Unofficial - CEL/SL/Idle Issue List for FR-S/BRZ Owners

[JC0830]

JC0830, 2013 BRZ, ~57K, 6118XX, replaced oil switching valve, GA

[Da Brz]

Originally Posted by BillWeiss

Got the car back today. They replaced both "cylinder head[s], camshafts, cam tower[s], camshaft sprockets, OCVs", as well as taking apart and cleaning the timing cover and VVT oil "passages". Holy shit. Idle is still sporadically dipping but (as you'd guess) the CEL isn't on anymore.

I asked about getting an extended warranty out of it and they said I need to start with corporate for that. We'll see.

Keep us posted! I've got the rough idle thing, too. I'm hoping it's just normal.


Looking at this forum, it's either not a big thing... or it's a big thing.

[BillWeiss]

Originally Posted by Da Brz

Keep us posted! I've got the rough idle thing, too. I'm hoping it's just normal.


Looking at this forum, it's either not a big thing... or it's a big thing.

Well, the problem hasn't come back, and I've now got about 1k miles on it after the big repair. Idle dip is still killing me, but it's probably fine?

Toyota corporate just told me they have no record of the repairs being done, so they don't know what I expect a warranty extension for. Good thing I keep lots of records... sent them the invoices to see what they can do.

[Da Brz]

Mine just went a couple of weeks without doing it, but started back today.


Outside temp was 67° and AC was on low at 72°.


I noticed it would stumble like clockwork for about 5-10 cycles and then it'd quit for a while then come back.


Weird.

[BillWeiss]

Originally Posted by BillWeiss

Well, the problem hasn't come back, and I've now got about 1k miles on it after the big repair. Idle dip is still killing me, but it's probably fine?

Toyota corporate just told me they have no record of the repairs being done, so they don't know what I expect a warranty extension for. Good thing I keep lots of records... sent them the invoices to see what they can do.

Welp, that was easy. Corporate called me back today and said I get a 7-year-or-100k-mile VSA Platinum warranty, effective now, for my hassle. $0 deductible even.

I'm feeling pretty good about it. The car is running as well as it did when I got it back, no new problems. It's at about 7k miles now so I might get that oil change done (even though it had one ~1k ago) to get the oil tested so I can see what's up in there.

[Da Brz]

Originally Posted by BillWeiss

Welp, that was easy. Corporate called me back today and said I get a 7-year-or-100k-mile VSA Platinum warranty, effective now, for my hassle. $0 deductible even.

I'm feeling pretty good about it. The car is running as well as it did when I got it back, no new problems. It's at about 7k miles now so I might get that oil change done (even though it had one ~1k ago) to get the oil tested so I can see what's up in there.

Is the idle still dropping periodically?


What bothers me is that some people seem to have it and it never pops a CEL and others have it and go through what you went through.

[BillWeiss]

Yeah, it is. It's been doing that since the beginning. When the CEL was coming on it was always after the idle dip happened, which freaked me out, but no CEL anymore. Who knows?

[Noizey]

Hi all.

i've been lurking over several 86/brz forums for 3 years or so now, and finally joined because...... you guessed it.. the dreaded CEL / Slip light / P0391 error code / Camshaft position sensor error happened.

I'm in Asia, car is a general market Toyota GT-86, has just under 35,000 Kms, bought July 2013. Completely bone stock apart from a voltage stabilizer because someone told me the first year production had "earthing issues and insufficient grounding".

13th Nov 2016 - car broke down. no warning no misfire nothing. ran like a champion until suddenly lost throttle response then it just slowed down and died. could not start. Towed to the dealer.

15th Nov - Diagnosed with a fried coil pack. Coil pack was replaced and car could be restarted but once warmed up, the CEL would come on. Dealer said the ECU was now faulty and i needed to replace the engine ECU and BCM (body control module / network gateway) at a cost of 6000 bucks (SGD, so not too far from USD). They were unable to get the codes because the canbus (communication) to ECU was faulty.

16th Nov- towed the car home.

18th Nov - i started the car, drove it slowly to fill up fuel, and drove it slowly to another garage to get a 2nd opinion. not surprised the ECU and BCM is not fried, and i pulled out code P0390 and P0391. Hello camshaft position sensor!! On the drive home, it started misfiring and slip light flashes on, idle becomes erratic and the motor stalled a few times. cruise control turns on red instead of green and cannot be switched off or activated.

