P1349

[blurred10]

Hello all, I am new here but I have researched this site before purchasing a '99 RX300 AWD in Aug '07.

Recently, my fiance' had noticed a rough idle and intermittent stumbling at highway speeds. 2 days later the CEL came on and the symptoms had returned. After much research on this site, I thought I had it narrowed down to spark plugs, a bad coil pack, or an O2/air/fuel sensor. I retreived the codes at a local parts store and purchased new plugs and 1 coil pack to get started figuring I would use the extra coil pack to help diagnosis. However when I got home and looked up the codes, I noticed that there were multiple misfires on all cylinders on the same bank and I have a VVC issue. I then thought it was maybe just an air/fuel sensor causing the mayhem and contemplated swapping the 2 pre-cat sensors to see if new codes would reflect the opposite bank. After a bit more research, I see that the P1349 code may be a precurser to a more serious issue.

Would something as simple as a bad coil pack or bad sensor cause misfires in the entire bank? I am hoping it is something simple that I can do myself at minimal cost. Unfortunately, the problem occurs in the bank near the firewall which is a PITA. I understand new sensors are around $200 and that dealers suck your bank account dry so I want to get a better idea of what I am dealing with before I go down that avenue and would appreciate any suggestions or insight.

Details:

1999 RX300 AWD

IAC recently replaced (July 07)

154K miles

P0300

P0301

P0303

P0305

P1349

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Eric

[lenore]

Hello all, I am new here but I have researched this site before purchasing a '99 RX300 AWD in Aug '07.

Recently, my fiance' had noticed a rough idle and intermittent stumbling at highway speeds. 2 days later the CEL came on and the symptoms had returned. After much research on this site, I thought I had it narrowed down to spark plugs, a bad coil pack, or an O2/air/fuel sensor. I retreived the codes at a local parts store and purchased new plugs and 1 coil pack to get started figuring I would use the extra coil pack to help diagnosis. However when I got home and looked up the codes, I noticed that there were multiple misfires on all cylinders on the same bank and I have a VVC issue. I then thought it was maybe just an air/fuel sensor causing the mayhem and contemplated swapping the 2 pre-cat sensors to see if new codes would reflect the opposite bank. After a bit more research, I see that the P1349 code may be a precurser to a more serious issue.

Would something as simple as a bad coil pack or bad sensor cause misfires in the entire bank? I am hoping it is something simple that I can do myself at minimal cost. Unfortunately, the problem occurs in the bank near the firewall which is a PITA. I understand new sensors are around $200 and that dealers suck your bank account dry so I want to get a better idea of what I am dealing with before I go down that avenue and would appreciate any suggestions or insight.

Details:

1999 RX300 AWD

IAC recently replaced (July 07)

154K miles

P0300

P0301

P0303

P0305

P1349

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Eric

You may have a bad coolant sensor, but sounds like the sensor for the VVTI valve timing is bad. READ THIS:

http://www.corolland.com/forums/lofiversio...php/t19941.html

If the dealer will do a FREEZE frame on the codes when they happen they can tell you exactly what is happening. Just reading the codes will not tell you.

[lexushead]

Hello all, I am new here but I have researched this site before purchasing a '99 RX300 AWD in Aug '07.

Recently, my fiance' had noticed a rough idle and intermittent stumbling at highway speeds. 2 days later the CEL came on and the symptoms had returned. After much research on this site, I thought I had it narrowed down to spark plugs, a bad coil pack, or an O2/air/fuel sensor. I retreived the codes at a local parts store and purchased new plugs and 1 coil pack to get started figuring I would use the extra coil pack to help diagnosis. However when I got home and looked up the codes, I noticed that there were multiple misfires on all cylinders on the same bank and I have a VVC issue. I then thought it was maybe just an air/fuel sensor causing the mayhem and contemplated swapping the 2 pre-cat sensors to see if new codes would reflect the opposite bank. After a bit more research, I see that the P1349 code may be a precurser to a more serious issue.

Would something as simple as a bad coil pack or bad sensor cause misfires in the entire bank? I am hoping it is something simple that I can do myself at minimal cost. Unfortunately, the problem occurs in the bank near the firewall which is a PITA. I understand new sensors are around $200 and that dealers suck your bank account dry so I want to get a better idea of what I am dealing with before I go down that avenue and would appreciate any suggestions or insight.

Details:

1999 RX300 AWD

IAC recently replaced (July 07)

154K miles

P0300

P0301

P0303

P0305

P1349

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Eric

You may have a bad coolant sensor, but sounds like the sensor for the VVTI valve timing is bad. READ THIS:

http://www.corolland.com/forums/lofiversio...php/t19941.html

If the dealer will do a FREEZE frame on the codes when they happen they can tell you exactly what is happening. Just reading the codes will not tell you.

