P037C
Cold Start Camshaft Profile System Performance
On engines with multi-profile (cold-start) cam lobes (e.g. some Honda i-VTEC variants and BMW Valvetronic), the cold-start cam profile actuator is not switching as expected — typically a stuck oil control valve or worn locking pin.
- Check engine light: Yes
- Emissions related: Yes
- Repair difficulty: hard
Common causes
Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.
- Profile actuator stuckCommon
Parts involved
- Camshaft
- Oil Control Valve
P037C is a generic OBD-II code defined by SAE J2012. Exact wording and diagnostic procedure vary by manufacturer and model. Code definitions are drawn from the public-domain OBDex dataset; the workshop notes are our own.