Fun with VVT - who has experience with HPTuners?

[Al_C]

Some of you may recall my whining about a cam position sensor code. This annoyance has been going on for a couple of years now, in spite of numerous attempts to fix it.

Eric Treves checked the engine with his software and everything looked good (at a London Cobra Show). The codes I am getting are P0345 and P0349. I used to get lean condition codes, but lately have not been getting them. (another clue, perhaps?)

I swapped the two intake sensors. Same code, same cylinder bank. Not the sensor. Re-did the ground. MIL illuminated on the way home from Chuck's lift (4 miles away). Not the ground.

So what changed from before codes to now? A tune, done using HPTuners software. The Tuner said there was nothing they did that would have caused this problem. I'm questioning that. Based on causes I've seen on various forums, and videos I have watched, I'm leaning toward an issue with the VVT solenoid. Apparently you can adjust the duty cycle on that solenoid through a tune.

Ford Performance said it's probably a wiring issue. OK, but why is it intermittent? If it's a broken wire, it should happen all the time. I can drive for a week or more without getting enough codes to trigger the MIL. I should pay better attention to how I drive before the light goes on, but I haven't. (whatever) However, if it's rpm-related, it could be a VVT issue, which bolsters my solenoid adjustment argument.

So, I'm hoping there is someone here who knows enough about HPTuners to validate or discredit the duty cycle idea. I'm thinking this has to be a simple issue. I've seen way too many computer problems that were the result of some software setting. Of course, any other suggestions on root causes are welcomed. Thanks in advance!

[rthomas98]

Question are your cam phasers making any rattle noise on start up until it warms up a bit? Ford has a known issue with the phasers not filling with oil properly and can throw error codes based on that. Those codes almost always point to cam position sensor issue. When really it is phaser essentially vibrating the camshaft out of position or not engaging at all thus the camshaft is way out of position. It will throw the code intermittenly based on how long the vehicle sits. In other words is oil fully drained or partially drained from the last drive in the phaser. If you hear them rattle on start up that is most likely your issue and they need to be replaced.

Also I assume you are getting good oil pressure as well on your gauge. If not your oil pump is starting to go, the phasers are the first indicator of a bad oil pump on the coyote. mainly because it is furthest away and hardest to get oil to. Just a couple of things to check.

[Al_C]

Question are your cam phasers making any rattle noise on start up until it warms up a bit? Ford has a known issue with the phasers not filling with oil properly and can throw error codes based on that. Those codes almost always point to cam position sensor issue. When really it is phaser essentially vibrating the camshaft out of position or not engaging at all thus the camshaft is way out of position. It will throw the code intermittenly based on how long the vehicle sits. In other words is oil fully drained or partially drained from the last drive in the phaser. If you hear them rattle on start up that is most likely your issue and they need to be replaced.

Also I assume you are getting good oil pressure as well on your gauge. If not your oil pump is starting to go, the phasers are the first indicator of a bad oil pump on the coyote. mainly because it is furthest away and hardest to get oil to. Just a couple of things to check.

Good input. Never noticed a rattle, but will pay attention next startup. It has been idling rough lately until it warms up, so you might be on to something. I do have good oil pressure.

[Railroad]

I have an ecoboost 3.5 which uses 5w-30 oil. I was getting some cam timing gear rattle and caught my oil change guys putting 5w-20 in my truck. I got their attention and from then on, verify they use 5w-30.
If your Coyote is running 5w-20, it does not cost much to change oil and see if it makes a difference.

Next, there are a lot of active Coyote guys on https://www.svtperformance.com/
If you want to dig around or ask some questions, it might be worth your time.
good luck,

[Al_C]

I have an ecoboost 3.5 which uses 5w-30 oil. I was getting some cam timing gear rattle and caught my oil change guys putting 5w-20 in my truck. I got their attention and from then on, verify they use 5w-30.
If your Coyote is running 5w-20, it does not cost much to change oil and see if it makes a difference.

Next, there are a lot of active Coyote guys on https://www.svtperformance.com/
If you want to dig around or ask some questions, it might be worth your time.
good luck,

More good input! Yes, I do use 5W-20. It wouldn't hurt (i.e. it's close to time) to change the oil and it's worth a try. I'll check out the svtperformance site, too!
The guy in the video I watched who explained the phasers talked about different viscosity oils, too.

[Al_C]

An update for those of you who might have interest...

What I did:
- swapped cam position sensors
- re-did main ground
- asked for your help and received good responses
- spoke with Sten's Mustang expert

Result: nothing changed. Sten's guy suggested I should bring the car back to the people who did the tune. So that's what I did.

I brought the car in to the shop where I had the car tuned and they made a pretty good case that the tune wasn't the issue. They agreed that it wasn't mechanical either (i.e. not a problem with phasers or solenoids). I had been focused on the P0345 code; they told me the bigger issue was the P0349 code as it indicates an intermittent fault. He told me that an intermittent fault would point to an electrical connection more than anything else. This also matched what the Ford help line had said.

They tested all of the wiring from sensors back to the PCM and re-seated all of the connections, including the main connectors (the two big ones) at the PCM. They couldn't get a code to present itself during their road tests, and neither have I in the 50 or so miles I've driven since I got the car back.

I'm hoping it was some form of "loose" connection that is now corrected, but we'll see. So far, so good. Of course, it's the end of the season here in Chicagoland, so we may not know anything until next spring.

[DW66]

I hope that takes care of it Al.

Dave