibration
- Interference from ignition or other high-current wiring
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: hard
- It can trigger limp mode.
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P265E means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 2: Generic code: same on every make
- 6: Control modules and outputs
- 5E: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P265E?
If the car is running normally, drive in moderation to a repair shop. If it loses power or another warning appears, do not continue.
What causes code P265E?
The most common causes are: fretting corrosion on sensor B terminals; conductor broken inside its insulation, opening under vibration; interference from ignition or other high-current wiring.
Related codes
- P265A"B" Rocker Arm Actuator Position Sensor Circuit (Bank 1)
- P265B"B" Rocker Arm Actuator Position Sensor Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1)
- P265D"B" Rocker Arm Actuator Position Sensor Circuit High (Bank 1)
- P264E"A" Rocker Arm Actuator Position Sensor Circuit Intermittent/Erratic (Bank 1)
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.