CEL P0018 Cams
 

Got P0018 leaving work today. Car seemed fine though, granted I babied it home just in case. I pulled the battery, reset, and the code is gone.

I haven't actually drove it around for an extended period to see if it stays gone.. but from everything I have read - P0018 was an ECU issue that was resolved a while ago? And, I am on an aftermarket tune anyways..

Cam issues seem to be an on going problem with these engines. And from what I am reading, they seemed to be linked with engine oil starvation and then engine failure.


Check out this video and go to the 5 min mark and listen to what these guys say about the weakness of these engines. They mention the code you and others have had.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-c...layer_embedded


Sucks

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...postcount=2970

Here you go!

Interesting. Is it worth getting a tune on a stock BRZ to improve some of these issues ? If so, is it DYI or do you need to bring the car to a shop?

I read that. The weird thing is that I already have the latest update.

Update (or lack thereof)

After resetting my ECU, I drove it around for about 15 minutes this morning and all seems well. No more code. :iono:

I am still paranoid.

It happened when I drove off and my engine was cold still, I never do that but yesterday I had to (engine oil was still at <40f). I am wondering if that was a factor?

The posting by AVO seems to suggest there could be a mechanical problem with the cam. Some spring that does not go flush and can cause a code and oil starvation? No idea how you would know unless one takes a direct look at the cam.

I may be reading this wrong, and their isn't much info out there, but I am under the impression that 0018 and 0019 are ECU-related. Even the post linked above seems to state that, saying that 0016 and 0017 are mechanical-related.

Not sure if the specific Cam code can delineate between ECU cam issue and a mechanical issue of the cam. Maybe someone with more knowledge knows the answer.


Anyone know?

Bump.

This code keeps returning at random. The car drives 100% normal (cruising, 10+ psi boost full throttle, cold start, warm start) until it throws the code, and then it goes into some sort of limp mode until I reset.

think post here is the one

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...postcount=2970

its supposed to look like this

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...postcount=2973

There is a TSB for this that involves replacing parts of the AVCS

TSB doesn't help since I am turbo'd. That battle with the dealership isn't even worth the effort.

More info however.. I have narrowed down when exactly my CEL is triggered. Whenever I let off the gas while in gear or apply a tiny bit of gas while in gear coasting down a hill.
Idle is fine. To the floor at 12psi of boost is fine. Cruising is fine. Let off the gas in gear to coast down a hill - CEL. And once the CEL is triggered the car drives like shit.

:mad0260:

I suppose I need to start looking into what exactly I need to replace.

TSB could still apply but I wouldnt have dealer do it. Ptuning did the TSB for CEL codes I was getting. The probable cause of the car running like shit is the AVCS is probably going into limp mode (not working). The only person I personally know of having this issue resolved it by have the cam sprockets replaced.