Variocam thoughts and questions

[DaveBBOXSTER]

Originally Posted by Homeoboxter

An easy thing you could do is to remove one of the green plugs on the camsafts on either side and take a peek into the gap. You can see the actuator from an angle and one of the pads. If you ask somebody to rotate the crankshaft with a wrench (clockwise) you can inspect the actuator if there`s any movement. There should not be anything, and probably there isn`t, because it would rattle otherwise, but at least you would get an idea if things look ok. At least things that you can see there. I`m not sure actually what you can see with the engine in the car, my engine is on a stand now. If you have a boroscope that may help.

Yes that seems a good idea - nobody has suggested looking into it to check and I am guessing a bore scope would help see the actuator condition. Or maybe just listen with a stethoscope on the cam cover when it's on tick over and at 1,500 + revs? As the failed one likely to be on 1-3 bores drivers side for a UK car I may even try taking off the cover and have a look.

[Homeoboxter]

Originally Posted by DaveBBOXSTER

Yes that seems a good idea - nobody has suggested looking into it to check and I am guessing a bore scope would help see the actuator condition. Or maybe just listen with a stethoscope on the cam cover when it's on tick over and at 1,500 + revs? As the failed one likely to be on 1-3 bores drivers side for a UK car I may even try taking off the cover and have a look.

First, I`d suggest just taking out the plug at the intake cam. The plug is not reusable if you remove it so you will need a new one but it`s cheap. If you want to remove the cover, you will need to lock the camshafts and hold them down using a tool, otherwise you may damage the camshafts or the bearings. There`s a good tutorial about this in Wayne`s book, available online on Pelican`s website for free.

[sfkjeld]

Timely post for me. My 2000 2.7 just threw a 1341 error code (cam timing). The newly remanufactured engine was just installed last fall after Sitting in a garage for years. After reading this thread, seems conceivable the O-ring could have dried out and failed. I am still holding out hope it’s the sensor or solenoid, but after reading this.... probably not.

[Homeoboxter]

Originally Posted by sfkjeld

Timely post for me. My 2000 2.7 just threw a 1341 error code (cam timing). The newly remanufactured engine was just installed last fall after Sitting in a garage for years. After reading this thread, seems conceivable the O-ring could have dried out and failed. I am still holding out hope it’s the sensor or solenoid, but after reading this.... probably not.

Sorry to hear... Can you tell which bank threw the code?

[sfkjeld]

Originally Posted by Homeoboxter

Sorry to hear... Can you tell which bank threw the code?

Bank 1-3 unfortunately.

[Homeoboxter]

Originally Posted by sfkjeld

Bank 1-3 unfortunately.

Have you checked your oil filter? That may tell a bit more about the issue. Keep us posted!

[sfkjeld]

Originally Posted by Homeoboxter

Have you checked your oil filter? That may tell a bit more about the issue. Keep us posted!

Unfortunately I changed the oil a week before I found this discussion. I am pretty sure the “rattling” is becoming louder Tho, when starting the car cold. Once it’s started it runs well and subsequent starts are normal.

I am not clear on the work to replace these 0-rings and the actuator. Is this something a competent shop can do with the engine in the car? Is this a $3k repair or $6k?