How often does your fiancee change her oil?? Possible sludge motor?? The passageways for the controller are very small...Might want to pull a valve cover and check oil condition...Just my 2 cents..

Best wishes,

lexushead

ASE Master/L1

Toyota/Lexus Factory Certified Master

[blurred10]

Hello all, I am new here but I have researched this site before purchasing a '99 RX300 AWD in Aug '07.

Recently, my fiance' had noticed a rough idle and intermittent stumbling at highway speeds. 2 days later the CEL came on and the symptoms had returned. After much research on this site, I thought I had it narrowed down to spark plugs, a bad coil pack, or an O2/air/fuel sensor. I retreived the codes at a local parts store and purchased new plugs and 1 coil pack to get started figuring I would use the extra coil pack to help diagnosis. However when I got home and looked up the codes, I noticed that there were multiple misfires on all cylinders on the same bank and I have a VVC issue. I then thought it was maybe just an air/fuel sensor causing the mayhem and contemplated swapping the 2 pre-cat sensors to see if new codes would reflect the opposite bank. After a bit more research, I see that the P1349 code may be a precurser to a more serious issue.

Would something as simple as a bad coil pack or bad sensor cause misfires in the entire bank? I am hoping it is something simple that I can do myself at minimal cost. Unfortunately, the problem occurs in the bank near the firewall which is a PITA. I understand new sensors are around $200 and that dealers suck your bank account dry so I want to get a better idea of what I am dealing with before I go down that avenue and would appreciate any suggestions or insight.

Details:

1999 RX300 AWD

IAC recently replaced (July 07)

154K miles

P0300

P0301

P0303

P0305

P1349

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Eric

You may have a bad coolant sensor, but sounds like the sensor for the VVTI valve timing is bad. READ THIS:

http://www.corolland.com/forums/lofiversio...php/t19941.html

If the dealer will do a FREEZE frame on the codes when they happen they can tell you exactly what is happening. Just reading the codes will not tell you.

How often does your fiancee change her oil?? Possible sludge motor?? The passageways for the controller are very small...Might want to pull a valve cover and check oil condition...Just my 2 cents..

Best wishes,

lexushead

ASE Master/L1

Toyota/Lexus Factory Certified Master

Thanks for the suggestions guys. We bought the car from my parents in Aug. and has had the oil changed regularly. I switched it to Mobil1 soon after we got it. When I drained the old oil I did not notice any indications of sludge although I did not look under the valve covers.

At this point, I'm think I might be better off taking it in to a mechanic. Parts are costly for this car and I can't afford to keep replacing things and "hope" it solves the problem. I don't feel I have a solid enough of a foundation or expertise to make an accurate diagnosis and move forward with a specific repair. I'm hoping a shop will be able to pinpoint the exact problem better than I can so I will only be paying for the necessary parts plus labor. Of course this is under the premise that the shop makes an accurate diagnosis which from what I have read, isn't always the case. I'm basically stuck picking the lesser of 2 evils.

[rxr300houston]

Hello,

I am having the same problem and symptoms but is with bank 2, cylinders 2, 4, 6. Can someone expand on the issue of sludge build up? I do not have sludge when looking into the filler cap, I change my oil every 3000 Miles.

Let me know what you mechanic finds out.

Thanks.

[rxr300houston]

Your fault code is for bank 1, unlikely all 3 coils go bad at the same time. It is the oil control valve. Very easy to get at, will take 10 minutes. I had the problem with bank2. Cost me $80, the car runs fine.

[blurred10]

UPDATE:

I ended up taking it in to a local shop for a diagnostic and $60 later, the shop informed me they checked the vvt actuator and it tested ok. I asked if they checked the Oil Control Valve and he said it was the same thing. The shop said they thought it was an electrical problem and wanted another 2 hours worth of diagnostics at $60 bucks an hour. Needless to say I declined. When I went to pick it up, he informed me they did test the OCV and it checked out ok as well.

After I brought the car home I found rxr300houston's post and had a pm from him regarding him having the exact same problem on the opposite bank and his solution.

Your fault code is for bank 1, unlikely all 3 coils go bad at the same time. It is the oil control valve. Very easy to get at, will take 10 minutes. I had the problem with bank2. Cost me $80, the car runs fine.

After going to 5 different part stores looking for a manual, I finally found one. I ordered the part and installed it tonight. He was absolutely right. It took about 10 min. and all symptoms were cured!!! After driving around and restarting the engine a couple of times- no more CEL!!!

I just wanted to thank everyone for the feedback in helping my situation. I especially want to thank rxrhouston for going out of his way to help me!! What an outstanding person!!!