jayr0422

iTrader: (2)

So yesterday I'm driving my car out of a parking lot and all of a sudden I see my check engine light is on along with the VCS and VSC Off lights on. Also my car is vibrating like crazy (like it almost wants to cut off maybe) especially when stopped and idling. I went to autozone to get my codes checked for free and they said P0300 and P1346. The guy said something about ohh all your spark plugs are misfiring but we all know they are idiots so I pay no attention to that. Has anybody had this problem or know what it might be? Oh yeah and I got my timing belt done a few weeks ago and have been driving it with no problems since then. This is a 98 GS400 with about 150k miles. Thanks in advance.

timgs300

iTrader: (22)

P0300 - Random/Multiple misfire detected.

P1346 - VVT Sensor/Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Range/Performance Problem (Bank 1)

Deviation in crankshaft position sensor signal and VVT sensor 1 signal (2 trip detection logic)

Problems possible: mechanical - jumping teeth of timing belt, belt stretched. OR engine ECU defective.

Since you just had timing belt done (even though you drove with no problems for a bit afterward), I always say look at the last thing that was done to the vehicle. Maybe something came loose or timing belt is defective. Misfire is obviously a by product of timing being off. Hope this helps.

jayr0422

iTrader: (2)

thanks for the reply

yeah i'm thinking it's quite possible it's the timing belt being a tooth off or something. It's also possible it might be something else. Hopefully if it is that the shop I took it to will be honest and fix it for free.

any other things this might be folks? I'm taking it to the shop Saturday and want to at least have an idea of what it may be...

jayr0422

iTrader: (2)

So I call my mechanic to tell him what the codes were so he can know before I get there Saturday and he thinks it might be the sensor or the computer, says he has had a few sensors going bad in the last few weeks maybe it's the coldweather. he'll check everything Saturday. He says on this car if the timing had jumped the engine would have locked up by now... Well, I'm hoping for the best Saturday... still don't know if this is from the weather or random if if it coulda had anything to do with them doing my timing belt a few weeks ago. Something tells me he is not going to link it to the timing belt service at all, lol

timgs300

iTrader: (22)

Right. There is no way to know unless you pull it apart and check it yourself. Maybe though he'll give you a break since you just had it in.

jayr0422

iTrader: (2)

Ok, I took it in today and he said I actually had 7 codes. Most of them were misfires. They were on 1, 3, 5, 7 and he was pretty sure he already knew what the issue was because he's seen it before several times. It was the VVT Sensor (somebody told me it's also known as the oil control valve?). Anyway he replaced the one on the driver's side (because of where the codes said the misfires were) and I was good to go...

silvergs79

glad to hear that, what was the price of the sensor and labor out the door for future reference?

jayr0422

iTrader: (2)

he charged me 220 for the part and 120 for the labor but I think he overcharged me even with that tho but that's a whole nother story that I'll be posting in NELOC... the part costs 150 from the dealership. the part is basically on top when you take off the engine cover you can see it and there is one bolt holding it there. Not sure if you have to move anything else to get it out but it only took them an hour or less to do it.

ivnnln

iTrader: (1)

Can you take a snapshot of the part on the engine, pl? It will be helpful to the members to know where it's located just in case some have similar issue in the future. Appreciate and good to hear that they fixied the problem for you.

FlaggDrive

iTrader: (1)

is the vvt sensor the same thing as the cam position sensor? my car just threw the same codes and had the same symptoms too.

jayr0422

iTrader: (2)

I'm not sure, the other name for it that the dealership told me was oil control valve...