oh, forgot this part....they did say also they wanted to change the oil again even though it was just done and look in the filter...presumably for metal shavings/flakes?

 

Hope all goes well

 

No news yesterday...hopefully will here something early next week!

 

Hi all, if you've checked for an update I'm really sorry I haven't been able to log in for a while.

Short story...

P dealer said first step was to change out the oil and make sure it was at the proper level. They also wanted the opportunity to check the filter for metal. This was early last week. They felt that any dirty oil could have been clogging the inlets allowing the timing to vary as intended. In essence dirty oil was potentially causing the timing to stick in an over advanced state, causing the CEL. The dealer I bought from did an oil service before shipping, so I was doubtful (though hopeful) of this being the cause. They changed the oil and found nothing sinister in the filter. They drove it and found the car to be in good order. They gave it to me and said drive it like you stole it, bring it back if the light shows up again and we'll take the next step. I drove it trouble free all of last week! Yeah!

Drove it Monday to work...start up early in the morning (about 19 degrees) and within 3 miles the CEL shows again. Took it back to the dealer that day and they said the next step is replacing the actuators...it will go in for that early next week but I was told I could continue to drive it as long as it doesn't knock, skip, lose appreciable power or start to sound noticeably different...I'm ready for this to be figured out!

 

The good news is that it wasn't an IMS failure and it sounds like they will get it worked out! Hopefully the going over your car so finely will give you piece of mind that all the issues have been sorted out after this is taken care of.

I'm relived to hear it wasn't the IMS. I have never heard of an IMS bearing going out after the design change, but a mechanic that works at a dealer told me that yes he has seen it. I hope he was letting his ego get in front of his knowledge.