By iCarsoft Official Store Technical Team, Automotive Diagnostics Editors · Updated September 3, 2026 · OEM technical references checked
Quick Answer
The P0023 code means exhaust b camshaft position actuator control circuit/open bank 2. It does not prove the cam phaser is mechanically failed, the timing chain has jumped, or the actuator solenoid itself is the only possible cause. Save the scan, identify the exact architecture, and test the physical and electrical paths before selecting a repair.
What Does the P0023 Code Mean?
P0023 is standardized as Exhaust B Camshaft Position Actuator Control Circuit/Open Bank 2. It names a monitored result, not a guaranteed failed part. The reporting module, suffix and companion faults determine the relevant test branch.
Variable valve timing often uses an electrically controlled oil valve to meter engine oil to a cam phaser. P0023 names the Bank 2 exhaust, or B, actuator control circuit. This circuit code does not by itself prove a phaser or timing-chain fault.
Read each suffix as its exact monitor classification, not a universal physical direction. Confirm the designation, units, signal source and test state before comparing scan data with an external measurement.
Audi’s R8/Spyder specification book lists the exact P0023 description. Stellantis STAR Case S2208000010 documents P0023 with several actuator codes from a shared ground G914A. It supports checking shared paths, not copying that ground location to another VIN.
Separate P0023 from adjacent fault families
| Code | General description | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| P0023 | Exhaust B actuator circuit/open, Bank 2 | Electrical control-path fault for the Bank 2 exhaust actuator. |
| P0020 | Intake A actuator circuit/open, Bank 2 | Same bank, intake actuator rather than exhaust. |
| P0024 | Exhaust B timing over-advanced, Bank 2 | Timing-performance result rather than this circuit category. |
| P0025 | Exhaust B timing over-retarded, Bank 2 | Timing-performance result rather than this circuit category. |
Record the complete P0023 description. The suffix, reporting module and companion faults can change the diagnostic path. Current manufacturer evidence governs when the queue wording conflicts.
P0023 Symptoms and Likely Causes
P0023 symptoms depend on fault status and the fallback strategy. Record what the driver and modules reported. A symptom list is not a parts list.
Record misfire and timing codes before attributing the symptom to one actuator.
The controller may hold a default cam position when circuit control is unavailable.
Stop for abnormal mechanical noise or low oil pressure; those require a separate safety path.
A shared feed, ground or harness branch becomes more likely and should be mapped first.
Practical cause-checking order
- Accessible connection: Loose, oil-contaminated or damaged Bank 2 exhaust actuator connector.
- Circuit or shared path: Open feed, control wire or shared ground in the actuator harness.
- Supporting system: Incorrect oil level, viscosity or contamination affecting functional response in addition to the circuit fault.
- Named component: Oil-control valve or actuator solenoid that fails the specified coil and command tests.
- Controller or software: Controller driver or calibration issue after the complete external circuit passes.
Did P0023 appear after recent oil, valve cover, timing, cylinder-head, engine-ground, battery or harness work? Recheck disturbed connectors, grounds, hoses, fluids, part numbers and setup steps for the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft actuator control circuit. Record battery and software history; a post-repair code does not prove the new part is defective.
How Serious Is P0023, and Can You Drive?
Arrange diagnosis promptly. When the warning is steady, operation remains normal and the owner's manual permits it, a short light-load trip to a repair facility may be reasonable. Avoid demanding use until the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft actuator control circuit is understood. P0023 does not provide a universally safe distance.
Record temperature, load, speed, start state and recent service. Do not reproduce a severe symptom on public roads; another warning can make the situation more urgent.
Stop and arrange a tow if the oil-pressure warning appears, the engine rattles or misfires severely, power drops dangerously, or timing damage is suspected.
Keep hands and leads clear of belts, fans and valvetrain. Do not energize a controller driver directly, and do not open a hot or running oil system outside the service procedure.
How to Diagnose P0023 in the Right Order
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Save the complete fault record
Scan before clearing. Save P0023 wording, suffix, reporting module, status, freeze frame, companion codes, supply voltage and available data for the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft actuator control circuit. Record failure order, recent repairs and restart behavior for later comparison.
