Crankshaft Codes After VCG Job

sti_cody · 11-08-2021, 09:59 PM

Hello everyone,

First of all, I would just like to say how helpful this community/forum has been for me over the last few weeks. The majority of my mechanical background comes from working on turbo Subarus - Tackling the valve cover gasket job on my wife's e90 was my first big BMW endeavor. Her car is a 2011 328i with around 85k miles.

I would really like some input to the following situation:

I completed the valve cover gasket job about 2 weeks ago. I broke the nipple on the back of the cover, so ended up waiting 5 extra days for a new cover to arrive. Anyways, the job was done.

Day 1 -> Fired up fine, let it get to temp, drove about 4-5 miles around town. No problem.

Day 2 -> My wife drives the car around a bit and complains about a rough idle. Yup, I confirm it is not totally happy idling. I pull a bunch of random codes including P052B, P0015, P134B, P13B6, P054B. I went ahead an pulled the Vanos solenoids and cleaned them out (they were pretty nasty). Put the car back together and it ran WORSE. Now it will barely idle, to the point where I am scared to turn the car on.

Day 3 -> I borrow a Schwaben scan tool from a co-worker (thinking I may have to re-calibrate the vanos motor) and pull the codes. Now, it's just 2A9A and 2AA4 with what sounds like multiple misfires. I swapped the cam sensors and the code remained on the intake side. I re-performed the calibration of the motor using the tool anyways. Same issue.

Before I go ahead and replace both Vanos solenoids and both cam sensors - Are there any suggestions as to what can be going on? If the cam sensors are dirty, will it act like it is misfiring? The sensors were also pretty nasty, so I will probably change the oil and filter while I'm at it. Any other suggestions? I find it weird that all of the Pxxxx codes are now gone and only the cam related ones remain. Also, I can't tell if the misfire is related to the cam codes.

Any input would be greatly appreciated - Cheers

-Cody

e91Owner · 11-09-2021, 10:55 AM

Unless those errors occurred prior to replacing the VC, it sounds like you have a wiring problem, not a sensor problem since it doesn't travel with the sensor, and you likely stretched and disconnected a bunch of wires during the change. I know I've left a connection loose once when changing it before, albeit the more obvious O2 sensor. Check the wiring harness for security and if everything in the ebox looks snug, check the wires for continuity.

sti_cody · 11-10-2021, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e91Owner

Check the wiring harness for security and if everything in the ebox looks snug, check the wires for continuity.

^^Thanks for the input, everything looks good along the loom

But! I do have an update. I did a little more troubleshooting with the 2A9A code. I cleared the code and swapped the cam position sensors. Same code returned... Onto the VVT solenoids.

Cleared codes again and swapped solenoids, now we have an exhaust cam related code (forgot to take pic of the readout) and the idle has stabilized.

2 new solenoids are on the way, hopefully this will set me straight. Will report back!

11-08-2021, 09:59 PM	#1
sti_cody Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i Sedan Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio iTrader: (0)	Crankshaft Codes After VCG Job Hello everyone, First of all, I would just like to say how helpful this community/forum has been for me over the last few weeks. The majority of my mechanical background comes from working on turbo Subarus - Tackling the valve cover gasket job on my wife's e90 was my first big BMW endeavor. Her car is a 2011 328i with around 85k miles. I would really like some input to the following situation: I completed the valve cover gasket job about 2 weeks ago. I broke the nipple on the back of the cover, so ended up waiting 5 extra days for a new cover to arrive. Anyways, the job was done. Day 1 -> Fired up fine, let it get to temp, drove about 4-5 miles around town. No problem. Day 2 -> My wife drives the car around a bit and complains about a rough idle. Yup, I confirm it is not totally happy idling. I pull a bunch of random codes including P052B, P0015, P134B, P13B6, P054B. I went ahead an pulled the Vanos solenoids and cleaned them out (they were pretty nasty). Put the car back together and it ran WORSE. Now it will barely idle, to the point where I am scared to turn the car on. Day 3 -> I borrow a Schwaben scan tool from a co-worker (thinking I may have to re-calibrate the vanos motor) and pull the codes. Now, it's just 2A9A and 2AA4 with what sounds like multiple misfires. I swapped the cam sensors and the code remained on the intake side. I re-performed the calibration of the motor using the tool anyways. Same issue. Before I go ahead and replace both Vanos solenoids and both cam sensors - Are there any suggestions as to what can be going on? If the cam sensors are dirty, will it act like it is misfiring? The sensors were also pretty nasty, so I will probably change the oil and filter while I'm at it. Any other suggestions? I find it weird that all of the Pxxxx codes are now gone and only the cam related ones remain. Also, I can't tell if the misfire is related to the cam codes. Any input would be greatly appreciated - Cheers -Cody
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11-09-2021, 10:55 AM	#2
e91Owner e91Owner 433 Rep 1,140 Posts Drives: 2011 e91 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Out of the Office iTrader: (0)	Unless those errors occurred prior to replacing the VC, it sounds like you have a wiring problem, not a sensor problem since it doesn't travel with the sensor, and you likely stretched and disconnected a bunch of wires during the change. I know I've left a connection loose once when changing it before, albeit the more obvious O2 sensor. Check the wiring harness for security and if everything in the ebox looks snug, check the wires for continuity.
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