p0016 issue
 

I was driving home the other day and had the p0016 CEL. My car has aprox 39k miles on it with no mods other than drop in filter. I have taken it to the dealer 3 times now as the code keeps returning. They are currently flushing my engine ($160) to remove any sludge from the oil valves and are going to continue from there(hopefully no more work). Is anyone currently experiencing/experienced a similar issue? If so, what did you do to remedy the situation. I read that one person had a similar issue, but had to lemon their car. My car is out of lemon range for my state, so i'm just trying to prepare myself for worst case scenarios. I suppose engine replacement, would be the absolute worst case.

I found this thread, maybe help you!
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1485819

Thanks, i saw that thread. Unfortunately it was a dead end thread with no documented resolution. I have had my ecu reflashed by the dealer with no improvement of the CEL. Waiting game i suppose.

What was found for my car with a bunch of codes was that the oil control valve had metal shavings inside of it. Ask them to pop them open to check. They're right on the front of the engine and have like... 3 or 4 tabs holding them together.

Or ask them to simply swap the control valve to another bank and see if the CEL stays on bank 1 or if it follows the valve to bank 2.



EDIT: I see you're in Seattle - Why don't you give Bob @ Drift Office a call.

Keep us updated

Out of curiosity, what is your build date and ecu tune? Original or reflashed?

So the engine flush did nothing (of course), they are replacing the ECU and a cam gear. Not sure what my build date is, never checked. I'll check when i get the car back (whenever that is). Last 6 of Vin is 607471. I was running the original tune prior to the re-flash(most recent?) a few days ago (also did nothing). They are trying to get me to pay for the engine flush still ($160). I called corporate and and gave them an earful about how i am not going to pay and to call that dealership.

Update*

The dealership was claiming that i didn't perform my regular interval oil change and that i have to pay for the engine flush. Regardless of the fact that I have an after-market filter which would indicate that i changed my oil in between the last dealership oil change (f@cking stupid). I was pretty livid. They also claim that the cam gear issue is because i didn't change my oil in recommended intervals. I am pretty furious right now, but at least they are replacing my cam gear and ECU under warranty. I'm never going to that dealer again for any service. I had a great purchasing experience through them, but the service department can suck my d!ck (excuse my French).

***STAY AWAY FROM SUBARU OF PUYALLUP SERVICE DEPARTMENT.***

I've had two master tech friends also question the engine flush. I'm sure you guys already know this, but keep all oil change receipts outside of the dealer changes, or they will use it against you.

I feel your pain and frustration
I would call SOA and tell them exactly what happened.
what if i don't have all receipt, my car is going to bomb!? pheww

I called SOA, they basically told me i'm SOL. KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS and staple them to the service record book.

Make that 3 Master techs that think the flush was BS.

*Update*
So i got my car back and everything seems to be okay. They replaced 2 cam gears with pretty decent turn around. The service department also redeemed itself and decided not to charge me for the engine flush.

Update #2, so the cell came back on for a P000B code (after putting rougly 2k on the new cam gears). I'm not sure what to do? My car is out of lemon law, mileage too high. I'm calling corporate in the morning. I took the car back to Subaru Puyallup today and they said it was a "not tightened gas cap." They code came back on about and hour after leaving the dealership. When i got home i ran the obd2 reader on it and pulled that code. Def not a gas cap.

Pretty much done with this BRZ at this point, don't think i can get into another one, i will keep you guys posted.

Any updates on this?

The car is on it's 3rd dealer, Subaru corporate told me that the issue will be covered for the life of the vehicle. I recently had an oil valve gasket replaced 2k ago for the p000b code. It's back and i just dropped the car off at another dealership today. They are currently diagnosing the vehicle. This will be my 4th or 5th time it's been in (on record) for this issue. I filed a complaint against the dealership that sold me the car to see if Corporate could do anything about it (maybe force the dealer to buy back the car). Another waiting game. The car currently has 54k miles i bought it new in March 2013.

Even with the assurance that they will continue to fix this issue for free, still doesn't give me a peace of mind as the issue is so sporadic that it prevents me from really enjoying the car(taking long trips/drives, modding, etc...).

Semi-update*
They sent out the regional Subie engineer and have assured me that the problem is going to be resolved and that the issue was previously misdiagnosed (3 times).

crazy...
cant wait for update

Update*
Dealer description:
"Scanned all systems and found that when the passenger side exhaust VVT data was compared to the drivers side VVT exhaust data it was sluggish to respond and would over correct causing the ecm to set the code. After studying the data i determined that the passenger side exhaust oil switching valve (OSV) wasn't operating inside its parameters, removed and replace with the new OSV valve with the new rubber and hard 0-rings."

I'm pretty sure that these have been replaced before, but we'll see what happens. Car is back and seems to be running okay.

Hopefully its perm-fixed this time. GL.

Dealership has had my car for 2 weeks now. I'm still waiting to hear back from them. All that the service advisor has told me is that they are constantly talking to Subaru Engineers and trying different things/fixes. Sounds like they are just backed up with cars to work on, imo.

Any updates on this situation? I got the p0016 code and CEL, they replaced 2 sensors I believe and hasn't done the trick as the lights keep returning. They also did the ECU update. I got my car around Feb 2013 and I'm now at 51k miles.