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Identify the VIN-specific monitor and architecture
Use the VIN, engine, transmission and equipment codes to obtain the current wiring diagram, connector views, monitor description and bulletins. Variable valve timing often uses an electrically controlled oil valve to meter engine oil to a cam phaser. P0023 names the Bank 2 exhaust, or B, actuator control circuit. This circuit code does not by itself prove a phaser or timing-chain fault. Confirm software identifiers and service-action eligibility directly; a bulletin for one application does not establish coverage for another.
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Inspect the accessible physical path
Follow the safety procedure, then inspect connectors, locks, seals, terminals, clips and harness routing for the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft actuator control circuit. Look for heat, abrasion, fluid entry, corrosion, tension and unsuitable prior repairs. Check the supporting mechanical, air, exhaust, fluid or vacuum path named in the service information. Photograph evidence before correcting it.
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Prove circuits and physical conditions
Use the multimeter, loaded-circuit tools, scope or current probe when specified, oil-pressure equipment and mechanical timing tools as the exact procedure requires. Prove feeds, grounds and references under the specified load, then test signal or control integrity at the correct states. Isolate components before resistance tests. Never bridge a controller pin to battery or ground, and do not substitute a continuity beep for a load, pressure or waveform test.
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Compare supported command and response
Compare supported commanded and actual Bank 2 exhaust camshaft data with Bank 1 and companion actuator codes. Use an active test only when oil level, temperature and OEM prerequisites are satisfied. Compare scan evidence with the external measurement and companion faults. A command does not prove physical movement, pressure, current, temperature or torque. A missing PID or active test is a coverage limitation, not evidence that the vehicle component failed. Stop any test if operation becomes unsafe.
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Choose the supported repair and setup
Repair the failed path and correct the reason for damage. Confirm part application, required setup authorization and any relearn. Consider a controller only after its powers, grounds, inputs, outputs and service information pass.
Specifications are vehicle-specific. There is no universal voltage, resistance, current, pressure, waveform, timing, temperature, percentage, learned value or drive cycle for P0023. Test state, connector location and system design change what a valid value means. Use only specifications for the exact VIN and do not transfer the OEM example in this article to another application.
P0023 Repairs and Typical Costs
The correct P0023 repair follows the failed test. Wiring, a physical repair, a proven component, software and controller work are different outcomes. Do not replace an assembly from the generic code alone.
After installation, recheck connector seating, harness clearance, fluid or mechanical setup and every required learn. If an OEM bulletin appears relevant, document vehicle eligibility, installed calibration and prescribed action. The existence of the bulletin in the references does not promise warranty, free repair or a software cure for other vehicles.
| Possible path | Current US estimate |
|---|---|
| Restore the actuator connector, shared ground, feed or control wire | VIN-specific quote |
| Correct the specified oil level, oil condition or documented installation issue | VIN-specific quote |
| Replace a solenoid or actuator only after its electrical and functional tests fail | VIN-specific quote |
| Address controller, calibration or mechanical timing only with independent supporting evidence | VIN-specific quote |
There is no single national P0023 repair price because these rows are alternative outcomes. Ask for an itemized estimate showing diagnostic time, parts, labor, fluids, service-information access and verification. Location, taxes, related damage and warranty eligibility change the total. Do not add the rows together or authorize an assembly without the supporting failed test.
Using iCarsoft CR Max P for P0023
On a supported vehicle, iCarsoft CR Max P can retrieve accessible module faults, save available freeze frame, display ECU-provided live data and create a diagnostic report. For P0023, preserve the original evidence and compare related modules before clearing an erasable record.
Preserve the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft actuator control circuit evidence
iCarsoft CR Max P
Review supported codes and relevant live data together. Confirm the exact VIN, controller access, PIDs and any requested active test with iCarsoft before purchase; generic product capabilities do not guarantee a P0023-specific function.
Check current CR Max P price and availabilityCheck CR Max P compatibility by VINThe official product page describes full-system diagnosis, available freeze frame/live data, reports, topology and supported bidirectional functions; every function remains vehicle, ECU and software dependent. Supported topology and coding availability varies by vehicle and ECU and requires VIN confirmation. Follow OEM prerequisites and stop for abnormal operation.
