Vvt unit and timing belt correlation.

I have a 2001 s40, I recently had someone replace the timing belt and water pump. It’s giving me the code P0017 and I was trying to read into that I came across and answer saying that you need to turn the vvt unit back half a notch before taking the old belt off. Is this necessary? If this was not done, is that a problem?

The car starts and then turns off occasionally and I was told to change the crankshaft position sensor and I did.