I actually have my car in right now for P0018 which is basically the same. They cannot find what is wrong and are trying to clear the codes yet some keep coming up. They said my ecu had a "clitch" in the system and is not communicating within itself properly. I told them about the ECU reflash TSB and they said my car already has it. They want to keep it overnight so they can "drive it and put some miles on the car, so we can monitor the computer and make sure it's reacting properly with no signs of the CEL to come back."

When I brought my car into the dealer for P0016 earlier this year, they found that some of the readings for the OCV were out of alignment. They ended up replacing my EGI control unit(not sure what it does) but it seemed to fix my p0016 and idle dip issue.

A few months later, P000B comes up and I bring it in for warranty work again. They determined my oil control valve was giving me issues since they swapped banks and it showed up on the other one. OCV ended up being melted or had particles in it which was causing it to have really slow response time.

I got the OCV replaced for free and the car has been running well for half a year now (crossing fingers)

I haven't had any problems since the "fix"(now at 72k miles). You have to be really aggressive with subie/scion and make sure you keep all records of the fixes. This issue happened before the end of your warranty so they should cover it within a reasonable amount of mileage (25kish after warranty). Be firm with them, they gave me a voucher for $750 for my trouble.

On a side note, they removed my exhaust for some reason and stripped one of the bolts for the hangers. Luckily one of my mechanic buddies noticed it and fixed it. It was rattling for months, poor workmanship on the dealer.

Just got an update from dealer and full ECU replacement is the next route. At first, they were not going to do an ECU replacement because the codes being thrown (p0016) was for intake side of engine and did not qualify for ECU replacing. They called Toyota who advised to replace finally.

Thus far:
1) ECU reflash to updated version - didn't work
2) 2 Sensors replaced (possibly cam shaft sensor/OCV sensor??) - didn't work
3) Waiting on full ECU replacement this Friday - crossing fingers

Thank god for Toyota Powertrain warranty 5yrs/60k (car at dealer total of 8 days this Friday).

Undergoing the same issue right now, 2013 BRZ @ 30,000. Did the ecu replacement solve your issue?

yes it did, *crossing fingers it doesn't come back!

Im having the same issues. Cel came on last week with p0016.The car is at the dealer now.

I just received a call saying that they will have the car for about a week and are replacing the intake oil control valve, timing gear and ECU. Hopefully this fixes the problem

Have any of you had to have all of this replaced? If so, did it fix the issue?

it seems everyone with this issue has been going through the same steps of trial and error.

1. OCV, cam sensors, and/or reflash of ECU 2. Cam gear 3. Finally, ECU replacement. Ive been told that once the ECU has read that code it's basically burned into it and requires replacement. However, i am no expert so don't take my word for it. I'm thinking about jumping straight to the ECU replacement, since i am not covered under warranty and am paying this out of pocket and cant afford trial and error.

What year are the cars with these issues? I'm having extremely similar problems after dropping in a 2015 motor after my original motor blew. ECU replacement didn't fix it yet, and when swapping ocv's from side the side the issue stays the same...

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Did you get the ECU replacement? And if so, did that resolve your issue?

For those that had the p0016 and p0018 issue, does this code effect how the car drives? It seems to be such a pain to fix what would happen if you just leave it??

If you leave it, you'll be driving in limp mode forever since the CEL code is not resolved. I'm not sure what's the long term effect driving in limp mode forever besides not having any fun since the engine is only running half of its power or something to that effect.

I'm having this problem right now and so far an ecu update and swapping the cam sensors haven't helped so it looks like an ecu replacement is next.

I just got my car back from the dealer after having the P0016 issue. I'm just shy of 67,000 miles.

At first the Subaru dealer replaced a cam sensor (for free, under goodwill), but the exact same code came back 6 miles later. Dropped it off again, and a few days later they determined that the cam sprocket needs to be replaced along with the ECU. They pretty much said the same thing, that the code is basically fried onto the ECU and will need replacement. Quoted for $2300.

The dealer recommended that I call Subaru customer support and explain what's going on. They have a Goodwill assistance program and will cover out-of-warranty costs on a case by case basis. Sure enough, they covered the whole thing. I even had a tune on the ECU and they didn't fuss about it. I guess the fact that there's a TSB for this issue helped my case.

Do you get all your routine maintenance at the dealer? Surprised they were so generous with you.

Are these issues covered under the federal or state smog system warranties?


Seems like they would be-- if the CEL is on the car won't pass a smog test and the faulty device should last a long time, per the criteria of the warranty.


http://www.smogtips.com/federal-emis...california.cfm

Whoa, my thread still lives.

That's a very useful thought, I'm going to remember that. Thanks.

In your sig you have a couple of hot shit cars. Do you really have a Pantera, Dino and Abarth 1000? If so, two thumbs up :clap:

Yes, and thanks. :)

Nope. I've been in for warranty work a few times and I spend money at the parts department. All they did was ask if I did my own oil changes and I said I did. They probably saw my history of buying oil filters and felt my car was maintained well.

That's good to hear! I have been doing the same thing...getting my filters from the local dealer but changing the oil myself. Nice to finally see someone post about a dealer that took care of a customer and did not try to blame the issue on them.