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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Make sure all your posts in this thread are VERY DETAILED and CLEAR. I would like to keep it clear and to the point so as not to confuse many people that need assistance with their belt and VCT. This process is confusing enough by itself.
I think I have come up with a solution for people running into the dreaded DTCs:
P1381/P0011 Variable Cam Timing over-advanced (Bank 1)
P1383/P0012 Variable Cam Timing over-retarded (Bank 1)
I'm in the verification stages and will elaborate more when it is guaranteed to be working for 1 solid week.
I will also compile information from other threads that I followed to resolve the issue.
It is a very simple process and is pertains 100% to getting the VCT Gear at Positive Dead Stop ...
Still running well. No codes!
Revision 1.3 *11/17/2014*
Assuming the timing belt has ALREADY BEEN REPLACED and the OEM instructions have been FOLLOWED to the letter and tension is ALREADY set and OKAY.
YOU WILL NEED A STRAP/BELT WRENCH TO MAKE THIS PROCESS EASIER!
1. Remove Valve Cover/Spark Plugs and Cam Gear Cover
2. Rotate Cylinder #1 to TDC and insert TDC Pin (Timing Tool)
3. Insert Cam Bar in EXHAUST cam only and loosen the Exhaust cam gear bolt. (Hold cam with wrench!)
Before proceeding, understand that you need to be careful NOT to rotate the cam beyond a quarter turn. (DO NOT ROLL OVER THE CAM!)
Also you MAY have to move the gear a couple times to be able to rotate it back fully to "Positive Dead Stop". ***THIS ALSO MEANS YOU HAVE TO TIGHTEN THE CAM BOLT BEFORE ROTATING AND REPEATING - YOU CAN NOT JUST SPIN IT AND KEEP GOING OR THE CENTER SHEAVE OF THE VCT WILL JUST GAIN SLOP***
4. Use 1" wrench on Intake cam and carefully rotate the cam forward (front of vehicle) - you should hear the oil in the gear squeeze out and see it bubble out near the center of the cam gear.
(This must be done to remove oil pressure to allow you to rotate the cam fully backwards to get the VCT gear to it's dead stop. (It allows the oil to bleed to the opposite side of the gear instead of building pressure and rotating backwards before hitting it's dead stop)
AT ANY POINT THE CAM NEEDS TO BE ADVANCED - ADVANCE IT WITH A STRAP/BELT WRENCH FROM THE VCT GEAR HOUSING
AT ANY POINT THE CAM NEEDS TO BE RETARDED - RETARD IT WITH THE CAM NO SLOP
ONCE THE TIMING BELT JOB IS COMPLETE - YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OVER BY HAND (CLOCKWISE) 10-20-100 TIMES AND EVERYTHING SHOULD LINE UP --- AND IF YOU USE A STRAP WRENCH TO ROTATE THE ENGINE BACKWARDS (COUNTER CLOCKWISE) WITH THE VCT GEAR AND STRAP WRENCH THERE SHOULD BE 0 PLAY/SLACK/SLOP
5. Use 1" wrench on Intake cam and carefully rotate the cam backward (towards windshield) and once the gear starts to rotate the timing belt backwards. STOP
(At this point you have either moved the internal sheave of the VCT gear to full Retard (towards windshield) or pressurized the VCT gear. Double check by rotating cam forward and backward slightly listening and feeling for Positive Dead Stop.)
This indicates how far off the cam is in relation to the dead stop within the VCT gear. (And how many degrees retarded or advanced from the crank.)
6. If you are unable to feel and possibly hear the VCT gear hit it's internal dead stop within a quarter turn of the cam shaft STOP, double check that the crank is still resting against the TDC pin, loosen the VCT Gear and rotate the cam forward a quarter turn, temporarily tighten the VCT gear, and Repeat Step 5.
7. Once VCT gear is at positive dead stop, AND crank is resting against TDC Pin, insert Cam Bar into end of the Intake Cam, Tighten VCT Gear & Exhaust Gear (while holding cam with wrench and cam bar)
{Make sure the VCT gear is against it's Positive Dead Stop)
Depending how far off the VCT gear is, it may be necessary for you to rotate engine back off TDC Pin slightly with both cam gears loose to advance or retard the VCT Gear to be able to complete this process. You will need to use the intake cam (while tight) to advance or retard the gear in relation to the crank (TDC Pin) and reset the VCT Gear & Intake Cam position.
