P0083🔧 Variable valve timing (intake camshaft oil control solenoid)Stop and fix promptly

P0083: Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High Bank 2 (Meaning, Causes, Fixes)

Reviewed 2026-10-24 · Based on 2 cited source(s)

What P0083 means

On engines with variable valve timing, the engine computer (ECM/PCM) moves the camshaft by sending engine oil through a control solenoid. OBD-Codes.com explains that the computer drives this solenoid with a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal and watches that signal; if the voltage is above specification, it sets P0083 and turns on the check engine light. Bank 2 is the side of the engine that does not have cylinder number 1 (verify for your engine), so P0083 only applies to V-type and other engines with two cylinder banks. It is a generic code that applies to all makes from 1996 on, though repair steps vary by model. RepairPal defines P0083 as Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High and describes a solenoid that uses oil pressure to let the PCM adjust valve timing, with the code set when the PCM finds an issue with the solenoid's signal. The sources disagree on which solenoid this is. OBD-Codes.com titles P0083 Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High (Bank 2) and says the exhaust solenoid is usually on the exhaust manifold side of the head, yet it groups the code with P0081 and P0082, which it describes as the bank 2 intake solenoid codes. RepairPal's title says intake, but its description and cause list say 'exhaust valve'. This page follows RepairPal's title and the P0081/P0082/P0083 numbering pattern, so check a factory service manual or a good scan tool for which solenoid your engine flags. The sources also differ on causes: OBD-Codes.com describes electrical faults (open circuit, short to power, bad connections), while RepairPal lists engine oil problems and an oil and filter change as the common repair. RepairPal's severity (Urgent) and its 'engine may not start' symptom are stronger than anything OBD-Codes.com lists. OBD-Codes.com says this code may be accompanied by P0028; it is the bank 2 match for P0077.

Severity: can I keep driving?

Stop and fix promptly

Get it checked soon and avoid hard driving until then. RepairPal rates P0083 Urgent, meaning immediate action is needed, and lists decreased engine performance, higher fuel use and, in some cases, an engine that may not start. OBD-Codes.com gives no severity rating and lists milder symptoms: the check engine light, poor acceleration and lower fuel economy. Check your engine oil level right away, since RepairPal lists low or wrong-spec oil among the causes.

Common symptoms

Likely causes

Roughly most to least common, based on the sources below. Your vehicle may differ.

  1. Wiring harness connections poor or disconnected (OBD-Codes.com), or another wiring issue (RepairPal)
  2. Open circuit in the control solenoid (OBD-Codes.com); RepairPal lists a failed solenoid but calls it the exhaust valve control solenoid
  3. Short to power in the solenoid wiring (OBD-Codes.com)
  4. Engine oil level too low (RepairPal only)
  5. Engine oil that doesn't meet the manufacturer's requirements (RepairPal only)
  6. Faulty engine computer (ECM/PCM) (OBD-Codes.com, RepairPal)

Diagnostic steps you can do

⚠ Before you start

Work on a cool engine, parked on level ground with the parking brake set. Never work under a car supported only by a jack.

  1. Check the engine oil level and make sure the oil matches your owner's manual spec; RepairPal lists low or wrong oil as common causes and an oil and filter change as the common repair.
  2. Find the bank 2 valve timing control solenoid on the bank without cylinder 1 and look for unplugged connectors, corrosion or loose wires. Use a service manual to confirm whether your engine flags the intake or exhaust solenoid, since the sources disagree.
  3. OBD-Codes.com notes the solenoid can be switched on its power side or its ground side depending on the vehicle, so check a factory wiring diagram before testing. With connectors at the solenoid and computer unplugged, measure resistance end to end on each wire; an over-limit reading suggests an open wire or a loose terminal.
  4. With the solenoid unplugged, measure resistance across its terminals and compare to the factory spec or a known good solenoid. OBD-Codes.com says an over-limit or very low reading means the solenoid is likely faulty.
  5. To check for a short to power, unplug the computer, set the meter to volts, put the negative lead on ground and the positive lead on each solenoid wire. Voltage present may mean a short to power; unplug connectors one at a time and work back toward the solenoid to find it.
  6. If wiring and solenoid test good, OBD-Codes.com suggests comparing the duty cycle commanded on an advanced scan tool with the actual signal at the solenoid using an oscilloscope or graphing multimeter at different engine speeds and loads. A signal from the computer that stays constantly on may mean a computer fault.

Typical fixes

Repair costs vary widely by vehicle, region, parts brand and shop, so we don't quote prices. Get a written estimate after diagnosis.

🛠 When to call a pro

  • The engine won't start or runs poorly along with the code
  • You don't have a wiring diagram, multimeter or a scan tool that shows solenoid duty cycle
  • You can't tell whether your engine flags the intake or exhaust solenoid for this code
  • The code returns after an oil change and a wiring repair or new solenoid
  • Other camshaft timing codes such as P0028, P0081 or P0082 are also set

Where to buy

Plain search links. Always match parts to your exact year, make, model and engine.

OBD2 scanners on Amazon Parts at Advance Auto Parts catalog at RockAuto

FAQs

Can I drive with P0083?

Only carefully and for a short time. RepairPal rates it Urgent and says the engine may lose performance or even fail to start, while OBD-Codes.com lists poor acceleration and lower fuel economy. Check the oil level first and get it diagnosed soon.

Is P0083 the intake or exhaust solenoid?

The sources disagree. RepairPal titles it Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High, matching the bank 2 intake codes P0081 and P0082, while OBD-Codes.com titles it the bank 2 exhaust solenoid. A factory service manual for your engine is the way to be sure.

What does 'circuit high' mean in P0083?

OBD-Codes.com says the computer saw the solenoid signal voltage above specification, and its listed causes are poor or disconnected wiring connections, an open solenoid circuit, a short to power or a faulty computer.

How much does it cost to fix P0083?

Neither source gives a repair cost for P0083. It can be as simple as an oil change or a loose connector, or it may need a new solenoid, so diagnose it before buying parts.

Sources

  1. OBD-Codes.com: P0083 (titled Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High, Bank 2)
  2. RepairPal: P0083 Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High (rated Urgent)

Last reviewed 2026-10-24. Code definitions and repair steps can vary by manufacturer. Confirm with your vehicle's service information.