[253167]

Messing with a P0011 code that popped up the day after having my valve gasket replaced in shop. Took the car back, they told me the timing chain is going and quoted a 40 hour job to fix, so naturally I'm trying everything I can to make sure it's nothing simpler than all that (or perhaps something that was done when they replaced the gasket).

Symptoms:
MIL
intermittent oil pressure warning
NO knocks, marbles, bad sounds, nothing.

Codes: (note, brake vacuum code is known, been picking away at the vacuum lines over time)

2 Faults Found:
17887 - Brake Boost Vacuum System
P1479 - 008 - Mechanical Failure
16395 - Bank 1: Camshaft A (Intake)
P0011 - 008 - Retard Setpoint not Reached (Over-Advanced)
Readiness: 0010 1101

And here's how it's acting at various accelerations while test driving according to measuring blocks 90/91/94.

Address 01: Engine (022 906 032 FT)

22:57:38 Group 094
0.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Bank 1
Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Bank 2
System Not OK Test Result Bank 1
Test Result Bank 2

Address 01: Engine (022 906 032 FT)

14:47:21
60.0 % Duty Cycle Exhaust Camshaft
20.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Exhaust Specified
-0.5°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Exhaust Actual
20.4 % Duty Cycle Intake Camshaft
0.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Specified
-0.5°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Actual
27.1 % Duty Cycle Intake Camshaft

Address 01: Engine (022 906 032 FT)

16:20:01 Group 091
680 /min Engine Speed
20.0 % Duty Cycle Intake Camshaft
0.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Specified
-1.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Actual

16:20:01 Group 090
680 /min Engine Speed
59.2 % Duty Cycle Exhaust Camshaft
20.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Exhaust Specified
-0.5°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Exhaust Actual

Address 01: Engine (022 906 032 FT)

16:20:16 Group 091
2160 /min Engine Speed
58.8 % Duty Cycle Intake Camshaft
28.5°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Specified
2.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Actual

16:20:16 Group 090
2120 /min Engine Speed
20.0 % Duty Cycle Exhaust Camshaft
0.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Exhaust Specified
1.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Exhaust Actual

Address 01: Engine (022 906 032 FT)

16:20:20 Group 091
2000 /min Engine Speed
58.8 % Duty Cycle Intake Camshaft
28.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Specified
0.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Intake Actual

16:20:20 Group 090
1920 /min Engine Speed
20.0 % Duty Cycle Exhaust Camshaft
0.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Exhaust Specified
0.0°KW Camshaft Adjustm. Exhaust Actual

If you have experience or thoughts on things to test please share. I just did the diff/trans fluids, valve gasket and other expensive maintenance stuff before this happened and am in a bit of a bind.

 

[253167]

Updating for anyone who relates to this problem: 3.2 v6 has two chains, one is bad and the other is not which was what was giving false hope.

For every 10% out of spec realtime readings are, you can expect the chain has jumped a single tooth, so mine appears to have already jumped two teeth, and after three you’re basically toast.

Apparently my most accessible option is to junk the thing and everything I’ve put into it so that some other shop somewhere else can buy the engine and charge ten grand to put it in someone else’s car. Because that makes sense.

Sorry the news isn’t better for you, dear reader.

P. S. Traftons in Portland Oregon treated me well during all of this, were very thorough and accommodating, and worked well with me as an amateur who knows just enough about this kind of **** to be a danger to myself.