Know the measurement boundary. The scanner reports information supplied by the vehicle. It does not directly prove terminal tension, circuit load capacity, leakage, pressure, temperature, mechanical travel or internal condition in the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft actuator control circuit. It also cannot replace the multimeter, loaded-circuit tools, scope or current probe when specified, oil-pressure equipment and mechanical timing tools when the OEM procedure requires them. Interpret commanded and reported values alongside measured evidence.
Verify the P0023 Repair
After repair, verify connectors, harness clearance, setup and controller supply. Save post-repair findings, then clear only erasable records through the approved procedure. Battery disconnection is not a repair.
Run the manufacturer's applicable verification conditions in a safe workshop or route. Compare the original operating state with current data for the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft actuator control circuit, and check current and pending faults in related modules. One clean start or idle period does not prove that every conditional monitor has completed.
If P0023 returns, compare its suffix, status, failure order and operating conditions with the saved baseline before replacing another part. Revisit the failed branch and inspect anything disturbed. Keep mechanical repair, monitor completion, readiness and local inspection eligibility as separate outcomes.
A permanent P0023 can remain immediately after a successful repair. If the vehicle stores it as a permanent DTC, a scan tool or battery disconnect cannot erase it. Once current and pending faults are absent, the OBD system removes the permanent record only after the applicable monitor reruns and passes.
Related Bank 2 Exhaust Camshaft Actuator Control Circuit Code Guides
P0023 Frequently Asked Questions
Does P0023 mean the named component is bad?
No. P0023 describes exhaust b camshaft position actuator control circuit/open bank 2, not a confirmed part. It also does not prove the cam phaser is mechanically failed, the timing chain has jumped, or the actuator solenoid itself is the only possible cause. Test accessible wiring, supplies, grounds and supporting physical conditions, then follow the exact monitor tree. Replace a component only when its branch fails or an applicable OEM action specifically supports it.
What should I check first for P0023?
Save every module's codes and freeze frame before clearing. Confirm the full definition, suffix and VIN architecture. Then inspect recent oil, valve cover, timing, cylinder-head, engine-ground, battery or harness work, connectors and shared supplies. Those facts determine whether the next test needs the multimeter, loaded-circuit tools, scope or current probe when specified, oil-pressure equipment and mechanical timing tools or a manufacturer-specific functional procedure.
Can I drive with the P0023 code?
Only consider a short light-load trip when operation is normal and the owner's manual permits it. Stop if the oil-pressure warning appears, the engine rattles or misfires severely, power drops dangerously, or timing damage is suspected. The code number cannot establish a safe mileage allowance, and another warning can make the situation more urgent.
Why did P0023 return after a part was replaced?
The original circuit or supporting-system fault may remain, the part or setup may be wrong, or the first diagnosis may have confused a monitored result with a failed component. Compare the new failure conditions with the saved record and recheck every disturbed connection before buying another part.
How much does a P0023 repair cost?
A VIN-specific estimate is required because diagnosis may lead to wiring, a supporting physical repair, a verified component, software or a controller. Ask which failed test supports the quote and whether diagnosis, taxes, setup and post-repair verification are included.
Can CR Max P diagnose and clear P0023?
On a supported vehicle, CR Max P can organize available faults, freeze frame, live data and reports, and can clear erasable records after repair. Confirm exact ECU coverage. It cannot force-clear a permanent DTC or replace physical measurements for the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft actuator control circuit.
The iCarsoft Official Store Technical Team maintains the store's fault-code library. This guide organizes published manufacturer evidence and verified product information; it does not document a hands-on test of a particular vehicle or claim an individual engineer's review.
Technical and cost references
- Audi R8/Spyder Quick Reference Specification Book, September 2013. Lists the exact P0023 Bank 2 exhaust B actuator control-circuit/open description.
- Stellantis STAR Case S2208000010, January 2022. Shows P0023 with other actuator codes from a shared ground issue on a named application, supporting shared-circuit diagnosis.
- California Bureau of Automotive Repair — On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference. Permanent DTCs are removed by the vehicle after applicable verification, not by a scan-tool erase command.
Product information: Official iCarsoft CR Max P page.
Editorial note: General diagnostic education, not a substitute for the owner's manual, current VIN-specific service information or professional inspection. Test limits, procedures, coverage and costs vary. Related articles provide context; apply only the specifications and repair procedures that match the vehicle. No universal failure rate, repair price or outcome is implied.
