'10 GX460 timing issues. (1 Viewer)

[Ezra]

I have an appointment with the dealer on Wednesday, but wanted to get an idea of what I may be in for. I purchased my GX460 with around 127k miles on it, now has about 137k (6 months later). About a month after I purchased it I got a CEL and some codes indicating a timing issue with the passenger side VVT. I replaced the solenoids and the problem went away.

Last week while on a road trip the dash lit up again. This time for the drivers side. So I replaced the drivers side solenoids (should have just done that in the first place).

Well that did not solve the problem. Currently I have the following codes:

P0012 (confirmed, permanent and pending) - Camshaft Position 'A' Timing Over-Retarded Bank 1

Pending only codes:
P0022 - Camshaft Position 'A' Timing Over-Retarded Bank 2
P0024 - Camshaft Position 'B' Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance Bank 2

When I clear the codes I sometimes get 2 minutes of drive time before they appear again, other times I get 8 hours. It's really intermittent, and I can not seem to find a specific condition that it is occurring in (seems to happen more when city driving, but has happened at speed on the freeway as well)

The engine sounds good, is idling fine, economy has been good, and heat stays consistent and in range.

PO told me the timing chain had been replaced at 90k, but i do not have any documentation of that. Is it possible it's time for a timing chain?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[r2m]

Gulp... doesn't sound good.
Aside from mileage, how's performance? Does it feel sluggish, weak or limp? Odd that the timing chain was replaced at 90k miles. 90k was the scheduled maintenance for both our 100 series Landcruisers, but they had timing belts, not chains. A chain, should almost never need replacing, especially at your mileage.
For myself, I'd just take it to my mechanic, but he's an independent, not a dealer and good as gold!
Do you have a mechanic you trust?
Sorry I can't offer more input.

 

[Ezra]

It's totally possible that the chain was not replaced. The PO kept up with maintenance, but generally just took it in and had the service done. He was not super informed about what had been done.

I have a regular little service shop I take it to for oil changes and brakes, but they are not a Lexus/Toyota specialist. I live in Brooklyn so its hard to find good repair shops.

 

[jmanscotch]

Interesting. There’s really zero reason the timing chain should’ve been replaced already. Unlike timing belts, chains tend to go many hundreds of thousands of miles before needing work.

If the chain was replaced already, the new CEL would be concerning. My guess is the previous owner is used to belts and was trying to sound like he had done preventative maintenance on it and it hasn’t actually been done.

Create a free account at LexusOwners.com (or is it drivers.Lexus.com?) and that’ll tell you the maintenance history from dealerships.

Other then that, I’m curious to hear what the dealer comes up with, good luck!

 

[Ezra]

I 100% suspect the chain was not replaced, and the PO just didn’t know. Honest mistake.

mom hopeful that it’s either an electrical short, an ECU glitch, or a bad sensor, but it would be odd that I would have a sensor failure on both sides.

car is going in on Wednesday, stay tuned and wish me luck.

 

[jmanscotch]

If there’s no timing chain noise and no driveability issues, then you’re probably right that it’s something less serious than actual timing chain issues…