Trouble shoot cam sensor position error, vct maybe?

[andrewtac]

I have p0345, 0349, 0390, 0394 codes. Car feels like it is missing a couple cylinders at idle, rought as hell. The cams are now staying at zero. I did a deeper dice into the log today and noticed something different. On the last hit I did, bank one cams responding, bank two intake cam was responding, and bank two exhaust cam tried but barely moved. At about 5k all cams went to zero and have stayed there. Initially I thought they locked at zero after being commanded to zero at high rpm, but it looks like due to the bank2 exhaust cam not moving they were all commanded to match to zero.

Something confusing me is the codes are cam position sensor errors, bank 2, both intake and exhaust. While the log shows the intake cam was moving during the event.

Plan is chase the wires on the vct and cam sensors, then replace vct solenoid, then cam sensors, and then to the phaser. Hopefully I find something before I get to replacing the phaser. Shop also said phaser could be locked, and I could loosen bolts and retighten to possibly fix it.

Anything else?

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[HKusp]

Following. I currently have P0390 and P0394 and issues with the cam position issues in my logs. I have to trace that harness when I get a minute. I am currently looking into whether the VCT solenoids are interchangeable on the exhaust and intake side or not. When I had the heads done, I am sure they took them off to do that machining. They may have gotten swapped around. I am very interested in what you find out.

 

[andrewtac]

Gen3 they are different, been trying to figure this out. It appears the intake is the same style as before (so could swap bank to bank), but the exhaust is oil flow control (I think) and is the solenoid that is set back from the front of the head a few inches.

 

[HKusp]

I thought they were different. So do you think they would be able to be accidentally swapped around or no? I ask because like I said, the machine shop most certainly had to take mine off to do the work they did, and I was wondering if maybe they got accidentally swapped around when the heads were put back together.

 

[andrewtac]

I thought they were different. So do you think they would be able to be accidentally swapped around or no? I ask because like I said, the machine shop most certainly had to take mine off to do the work they did, and I was wondering if maybe they got accidentally swapped around when the heads were put back together.

They could have swapped from side to side; but not intake to exhaust.

 

[HKusp]

So that's not going to be my issue, because exhaust drivers side / exhaust passenger side, and intake drivers side/ passenger side shouldn't make a difference if they're swapped I wouldn't think.

 

[andrewtac]

A few more details. Since the codes were intermittent, I thought I'd try to clear them and see if the cams controlled again. I started with forescan, cleared codes, read them, they were gone. I went to HPtuners to log the start and checked codes before; they were still there and would not clear. Shop said HPtuners might be storing them in cache somewhere, so I tried to start; didn't really start, very rough. I quit before I killed another battery. Well I tried resetting again, same results. Forscan shows gone, HPtuners still there. Gave up for a bit. Went back and decided to see what torque (the app used to monitor PIDs) was showing; codes still present. Tried clearing and they remains, and it shows "historical code". A couple searches and it seems there are permanent DTCs that will not clear without drive cycles. I Thought the cams might not move because the computer thinks there is a fault, but I can't clear the fault to see if they will move.

 

[TrackGT]

A few more details. Since the codes were intermittent, I thought I'd try to clear them and see if the cams controlled again. I started with forescan, cleared codes, read them, they were gone. I went to HPtuners to log the start and checked codes before; they were still there and would not clear. Shop said HPtuners might be storing them in cache somewhere, so I tried to start; didn't really start, very rough. I quit before I killed another battery. Well I tried resetting again, same results. Forscan shows gone, HPtuners still there. Gave up for a bit. Went back and decided to see what torque (the app used to monitor PIDs) was showing; codes still present. Tried clearing and they remains, and it shows "historical code". A couple searches and it seems there are permanent DTCs that will not clear without drive cycles. I Thought the cams might not move because the computer thinks there is a fault, but I can't clear the fault to see if they will move.

Any update on this? Did any of your potential solutions work?

 

[andrewtac]

Any update on this? Did any of your potential solutions work?

I have jumped into the other thread. Lund told me my spring pressure is way to high (50% on seat and 25% open more than the heavy springs they recommend). Several on here don't think that is the problem, several at some other forums do. Either way, still with Lund and going to do what the tuner recommends. Replacing the springs soon. Will also replace phasers and solenoids while everything apart.
Just now getting to it will update

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