Engine, Drivetrain & Forced-Induction
Have Technical Questions or Done Modifications to the G37? Find out the answer in here!

Help P0021 P0011 VVT Solenoid

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-17-2019, 09:49 PM
  #1  
Paul_G37
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Paul_G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: N/A
Posts: 51
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
P0021 P0011 VVT Solenoid

I just finished doing the rear timing cover gaskets but some codes came back.

I did some troubleshooting but am a little confused.

P0021 (Bank 2) and P0524 codes were occurring even after clearing them.


Decided to swap the sensors and solenoids between Bank 1 and 2.
P0011 (Bank 1) and P0524 codes are now showing. This narrows it down to the sensor or solenoid in Bank 1 since the codes moved there.



Next I swapped only the sensor back to Bank 2, but left the solenoids in place.

P0011 (Bank 1) and P0524 codes came back. This leads me to believe solenoid in Bank 1 is the culprit.

I remove the "bad" solenoid (thinking it's stuck) and tested it with a 12V current. It's moving but am not sure if it's moving enough.

So, I remove the "good" solenoid and tested it in order to compare. It's moving the same amount as the "bad" one. What gives?

Is the 12V test accurate?
Is there anything else I can try?
Old 03-19-2019, 12:40 PM
  #2  
Holy Chris
Registered User
 
Holy Chris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't recall, is your gasket was broken or it was ok ?
I remember reading it was cracked near the bolts just want to be sure ?
Old 03-19-2019, 07:35 PM
  #3  
Paul_G37
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Paul_G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: N/A
Posts: 51
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Holy Chris
I don't recall, is your gasket was broken or it was ok ?
I remember reading it was cracked near the bolts just want to be sure ?
It was cracked, but there were no broken off pieces. It fell apart when I removed it. My biggest observation was that 3 screws were loose, so I'm not sure if the gasket had a good seal or if oil was squeezing through.
Old 03-20-2019, 10:38 PM
  #4  
Paul_G37
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Paul_G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: N/A
Posts: 51
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
so, I swapped out the "bad" solenoid and things seem to be working well. Went for a 45-60 minutes drive with no codes...yippee

From what I understand it can still fail even if the 12V test passes. What happens is the heat causes the metal to expand which can cause the solenoid to get stuck. When testing it on a bench, it's not exposed to heat and expansion, which is why it passes.

With that said, now I have this code that popped up (this **** never ends) -
P0420 - Powertrain Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1).

Not the same Bank as the new solenoid so hopefully not related. I just topped up with Shell 91 (which I never used in the car befor), so maybe it's just that.

Will look more into but it looks like the low oil pressure issue is resolved.
Old 03-21-2019, 09:56 AM
  #5  
Conboss
Registered Member
 
Conboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 455
Received 32 Likes on 31 Posts
P0420 is for the bank 1 oxygen sensor out of range. My old honda had a bad cat, I replaced the sensor and of course I was wrong. If you can stomach it, you're not gonna hurt the car, just might mean the cats on its way out.
Old 03-21-2019, 10:40 AM
  #6  
Paul_G37
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Paul_G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: N/A
Posts: 51
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Conboss
P0420 is for the bank 1 oxygen sensor out of range. My old honda had a bad cat, I replaced the sensor and of course I was wrong. If you can stomach it, you're not gonna hurt the car, just might mean the cats on its way out.
That's what I was thinking. The code was gone this morning, but have a feeling it will come back.

Old 03-21-2019, 11:43 AM
  #7  
Conboss
Registered Member
 
Conboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 455
Received 32 Likes on 31 Posts
I’d reset the code, and give it a month before it comes back. It wasn’t predictable, but the risk is basically nothing.
Old 08-05-2019, 09:25 PM
  #8  
dagdiy
Registered Member
 
