Intermittent VANOS Code 72 - Inlet late valve

[Slideways]

If it ends up coming back, the intake piston seal could have been slightly damaged when it was installed. Another forum member pulled the pistons out to find that they had a damaged seal (install error), but I don't know what codes they had.

[Pklauser]

Well boo, code 72 came back, this time joined by its friend 184 - camshaft actuation. Again intermittent though, I've only seen it once in roughly 1k miles.

This is leading me to think it's either the VANOS seals - which are ~4 years old, or this new solenoid pack from a year ago is junk.

[Pklauser]

Replaced the intake cam sensor as it was original, just in the off chance that would change behavior here. 72 came back.

Interestingly enough INPA gives a little more metadata with the error:

Line break or value missing
Error Emission Relevant OBD
Error currently not present sporadic error

"Line break or value missing" is interesting to me. Can't tell if that's just generic text that gets tossed in there with the code, or if this is trying to lead me to a more direct cause, which would make me think solenoid pack over piston seals. I'd also expect bad piston seals to show poor VANOS test results.

I got my solenoid pack from FCP, so I can easily order another and do a replacement, but it feels shitty to do that if the solenoid pack isn't actually the problem.

I think my next step is going to be to pull apart the VANOS unit itself and inspect/replace the seals. This was done by the PO, but not by me, so maybe there is a suspect seal in there somewhere.

[heinzboehmer]

"Line break or value missing" sounds like a SW thing to me, not mechanical. Not entirely sure what INPA is trying to communicate here though, maybe someone else can chime in.

[sapote]

Replaced the intake cam sensor as it was original, just in the off chance that would change behavior here. 72 came back.

Interestingly enough INPA gives a little more metadata with the error:



"Line break or value missing" is interesting to me. Can't tell if that's just generic text that gets tossed in there with the code, or if this is trying to lead me to a more direct cause, which would make me think solenoid pack over piston seals. I'd also expect bad piston seals to show poor VANOS test results.

I got my solenoid pack from FCP, so I can easily order another and do a replacement, but it feels shitty to do that if the solenoid pack isn't actually the problem.

I think my next step is going to be to pull apart the VANOS unit itself and inspect/replace the seals. This was done by the PO, but not by me, so maybe there is a suspect seal in there somewhere.

Man that's a lot of work to replace IN cam sensor for nothing.
Are the text in the same screen with code 72?
Before blaming the vanos solenoid you should try to read the cam angle to see how far off it is; if a little off then the solenoid is working, and if it's off a lot then the vanos piston did not move.