Hello... My 03 996 started with a P0021 last week on bank 2...

I observed that the timing solenoid had oil leaking through the part its self and no oil came out when removing it...so I replaced this with a brand new OEM one today...car started to run normal again and after about 20 miles of driving I stopped at a convenience store ...Once I started the car again....BAM CEL and now P0012 and P0021 both banks cam timing issues...

Has anyone experienced both of these codes?

Ive been told it could be several things...

Lifter stuck

Timing face out of line

Old siloenod not keeping up with the new OEM one

Any experiences gang??

Thank-you for any input!!

 

P0012: Position of camshaft relative to crankshaft bank 1 above limit. Among other things no fault detected with camshaft position sensors. Reference mark ok. No fault in camshaft adjustment. No fault in engine temperature. No fault in camshaft adjustment output stage.

Possible fault cause: Solenoid hydraulic valve camshaft adjustment faulty. There is a test to check the behavior of the solenoid hydraulic valve camshaft adjustment but I do not have access to that info.

P0021: Position of camshaft relative to crankshaft bank 2 below limit. Among other things no fault in camshaft position sensors. Reference mark ok. No fault in camshaft adjustment. No fault in engine temperature. No fault in camshaft adjustment output stage.

Possible fault cause: Allocation of camshaft to intel camshaft incorrect.

I'm sure there are tests, at least one test, but as with P0012 I don't have that in my limited reference.

My only experience with the VarioCam solenoid/actuator was with my 2002 Boxster. But neither of the above error codes appeared. Besides the rough idle and idle speed falling to approx. 500 RPMs then climbing to normal idle RPMs and dropping and climbing over and over again there was just a pending P1341 error code.

What I was told is that at least with the Boxster there is no way to determine which is the bad part: solenoid or actuator; and the SOP is to replace both.

With the 996 I believe the solenoid can at least be replaced with relative ease and one could replace this and if the symptoms/errors came back to then replace the actuator.

But the two error codes point to two different banks.

All I can suggest is you proceed with caution. I'm no expert but my first thought is with camshaft timing deviation at both banks there is a common failure and the one thing both banks share in common is the bad old IMS and its bearing. Thus I would advise you to if you are going to proceed on your own to remove the oil filter housing and and dump the contents in a *clean* drain pan. If you spot scary metal ferrous metal bits -- IMSB debris -- or scary hard plastic bits -- chain tensioner/guide rail covering -- you are in need of professional help for your car's engine.

If the oil filter housing oil is free of any debris then the focus goes back to the solenoid or actuator but still I'm troubled by both banks seemingly bad at the same time.

If the error codes are *not* accompanied by signs of engine distress, noises, etc. it could be one or more components have failed but the solenoids and actuators are expensive parts to throw at these error codes. There is significant cost in labor and supplies -- camshaft cover sealant, new camshaft cover bolts, etc. -- to replace the actuators. Cams have to be removed IIRC and of course when installed properly timed. The camshaft cover has to be properly sealed and torqued down.

When it came time to have a suspected VarioCam solenoid/actuator problem with my Boxster dealt with I only trusted a senior Porsche tech to do this work. If one screws up the odds are he doesn't get off cheap.