Variable valve time solenoids

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Jul 6, 2009 | 09:29 AM

Martin Hogbin

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Variable valve time solenoids

I recently had the engine light come on on my S-type (51 reg 130,000 miles) a few days after it had been serviced I took it back to the dealer who diagnosed the problem as the variable valve timing solenoid failure. I was told that this was not a particularly common problem. The solenoid was replaced. Two days after I got the car back the engine light came on again. The dealer diagnosed this as the VVTS for the other bank. It seems very unlikely to me that both solenoids would fail within days of one another. Any ideas?

Martin Hogbin

Jul 7, 2009 | 08:14 AM

JagV8

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From: Yorkshire, England

I wonder if they swapped the wrong one on the first try? If there was a code (DTC), what was it? It might point to one or other bank - they're often described as "Left" or "Right" but of course you need to know which direction to be looking! Can also be numbered "1" and "2" and again you need to know which is which.

Obviously, you'd hope the garage would know what they were doing.....

Jul 8, 2009 | 03:22 AM

Martin Hogbin

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Thanks. I wondered if that had happened. The engine light was off when I got the car back but this might be because they reset the system. I am not sure how long after getting it back I noticed that it had come back on again. Does anyone know how long it takes for this fault to reveal itself. Martin

Jul 8, 2009 | 12:08 PM

JagV8

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From: Yorkshire, England

Many faults need to occur on two consecutive drive cycles (see the site stickies or google) or some similar time. Sorry not to be more specific!

Jul 12, 2009 | 04:48 PM

12RM

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From: Scotland

This may be one of the known issues - I had this happen 2 or 3 time in 4 years of ownership.

Anyway the TSB is titled -
FALSE FLAGGING OF V6 CAMSHAFT TIMING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (1999 - 2001 cars)

Some of the text -
Summary
S303-09: This Technical Bulletin has been issued due to customer complaints of the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminating and Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P1383 (valve cam timing
over retarded bank 1) or P1388 (valve cam timing over retarded bank 2) logging. (On occasions
both codes are shown)

After that it goes on to say that the dealer has to reprogramme the PCM (Power Control Module) using updated software.

I just reset using the battery disconnect method or a code reader once I obtained one.

You may have a real fault though.