I hope I can make this short, but I apologize if I get wordy.
Just had over $2000 worth of work done on my Jag (at a local AAA mechanic) because it was a gross polluter; the main thing they did was change the variable valve timing solenoid, and the emissions measurement went down from over 2000 to just over 800, but its California so it still failed.

They told me that when they resmogged it, the fail was because of the emissions not the check engine light, but sure enough when I stopped for milk and restarted, that check engine light was back on again. They are now saying that it's possibly the passenger side catalytic converter, as it's the only thing they haven’t ruled out as to why it still won't pass smog.

The other weird thing is that I have had the car about 4 years and we are **** about the oil changes, and only 2 weeks ago we changed the oil again with the best oil we can find; so when they told us they needed to do an oil change and flush out the engine (for $133) to get rid of metal shavings that they "found" when they were changing the variable valve timing solenoid... we said no way. That was the only thing they suggested that we said no to because it just sounded wrong. Did we do wrong, should we have let them do it?

They are saying in writing that the P1388 code could be causing the engine light to come back on due to metal shavings in the oil. I am still skeptical, that’s why I am here. I am a woman and I am emotionally exhausted from all these charges and the thing still not passing smog AND the engine light STILL on.

Any advice is welcome..thank you!

Sylvia

 

Sylvia - The P1388 is VVT bank 2 (driver's side) over retarded - there are small oil passages in the VVT unit - I don't believe changing the solenoid will alleviate the P1388 code, especially if the VVT unit oil passages are clogged.

You could have let them do the engine flush and oil change - or if you know someone that can DIY - do the following:

1) Engine flush
2) Change oil to 5W20 - minus 1 qt of the oil and replace with Mercon V transmission fluid
3) Drive car

PS - Metal shavings in the engine is NOT a good thing. Or worse yet - your engine could have low oil pressure meaning not enough pressure to activate the VVT unit but often the P1388 code is due to clogged VVT oil passages...

PPS - This question should have been posted in the S Type forum section - I suppose one of the moderators could move the thread there for more "exposure".

Good Luck!