YACT: What happens if i break my variable valve timing?

[JEDI]

the gas milage has gone down 30% again. the last time it did that 25k miles ago, i got an engine error code saying there's a problem w/the vvt.

i talked to a mechanic friend, and he said to try to clean the vvt unit.

well, i tried to remove it, but the alternator was in the way. i managed to unscrew it 1/8 turn but there wasn't enuf room for my rachet to lock and turn again.

but the engine light went away, and gas milage returned to normal.

this time the engine light didn't come on. but i had a wrench and managed to unscrew the vvt another 1/8th of a turn. gas milage is back to normal.

i plan to goto Lowes and buy a slim wrench so i have room to actually unscrew it.

just wondering if the car can run w/o vvt incase something goes wrong?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Yeah, it just won't V the V T.

- M4H

 

[OS]

When you say you cleaned it, do you mean you took off the valve cover, then removed the camshaft and then pulled off the VTC sprocket from the end of the cam?

I had that car for 50K miles before it got hit and it never needed any unusual service. I don't see why it should so early on.

 

[CrackRabbit]

maybe you have a loose wire going to the VVC unit and when you move it it reconnects but shakes itself loose later?

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: OS
When you say you cleaned it, do you mean you took off the valve cover, then removed the camshaft and then pulled off the VTC sprocket from the end of the cam?

I had that car for 50K miles before it got hit and it never needed any unusual service. I don't see why it should so early on.

well, the error code said:
error code p1656 - oil control valve (ocv)

but my mechanic friend who lives a few states away said to try cleaning the vvt. according to the haynes manual, this unit is circular, an inch in diameter, and 4 inches long. it's in the front of the engine, and can be seen if you take off the plastic engine block cover.

hm..or was the error code= vvt error, and my friend suggested to clean the ocv?

 

[JEDI]

bump