What does it mean?
P1526 is a Powertrain (engine, transmission, fuel system) fault code. It indicates: Camshaft Control Circuit Ground .
Symptoms
- Check engine light on with a rough or shaky idle
- Camshaft timing does not adjust, so low and mid range pull feels dull
- Rattling from the timing drive on start-up
- Higher fuel consumption and a slightly uneven running feel
- In some layouts the fuse feeding the solenoid blows
- Fault may set again shortly after clearing
Likely causes
- Corroded or loose ground point serving the camshaft control solenoid
- Control wire grounded through insulation rubbed away against the cylinder head or a bracket
- Internal short between the solenoid winding and its body
- Oil soaking into the solenoid connector and creating a leakage path
- Harness pinched at a clamp during earlier work on the engine top end
- Module driver failed in a permanently conducting state
How to fix it
- Unplug the solenoid and measure resistance from the control wire to ground; a low value with the connector open confirms a short
- Carry out a voltage drop test on the actuator ground while the solenoid is commanded
- Measure the winding resistance and also from each terminal to the solenoid body
- Inspect the connector for oil contamination and replace an oil-soaked connector rather than just cleaning it
- Follow the harness along the head and brackets looking for the rub point, then repair and reroute it
- Command the solenoid with a scan tool and watch the camshaft angle deviation respond
- Replace the camshaft control solenoid if it is internally shorted, and treat the module as the last step