P0012 fault and oil pressure warning

[jcrews]

I read that fault from a 2003 Camry 2AZ-FE.

Under highway conditions, the owner reported a flickering oil pressure light. Oil looks ok and the level is good.

Are the oil pumps prone to failure, or is there a pressure relief valve that gets stuck open?

I will start by checking the operating oil pressure, but what should I look for on the oil pump?

I will also take off the valve cover and check for garbage or sludge. This poor thing has not been maintained well at all.

I would guess it's the pressure sender. Try swapping it out for a brand new one.

[jcrews]

Originally Posted by pedron

I would guess it's the pressure sender. Try swapping it out for a brand new one.

The only thing that has me concerned is the P0012 fault - if oil pressure to the head were somehow blocked, the coinciding check engine light seems to indicate there is a real problem with the oil pressure, at least in the top end.

[JSM1284]

It most likely just needs the VVT Oil Control valve Cleaned. Its probably clogged up.

[JSM1284]

This is the procedure of OCV (Oil Control Valve).

VVT system controls the intake valve timing properly according to the driving condition.

ECM controls OCV (Oil Control Valve) to make the intake valve timing properly, and oil pressure controlled with OCV is supplied to the VVT controller. And then the VVT controller changes relative position between the camshaft and the crankshaft.



INSPECTION PROCEDURE

HINT:


If DTC P0011 or P0012 is displayed, check VVT system circuit.
Read freeze frame data using the hand-held tester or the OBD II scan tool, as freeze frame data records the engine conditions when a malfunction is detected. When troubleshooting, it is useful for determining whether the vehicle was running or stopped, the engine was warmed up or not, the air-fuel ratio was lean or rich, etc. at the time of the malfunction

[jcrews]

Thanks, that's nice.

What's a suitable replacement RTV for where the valve cover goes over the chain cover joint?

Is 08826-00080 expensive/huge?

[JSM1284]

08826-00080: Part number 0882600080 was superseded by part number 0029500103.

0029500103 $13.82
Engine / transaxle - Engine parts - Oil pan - Sealer
Sealer 2000 - 2004

[jcrews]

Perfecto. Hopefully I will find something in the VVT valve.

[JSM1284]

But then again, that still doesn't explain the oil pressure light. Perhaps if it wasn't maintained properly, it just has slude build up and clogging the OCV and Oil pressure sender.

Originally Posted by JSM1284

But then again, that still doesn't explain the oil pressure light. Perhaps if it wasn't maintained properly, it just has slude build up and clogging the OCV and Oil pressure sender.

...or a faulty pressure sender.

[jcrews]

I just got done checking out the VVT valve and valvetrain.

The plunger moves as expected when power is applied to the solenoid, and I couldn't find a sieve or where anyone would go, since it plugs directly to the head and there are no external oil lines.

The owner has been using 'quick change' oil service - I even found the windage tray on the valve cover had been rammed into the path of the chain, and a hole was almost worn through it.

The oil seems cheap too. I'm not going to analyze it but there is a lot of varnish in the motor which seems to indicate thermal degradation. There are also carbon deposits here and there.

I don't have a tool that can initiate output tests, so I'll have to go for a ride later to try to reproduce the faults. One thing about the oil pressure, though, is that the light only seemed to flicker under the conditions the VVT fault was recorded under. Idle and free revving the engine did not produce either.

If I'm lucky I disturbed some piece of junk, or the VVT wheel is damaged and needs to be replaced.

Update:
All fixed. The intermittent low oil pressure seems to have come from a blocked oil filter. The oil level was previously good, but once changed, the VVT code canceled, and the oil pressure warning never blinked.

[mfaisal_i]

This helps alot ... thanks