Car threw CEL- codeP0016

[jth877]

Any techs out there?

V6 SE, 1900miles. Car threw P0016 code when at idol. My scanner reads camshaft position/sensor error. I've had a noticable ticking sound from 700 miles. Toyota engineer said "within spec" when I made toyota look at it 1200 miles ago. I'm a little pissed b/c I notice the sound way before the CEL came on and toyota said the car was fine. 2 questions:

Would an out of position camshaft cause the ticking?

Do you think there is permenant damage to the engine?

Thanks for any help. I'm trying not to loose my cool and get some ammunition when I go after the dealer again.

[jim@foreignaffairs]

That is a code for the cam position sensor. Quite unlikely to have caused much if any damage to the cam itself. The ticking you heard I can only imagine if related would be the lobe hitting the sensor. It's warranty, just have them fix it.

[Paladin06Greg]

You want to also check the wiring at your sensor. I was messing around under the hood one time and seperated one of the wires and didn't know it. I got the same code you got.

[Down2TheC]

They'll test the sensor and replace if that's faulty. If the sensor is good and the shaft is slipped, you'd have a timing issue. We're a timing chain, not a belt so I can't see that happening. You're prolly fine. If it were really out of position the engine would run like total crap if at all.
(But there's a lot of guys here that know a lot more than me)

[jth877]

Actually, we have a timing belt eventhough 3mz-fe is an interference engine.

Sensor checked out fine at the dealer and the timing was mechanically correct on the engine. Dealer just told me to call when the light comes on again and they'll order a new ECU- which, they said, could be the only other cause of the light. I'm satisfied b/c I know it will come back on.