P0014 after valve job

[DanSanDiego]

Hi,
I just had a valve job to clear a P1345 (35psi compression in cylinder 2). Upon driving it home from the mechanic I got P0014 ("B camshaft position timing overadvanced or system performance"). I cleared the code and later ran my X5 (2003 3.0i with 124k miles) in my garage at idle for 5 minutes while I admired the work done on the engine. The P0014 came on again. I've let the mechanic know and I plan to watch it through the weekend.

Any recommendations as to whether this is related to the valve job? Should I have the camshaft position sensor changed? Is it possible that the engine is 'over advanced' due to the removal/reinstall of the cylinder head?

This has been a long saga with my valve issue but I do think it is getting close to a final resolution - looking at the engine bay they really did take everything apart and even clean things as part of the valve job.

[DanSanDiego]

I should note that the CCV and heater core water tube were also replaced during the valve job (the heater core tube connects from the engine to the heater core and is a hard plastic tube). These changes may be completely unrelated but I wanted to mention it in case it was related.

[upallnight]

Check the vanos exhaust solenoid to verify that the actuator moves freely and hasn't become FROZEN.

[DanSanDiego]

Thank you! All signs point to it being a clogged solenoid. It could be the timing (since it first appeared immediately after a valve job) but the car is running so well that hopefully it is just a clogged solenoid.
Today I'm searching around for the 32mm (1.25") deep socket. Autozone loaned me a 32mm axel nut socket but it had a change of width half way down that wouldn't let it go further down the Vanos exhaust solenoid. Next I'll try to find the thin-walled shower valve socket/wrench that others mention as a way to get the solenoid off.

[DanSanDiego]

I was able to get the exhaust solenoid off with a shower valve socket from Home Depot. But there didn't seem to be anything to clean. The solenoid was enclosed (no way to open it up) so I sprayed carb cleaner onto the end which screws into the engine - it had a little pin there which probably actuates. There was a plastic tube piece in the engine where the solenoid connects (just like it the picture above) but the plastic piece didn't have any screens or areas where it could clog. I sprayed it with carb cleaner also. The hold in the Vanos where the solenoid connects was also sprayed with carb cleaner.

I put the solenoid back in and when I started the car I got the exact same P0014 code (pending on first start without a lit check engine light, then the code is solid on the second start with the check engine light turning on).

Tonight I may try to switch the intake solenoid with the exhaust solenoid, just to check if the code follows the solenoid. I would have done that today except to take off the intake solenoid I'll also need to remove the banjo nut right next to it so there will be too for my open ended wrench on the solenoid.

[DanSanDiego]

I swapped the Vanos intake solenoid (plus the plastic insert) with the exhaust solenoid. The P0014 code return immediately (first time the engine starts I get a pending P0014 with no CEL) then the second time I start the engine I get th check engine light with the P0014. So the issue must not be with the solenoid.

I'll keep checking as well as getting in contact with the mechanic who just did my valve job.

[sckooby94]

Please let me know if you have any success

[DanSanDiego]

In my case it ended up being that the timing was off following the valve job. The mechanic ended up opening it up and adjusting the timing by a very little. That cured the P0014.

[crystalworks]

^I was going to say that... but it didn't fit sckooby94's scenario. I figured you had already got yours worked out.

You should put *fixed* in the thread title now so others know there is a solution inside.

[DanSanDiego]

Changing title of thread to show there is a solution.