As the car is off warranty and has been "modified" the dealer refused to help me. Even after providing them the TSB and telling them what needs to be done to try and fix it, they just aren't interested because there is no instruction from manfucaturer for our market and i'm the only one in the country with this issue.

I've ordered a new camshaft position sensor and going to make the shim kit myself as per the TSB in an attempt to fix it, failing that i will reflash the ECU with ECUTEK as the dealer has no tools or software. These are the solutions i've gotten scouring the forums. spider senses tell me its a tolerance issue due to the tropical climate and heat.

[sumgai]

sumgai, 13 frs, 39500mi, 7268xx , one week to receive oil control valve, no dice, Now toyota will tear down and inspect camshaft sprockets. first visit to dealer was 11-28-16, houston tx usa

I'm the only owner, purchased July 2013. This is the first issue with the car, and it is P0018 with cel and slip light. I have one question for everyone, the service person said something about the loaner car that I may get is only for a maximum of five days. I have an extended warranty but this repair should be covered by my toyota warranty correct? Has anyone else had issues with their car having warranty work done and toyota not giving them a loaner car while the work is being done? Guess I'm being pessimistic but I have a feeling my car may be gone for a while.

I'd been driving for the last week with limp mode, and today I just left it at the shop. I think I'll get a loaner tomorrow.

[osudoc11]

Is there any way we can have a long technical discussion about what we actually think is going on with the issue? I am fine with starting another thread dedicated to this. It sounds like some people's issue is solved just by an ECU, where as others need a cam sprocket and an ECU.

So what is actually the problem?
Is the ECU causing something to go wrong with the VVT system or is the VVT sprocket breaking (with that backside spring thing) and causing an irreversible ECU error.

Is the problem this prevalent on the FA20 in the WRX?
If not, does the WRX use a different ECU?

It would be great if others could post, in a very short post, exactly what their error code was and what parts needed to be replaced to fix it. Also, if whoever repaired it told you anything about what was wrong. For example, I had P0018. Replaced cam sprocket and ECU. Dealer told me there was a loose part just bobbling around in the cam sprocket (probably the backside spring thing).

Let me know your guys thoughts. Steve, I know you're pretty knowledgeable. It would be great if you think this is a good idea and could help.

Has anybody done the repair themselves or had an independent shop do it and got the failed cam sprocket back to examine it?

[Noizey]

Mine has been off the road for pretty much a month now, and the dealer has taken the car and insisted to fix it. They were unable to connect to the ECU so they've ordered another ECU to start rectifying the issue.

i insisted that i could connect to the ECU with independent workshop's scan tool and OFT tablet thingamajiggy and have pulled the codes P0390 and P0391, which specifically notes the camshaft position sensor 'B' . So now its up to the dealer. I guess in a few weeks or so or maybe months, when its fixed, i will update the thread as to what the fix according to the dealer was.

TLDR; Dealer insists on replacing ECU because they were unable to connect to it.

[sumgai]

I got my car back today and it seems to be fixed. They ended up replacing the ECU after the oil control valve and their inspection of the cam sprockets didn't work. I'm not sure if they did anything to my sprockets, but anyway warranty covered all repairs so I'm pleased.

[Noizey]

I was just informed that my car is fixed. After nearly a month. They replaced the 2 ECUs (Body control gateway and Engine ECU) and all seems fine now.

Not sure how it makes sense, but... old ECU says P0390 P0391 = camshaft position sensor . Replace ECU. problem solved?

[rikixass]

Hello All:
I've been getting "too lean" codes for a couple of weeks. At first, my dealer thought it was the high pressure fuel pump because he could hear the cricket that crawled inside my engine compartment. However, the following day after having it replaced, the CEL came back on. Same thing "too lean" bank1, and it's related "too lean" codes (P0171 B1, P1171 P i believe??). Anyhow, after taking her back in for warranty service the adviser came back and told me the O2 and not the MAF sensor was faulty. Anyhow, I'm not sure if it's the high, or low O2 sensor he's referring too, but can "too lean" codes be associated with sensors after combustion has occurred?

Are they just grasping at straws?

FYI:
I have a K&N cold air intake. I removed the sensor and found pink (oil) pools along the seal, and the plastic housing was covered in a thin layer of oil. I blasted it with 1/2 a can of MAF sensor cleaner. As of Wednesday 2/15/2017, I have not gotten the CEL again.

Thanks in advance!