I think I have come up with a solution for people running into the dreaded DTCs:
P1381/P0011 Variable Cam Timing over-advanced (Bank 1)
P1383/P0012 Variable Cam Timing over-retarded (Bank 1)
I'm in the verification stages and will elaborate more when it is guaranteed to be working for 1 solid week.
I will also compile information from other threads that I followed to resolve the issue.
It is a very simple process and is pertains 100% to getting the VCT Gear at Positive Dead Stop ...
Still running well. No codes!
Revision 1.3 *11/17/2014*
Assuming the timing belt has ALREADY BEEN REPLACED and the OEM instructions have been FOLLOWED to the letter and tension is ALREADY set and OKAY.
YOU WILL NEED A STRAP/BELT WRENCH TO MAKE THIS PROCESS EASIER!
1. Remove Valve Cover/Spark Plugs and Cam Gear Cover
2. Rotate Cylinder #1 to TDC and insert TDC Pin (Timing Tool)
3. Insert Cam Bar in EXHAUST cam only and loosen the Exhaust cam gear bolt. (Hold cam with wrench!)
Before proceeding, understand that you need to be careful NOT to rotate the cam beyond a quarter turn. (DO NOT ROLL OVER THE CAM!)
Also you MAY have to move the gear a couple times to be able to rotate it back fully to "Positive Dead Stop". ***THIS ALSO MEANS YOU HAVE TO TIGHTEN THE CAM BOLT BEFORE ROTATING AND REPEATING - YOU CAN NOT JUST SPIN IT AND KEEP GOING OR THE CENTER SHEAVE OF THE VCT WILL JUST GAIN SLOP***
4. Use 1" wrench on Intake cam and carefully rotate the cam forward (front of vehicle) - you should hear the oil in the gear squeeze out and see it bubble out near the center of the cam gear.
(This must be done to remove oil pressure to allow you to rotate the cam fully backwards to get the VCT gear to it's dead stop. (It allows the oil to bleed to the opposite side of the gear instead of building pressure and rotating backwards before hitting it's dead stop)
AT ANY POINT THE CAM NEEDS TO BE ADVANCED - ADVANCE IT WITH A STRAP/BELT WRENCH FROM THE VCT GEAR HOUSING
AT ANY POINT THE CAM NEEDS TO BE RETARDED - RETARD IT WITH THE CAM NO SLOP
ONCE THE TIMING BELT JOB IS COMPLETE - YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OVER BY HAND (CLOCKWISE) 10-20-100 TIMES AND EVERYTHING SHOULD LINE UP --- AND IF YOU USE A STRAP WRENCH TO ROTATE THE ENGINE BACKWARDS (COUNTER CLOCKWISE) WITH THE VCT GEAR AND STRAP WRENCH THERE SHOULD BE 0 PLAY/SLACK/SLOP
5. Use 1" wrench on Intake cam and carefully rotate the cam backward (towards windshield) and once the gear starts to rotate the timing belt backwards. STOP
(At this point you have either moved the internal sheave of the VCT gear to full Retard (towards windshield) or pressurized the VCT gear. Double check by rotating cam forward and backward slightly listening and feeling for Positive Dead Stop.)
This indicates how far off the cam is in relation to the dead stop within the VCT gear. (And how many degrees retarded or advanced from the crank.)
6. If you are unable to feel and possibly hear the VCT gear hit it's internal dead stop within a quarter turn of the cam shaft STOP, double check that the crank is still resting against the TDC pin, loosen the VCT Gear and rotate the cam forward a quarter turn, temporarily tighten the VCT gear, and Repeat Step 5.
7. Once VCT gear is at positive dead stop, AND crank is resting against TDC Pin, insert Cam Bar into end of the Intake Cam, Tighten VCT Gear & Exhaust Gear (while holding cam with wrench and cam bar)
{Make sure the VCT gear is against it's Positive Dead Stop)
Depending how far off the VCT gear is, it may be necessary for you to rotate engine back off TDC Pin slightly with both cam gears loose to advance or retard the VCT Gear to be able to complete this process. You will need to use the intake cam (while tight) to advance or retard the gear in relation to the crank (TDC Pin) and reset the VCT Gear & Intake Cam position.
