My 2014 FRS’s CEL came on last week, code P000B and the car going into limp mode. Looking here, this could be many problems, some pretty serious and all related to the valves and the variable valve timing system. But if it just the VVT actuator, any easy part to get to and replace. I tried just clearing the code a couple of times, but it came back within a few minutes so clearly I had a real issue.
So I removed mine, B being the passenger side exhaust. I also took off the A, passenger side intake. About the easiest part to get to, I didn’t have to remove anything and just a single connector and two bolts. On the B part the little actuator pin was definitely sticking compared to the A part. So I turned it with the pin facing up, and sprayed WD40 into the four holes. Then I turned it upside down and shook it so that the pin moved in and out. My oil is an amber color, but the WD40 came out black, contaminated with a very fine particulate. So I repeated this several times, and in the end the pin was moving much more freely.
So before spending about $100 for a new part, I put it back together. I swapped the two parts, so if if throws a code that moved from the B spot to the A, I know I need a new part. But it has been a few days now, about 100 miles, and no CEL!
If this truly fixed my car, this will be one of the easiest repairs ever. If you ever have this code popping up out of nowhere, maybe this will work for you.
Have fun, drive fast, live to tell the tale.
