P0016 Troubleshooting, possible misfires(?), & some Techstream screenshots

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Jss4837, Jan 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM.

Tags:
  1. Jss4837

    Jss4837 New Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Springfield, MA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hey! I'm not a car guy, so just looking for some general advice & suggestions based on my situation. Not sure if this was the cause or related, but I recently neglected to check my oil for a few months - when I did it was below the dipstick, but I never got a low oil pressure warning or anything and adding just like 0.2 quarts reached up to the end of the dipstick, so I don't think it was entirely empty - But at that same time I encountered the P0016 error code. I cleared it about 5 days ago and now it has popped back up.

    I have Techstream on an old laptop but I have no idea how to really read the data it is showing me, so I screenshotted some of the freeze frame data and included it here if anyone can gather anything from it. I'm sure this error code needs actual physical diagnosis so I am going to be taking it in ASAP, but just thought I would see what people think here. Should I be worried about these "EWMA" misfire counts? No idea if that is a separate issue or related to the error code.

    Also, would you guys take this code to a regular mechanic, or a hybrid specialist? I found this shop" Hilltown Hybrids " about an hour drive from me which has good reviews and are willing to look at it (with a $150 diagnostic cost), or alternatively, my regular in-town mechanic usually doesn't charge for diagnosis (or maybe just includes it in service cost) but he is not necessarily a hybrid specialist. He said he has dealt with this error code on other cars before but not yet on a Prius. I'm just a broke college student who wants his car to last, so any advice is welcome. What do you guys think?

    Thanks for reading!
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Jss4837, Jan 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,936
    1,895
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Maybe it's been a while since an oil change or it's coming to oil change time I think the code that you're showing here is the code that has to do with the camshaft and the crankshaft sensor not being in sync meaning the timing chain is stretched My gold 09 does this only with dirty oil soon as I change out the engine oil the code goes away on its own and I have been running 10,000 mi oil changes on that vehicle for a long time and it's at like 400,000 mi so it's highly likely that the chain is getting worn and all of that but I noticed when I change the oil everything seems to be fine so we'll keep doing that till it's not I think that's the code you have right now so maybe try changing your oil before you start paying diagnostic fees unless you clearly can see some plugs undone on your car which I highly doubt unless something's recently happened..
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Jan 29, 2025 at 9:11 PM
    Jss4837 likes this.
  3. Jss4837

    Jss4837 New Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Springfield, MA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    No sure what you mean by "plugs undone" to be honest, but the car seems to be running normally, and I'm getting my usual 40-43mpg that I've always gotten if that means anything. Also, I did change the oil myself just like a week ago. I think the code may have gone away last night actually unless I accidentally cleared it when messing with the scanner, but I don't think I did. Yeah, it's tricky, I don't want to spend money on diagnostic fees, but I also want this car to last me for a while, so I don't want to drive it too much with this code if it could potentially damage the engine or something.
     
    #3 Jss4837, Jan 29, 2025 at 10:07 PM
  4. MAX2

    MAX2 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2024
    480
    134
    22
    Location:
    Third planet from the Sun
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Error P0016 signals the driver that there is a discrepancy in the position of the shafts. This code pops up when the data from the crankshaft and camshaft sensors (DPKV and DPRV) do not match, that is, the angular position of the camshaft and crankshaft relative to each other deviated from the norm.
    On older engines the chain may be stretched. See the manual on how to check.
    https://share.qclt.com/%E4%B8%B0%E7%94%B0%E6%99%AE%E7%91%9E%E6%96%AF%E5%8E%9F%E5%8E%82%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87%E6%89%8B%E5%86%8Cpdf%E6%A0%BC%E5%BC%8F/repair%20manual/04pruisr/05/2054m/cip0016.pdf
     
    #4 MAX2, Jan 30, 2025 at 7:48 AM
  5. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2020
    3,804
    1,808
    0
    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    As mentioned, this code has to do with the rotational position of the camshaft when compared to the crankshaft. The camshaft isn't where the ECM (engine computer) expects it to be.
    The engine uses Variable Valve Timing - it can (slightly) shift the cam relative to the cam sprocket.
    Best case for you is that the solenoid that controls VVT is stuck (inadvertently shifting cam timing - that should set a different code but sometimes doesn't ). Worse would be that the timing chain is worn and stretched.

    As far as engine work, there's nothing much special about the Prius 1.5L. If your local guy is good, then go there.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #5 mr_guy_mann, Jan 31, 2025 at 12:00 AM
    Brian1954 likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)