P0018 Code 2005 Sequoia 2UZ FE

[Retired Tanker]

Yesterday she threw a P0018 code. Cleared it, drove it, same code.

Soooo, after copious Googling, it's either a slipped belt, a faulty VVTi solenoid, or a clogged Oil Control Valve.

Slept on it, then had some coffee - out to the garage.

Lined up the crank to TDC:

Popped off the cam sprocket covers

Left Side (Bank 1)

Looks OK

Right Side (Bank 2)

CRAP!

Not what you want to see on a Sunday Morning.

Do I have to pin the plunger on the tensioner before I loosen it?

 

[04dblcab]

No, you can put it in a vise after you've taken it out. Compress it then put the pin in.

 

[Retired Tanker]

No, you can put it in a vise after you've taken it out. Compress it then put the pin in.

Yep, sorted that out. Actually used a big C-Clamp to compress it. Just have to take your time; compress, wait, compress, wait...put the pin in.

Love the fact that you can remove and replace the tensioner without disassembling the whole front of the engine. Took about an hour and a half.

So, I replaced the timing belt a couple of months ago. Is it possible that I had it mis-timed and it's just now throwing the code? I'm hoping I don't have to do this every couple of months, now...

 

[04dblcab]

Is your intake plenum black, or silver?

Never mind, if you miss timed it. You'd know. It's an interference motor.

 

[Retired Tanker]

Is your intake plenum black, or silver?

Never mind, if you miss timed it. You'd know. It's an interference motor.

It's black.

Would a single tooth cause an impact?

 

[toyotech]

You will be fine if it's off one tooth. If you can find a small enough pin or Allen key. You can take a pry bar and carefully pry belt down and push the tensioner down. It probably won't take much. Probably a mm of two and pin it. Tech tricks.


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[Retired Tanker]

I'm still scratching my head, though.

Is it possible that I had it a tooth off when I replaced the belt and it only recently threw the code? Could the VVTi have compensated until now?

When I pulled the tensioner the belt was tight, and the plunger still had a great deal of travel left on it.

I guess I'm looking for peace of mind that I'm not going to go through this exercise every couple of months...

 

[toyotech]

It usually doesn't take that long for the computer to know the timing was off. Probably tear it down and check for any loose parts or play.

When you reset everything and pulled the pin. Just turn the crank by hand a few times and see if all the marks still line up. If so. Your good to go


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