VVT Camshaft Sprocket Phaser check

RDWizard

What scan tool do I need to get that can command the phasers?

RDWizard

So the plot thickens!!!!

Compression check is good. 225psi.

I have been resetting the ECU at the beginning of every test I do.
Still getting P0011 & P0300/P0306 codes and going into limp mode right away if I rev the engine.
So I dive into checking cylinder 6 coil and spark plug. NOTHING. NO SPARK AT ALL. I pull the coil and plug from cylinder 4 and test it on cylinder 4 wire and it sparks. I put the coil and plug on the wire to cylinder 6 and crank. NOTHING.

So now my mind is blown. Apparently my oil wasn't low enough to damage anything. My misfires started a few weeks back and now this. I think I have an electrical problem not a mechanical or sensor problem. Now to check for open circuits.

This all sounds like the same problems many have had in the past that have been unsuccessfully diagnosed or fixed like in this thread: Ignition Coils Misfiring anyone?

I dusted off the scope and I'm going to dive in to the wiring.

To Be Continued........

stansens

So all of that unburned gas diluted the engine oil which means a lot could evaporate via engine heat. All of that raw fuel into cylinder six would compromise the seal that the oil rings could give you and further accelerate blow by. You might want to check the no. 6 plug as it may be wet, oil soaked or fouled so replace it to not have trouble later. Hopefully no other damage occurred and maybe check pcv for excess blow by as well.
Lastly no offense but high performance engines should by checked often such as every other fill up to keep oil level as close to full as possible which will add tens of thousands of miles to your engine life.
Good luck on your findings.

RDWizard

So I found some interesting information while researching the dreaded P0011 DTC.
In the FSM EM-107 step 5 of the Inspection of Camshaft Sprocket (INT) Oil Groove, it mentions that there is an oil filter for the CVT grooves.
This is the one and only mention of it that I can find anywhere in the FSM.
Now this really sheds some light on the blown gally gasket issue!!
Think about, if the CVT filter gets clogged and the engine (oil pump) is trying to pump 100+psi oil through the gally, there is only one other place to go.
Blow out the weak gally gasket!!!
Sounds like a poor design to hide an oil filter behind the CVT covers.
The worst part is that you have to remove all of the belt driven accessories and brackets on the side of bank 1 to remove it's cover.
Either way, I think it's an important step in troubleshooting the P0011 DTC that I have not seen anybody do.
Therefor I will be doing this test next along with checking the CVT solenoids signal and Ground wires.

Attached Images

P0011 Filter.jpg (564.1 KB, 72 views)

future370zzz

Any updates to your situation?

My 2010 just threw a P0011 code and I limped home. Oil was low just like you. Got an oil change and checked the oil pressure (fine - 18psi @ 175F). Changed the VVT intake solenoids. Problems remains. Going to change out the camshaft and maybe the crankshaft sensors. Tested power to the VVT solenoid sensors and they were fine. I guess I should check power to the camshaft sensors and crankshaft sensors next.

Hopefully its not a plugged oil filter or galley and just the sensors. Electrical or ECM is another possibility.

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Rusty

18 psi at an idle is low. Most are around 35 psi. Your galley gaskets might be leaking.

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future370zzz

You're scaring me man. The service manual says idle oil pressure minimum is 98 kpa or about 14 psi and at 2000 rpm it's min. 42 psi at 176F.

Maybe you have your guage at a different spot but I hooked a pressure guage tester to the stock low oil pressure sensor that's tapped to the pan near the oil temp sensor.

The gallery gasket issue is in the back of my mind though. I hope it's not this dreaded issue.

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Knio

If you don't have extra sensors already or want to check the timing without opening the timing covers, I figured out a way to debug with a cheap scope (~$100 on amazon), see: P0340 tldr I did have a bad cam phaser and got it all fixed.

PM me if you need any help

future370zzz

Thanks, I'll look into this. I replaced the cam sensors, same P0011 code. I have a replacement crankshaft sensor, don't know if I should just go ahead and replace that.

I'm not looking forward to all the engine work. I'm probably going to take it into Nissan for them to check it out first. All of this because I didn't check the engine oil for a few weeks.

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