dagdiy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 4 Posts
Paul_G37 just wondering if your original P0524 and P0021 or possibly P0011 codes have remained off. I am asking because I just recently replaced the galley gaskets as well because I had the P0524 and P0021 DTCs. In my case I did find a portion of the gasket in the Oil pan and I also had some loose screws which I thought were due to the missing gasket material. I also noticed when removing the gaskets some areas of the gasket came off very easy from the plate while other areas were very hard to remove indicating to me that oil may have been passing between the plate and gasket in spots. This may have been your situation. I also confirmed low oil pressure before removing the galley gaskets, I was seeing 5 to 6 psi at idle at 80C oil temp and around 30 psi at 2,000 rpm. After replacing the gaskets I was seeing about 27 psi at idle at 80C oil temp, I did not do the 2000 rpm check after replacement. I am convinced I fixed a problem with the original low oil pressure but unfortunately not my P0524 and P0021 as they returned. after I had cleared them after my fix. My next step is to try your solenoid swap to see if the P0021 (Bank 2 DTC) moves with the solenoids to a P0011. Thanks for your insights as I am feeling some desperation since the galley gaskets did not get rid of my codes. This is my daughters car and she needs to use it to return to college by late August. I am hoping the solenoid swap gives me direction. If people are wondering my daughters vehicle is a 2009 Infiniti G37 sedan with 206,000 miles on it (Yea we are probably pushing our luck here but the body of the car is in great shape which is bonus for us in NY.
Old 08-05-2019, 10:34 PM
  #9  
Paul_G37
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Paul_G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: N/A
Posts: 51
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by dagdiy
Paul_G37 just wondering if your original P0524 and P0021 or possibly P0011 codes have remained off. I am asking because I just recently replaced the galley gaskets as well because I had the P0524 and P0021 DTCs. In my case I did find a portion of the gasket in the Oil pan and I also had some loose screws which I thought were due to the missing gasket material. I also noticed when removing the gaskets some areas of the gasket came off very easy from the plate while other areas were very hard to remove indicating to me that oil may have been passing between the plate and gasket in spots. This may have been your situation. I also confirmed low oil pressure before removing the galley gaskets, I was seeing 5 to 6 psi at idle at 80C oil temp and around 30 psi at 2,000 rpm. After replacing the gaskets I was seeing about 27 psi at idle at 80C oil temp, I did not do the 2000 rpm check after replacement. I am convinced I fixed a problem with the original low oil pressure but unfortunately not my P0524 and P0021 as they returned. after I had cleared them after my fix. My next step is to try your solenoid swap to see if the P0021 (Bank 2 DTC) moves with the solenoids to a P0011. Thanks for your insights as I am feeling some desperation since the galley gaskets did not get rid of my codes. This is my daughters car and she needs to use it to return to college by late August. I am hoping the solenoid swap gives me direction. If people are wondering my daughters vehicle is a 2009 Infiniti G37 sedan with 206,000 miles on it (Yea we are probably pushing our luck here but the body of the car is in great shape which is bonus for us in NY.
I sold the car and haven't heard anything from the buyer. Before selling it the codes did not come back and I was driving it daily for a good month.

Hope you figure yours out
Old 08-06-2019, 07:47 AM
  #10  
dagdiy
Registered Member
 
dagdiy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 4 Posts
Thanks for the quick reply. Just one more question if you have the time , I noticed that there are unique part numbers for the Intake timing solenoids did that impact the swapping of the solenoids at all? Maybe it is just for harness reach , I have not had a chance to look into the swap yet. Also where did you get your solenoids, it appears that OEM is close to $300 a piece while I can get Hitachi replacements from Rock Auto at about $87 per. Thanks again for your time
Old 08-11-2019, 04:53 PM
  #11  
dagdiy
Registered Member
 
dagdiy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 4 Posts
Cool

Just in case anyone is following along my problem beyond the galley gaskets was a Bank 2 intake timing Solenoid which did finally get rid of the P0524 and the P0021 codes. Also the solenoids for Bank 1 and Bank 2 are unique as the oil flow through ports in the solenoid are aligned based on the Bank installed into. Based on this I'm not sure if a solenoid swap is good test. In my case I was able to test each solenoid on the bench by applying 12V with my power probe and did notice a difference in actuation between them. The solenoid that was giving me the P0021 code appeared weak or sluggish as compared to the known good solenoid from Bank 1. If you have more interest in my issues I did generate a separate thread with my lessons learned for the P0524 and P0021 codes
The following users liked this post:
Wayne Jackson (08-07-2023)
Old 08-13-2019, 04:30 PM
  #12  
Conboss
Registered Member
 
Conboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 455
Received 32 Likes on 31 Posts
I'm curious as to why P0524 gets thrown when the solenoid goes. Anyone know why? Simply curious as it should't interrupt oil flow this bad, should it?
Old 08-13-2019, 09:09 PM
  #13  
dagdiy
Registered Member
 
dagdiy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 4 Posts
Don't know if this answer is 100% accurate but when researching infiniti codes I found the P0524 lists all the same causes (Crankshaft sensor, camshaft position sensor, intake valve control solenoid, Accumulation of debris on pick-up portion of camshaft, timing chain installation, Foreign matter caught in oil groove for intake valve timing control) as the P0011, P0021 with the only exception being Engine oil pressure or level too low. Since both these DTCs can be triggered by the same causes I believe this drives the computer logic to throw both for most cases. I can say with certainty that even after I fixed the rear timing cover gasket (gallery gasket) on my vehicle and my oil pressure was confirmed good (26.5 psi at idle at 80C oil temp) I still had the P0524 code and the P0021 code. It wasn't until I fixed my faulty bank 2 intake timing solenoid that both DTCs went away. Also both codes list that the Detecting Condition (reason the code is thrown) is there is a gap between (cam) angle of target and phase-control (cam)angle.
The following users liked this post:
07_g35 (05-14-2024)
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Nemises1979
Engine, Drivetrain & Forced-Induction
15
02-28-2023 01:16 PM
GDriveAlot
Engine, Drivetrain & Forced-Induction
53
11-20-2022 03:19 PM
ABg
Engine, Drivetrain & Forced-Induction
21
10-10-2022 11:25 AM
ai3j50
Engine, Drivetrain & Forced-Induction
17
07-02-2020 09:56 PM
zzww1251
Engine, Drivetrain & Forced-Induction
4
01-19-2015 11:24 AM



Quick Reply: Help P0021 P0011 VVT Solenoid



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:13 PM.