P0018 Problems

[osudoc11]

So I got problems. I recently put on a JDL catless UEL header and JDL catless frontpipe. Got a moto-east tune for it. The day I put it all on I threw a P0018 code. I have put the stock ecutek tune on as well and still throw the code. I have datalogged countless times. I did have some times where one of my intake cams would go -29 when the target value was 0. I could rev the engine and the -29 would over shoot to +39 and settle back around 0. I thought this was the issue that was throwing the code. To me it looked like clogged OCV passage/filter. I got an engine flush and oil change. Data logging since then does not show the -29 anymore but I am still throwing P0018. Both intake cams seem to respond well and lag slightly behind the target angles. I assume this is normal since electricity is faster than oil. I have swapped OCV's from side to side and cam position sensors from side to side. Still get P0018 (not the other side).

Any idea what is going on guys? I am out of ideas.

Could it be the Crank position sensor. I assume I would have more problems if that were the case. It seems to drive fine once i reset the DTC's but then I get the code and it become "detuned" (slight limp mode).

Please help!!!

[osudoc11]

Oh. Mine is a 2015 BRZ.

[steve99]

Originally Posted by osudoc11

So I got problems. I recently put on a JDL catless UEL header and JDL catless frontpipe. Got a moto-east tune for it. The day I put it all on I threw a P0018 code. I have put the stock ecutek tune on as well and still throw the code. I have datalogged countless times. I did have some times where one of my intake cams would go -29 when the target value was 0. I could rev the engine and the -29 would over shoot to +39 and settle back around 0. I thought this was the issue that was throwing the code. To me it looked like clogged OCV passage/filter. I got an engine flush and oil change. Data logging since then does not show the -29 anymore but I am still throwing P0018. Both intake cams seem to respond well and lag slightly behind the target angles. I assume this is normal since electricity is faster than oil. I have swapped OCV's from side to side and cam position sensors from side to side. Still get P0018 (not the other side).

Any idea what is going on guys? I am out of ideas.

Could it be the Crank position sensor. I assume I would have more problems if that were the case. It seems to drive fine once i reset the DTC's but then I get the code and it become "detuned" (slight limp mode).

Please help!!!

take a look at the TSB s in the sticky at top of this thread, that cam code is likely covered under warantee on 2013 and prior cars if still covered its a known problem

unfortunalty might be related to the cam sensor the oil control valve,the cam sproket actuator or even the ecu itself, the TSB shows how to diagnose but its quite complex and could possibly require multiple parts to be replaced

p0018 is cam position correlation error, ie difference between what ecu asks for and what the sensor feedback reads.

[osudoc11]

I have done the first steps of the TSB, swapping the OCV's. Did not change sides. I also swapped cam position sensors. Looking at my logs the Actual Intake Angle and the Intake Angle Target are really not that much different. Which is why I am so perplexed. It does seem that the Bank 2 intake is slightly slower to react than the Bank 1.

From my understanding about the sprocket issue, a spring pops out and the phaser gets stuck in a position (advance I think). Mine is not stuck and seems to respond appropriately 99% of the time.

As for the ecu, the Intake angle targets is what the ecu is putting out. Those seem to be correct. Once I clear DTC is seems to run fine for about two runs (car on...run...car off....car on...run...DTC).

I will post some graphs with my intake angle reaction times.

[osudoc11]

http://www.datazap.me/u/osudoc11/p0018?log=0&data=5-6-9

Here is a data log once the error occurred. I have intake targets and actual angles on here. As well as the total number of DTC's. It goes from 0 to 1 which should correlate about when the error got triggered. I could use some more experienced eyes on this. Let me now if you need more data.

[steve99]

Originally Posted by osudoc11

http://www.datazap.me/u/osudoc11/p0018?log=0&data=5-6-9

Here is a data log once the error occurred. I have intake targets and actual angles on here. As well as the total number of DTC's. It goes from 0 to 1 which should correlate about when the error got triggered. I could use some more experienced eyes on this. Let me now if you need more data.

Im not an expert on this ,but you may not be able to go off where the DTC is triggered, as you don't know what parameters the ecu is using to determine when to set the DTC, it may average errors over time or some other weird algorithm to determine when to set DTC, like with DTC for cat efficiency or even IAM drop on knock.


Ive seen a few instances of these cam DTC and the dealers spend considerable time trying to fix and unfortunately often replace many items before problem is resolved, often they give car back after parts replaced to people only to have code re-occur a week later. It just appears to be a difficult one to diagnose right down to the exact cause.


and it possibly a cumulative error of several parts being on the limit of tolerance.

[steve99]

I would have a look at the cam sensor as per this TSB as well. It not same codes but it one to check and it costs stuff all to fix just shims.


S-SB-0033-13 : Hard Start, Rough Idle, Camshaft Sensor or Misfire DTCs


Im just guessing here but their is a couple of instances when both cams are targeting opposite to what the ecu is asking for (target angle) seems weird but you probably need to log a good car and check. Wether this indicates problem with sensor or ecu no idea just looks weird


see mark in log below



http://www.datazap.me/u/osudoc11/p00...rk=416-416-740

[osudoc11]

Thanks for the tips. Any idea why all of this would occur after catless header and loading the tune? I just seems to be a weird coincidence.

[osudoc11]

As for the spot you referenced on the log, I think that has to do with the delay between the signal and the time for the system to react. If you shift the target value to the right a bit everything seems to line up. I would imagine some delay is normal.

[steve99]

Originally Posted by osudoc11

Thanks for the tips. Any idea why all of this would occur after catless header and loading the tune? I just seems to be a weird coincidence.

The tune likely asks the ecu to move the cams in a more aggressive (ie rate of change) manner than the stock tune, and may ask for more overall magnitude of movement.





This may have uncovered a latent defect in the cam actuator system .




I have heard of this on at least one other car, ie car was fine, guy loads tune (used on many other cars without problem), then gets cam DTC codes, goes back to stock tune, no DTC codes.




you probably need to log a car with no defect and compare the logs.

[steve99]

possible "lazy cam actuator" issue may be due to this


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

[steve99]

what is your rom calid if your pre B01C or D then you should update to B01C or D


ie if 700 900 A00 A01 B00 go to B01

[osudoc11]

I am 2015 so it is D00C. I have loaded the "stock" ecutek rom that comes with the program. I am somewhat concerned that maybe these ecutek rom's and the rom my tuner provided do not have the updated specs regarding the P0018 code. I know the manufacturer updated a flash which fixed the issue for a lot of cars. Do you know where I can get a manufacturer stock flash that I can load with ecutek?

[steve99]

Originally Posted by osudoc11

I am 2015 so it is D00C. I have loaded the "stock" ecutek rom that comes with the program. I am somewhat concerned that maybe these ecutek rom's and the rom my tuner provided do not have the updated specs regarding the P0018 code. I know the manufacturer updated a flash which fixed the issue for a lot of cars. Do you know where I can get a manufacturer stock flash that I can load with ecutek?

D00C should be fine it should have all those updates as you say.


This cam issue is a bit unusual for a 2015 car they sorted it pretty well ib about 2013.


check you did not dislodge the cam actuator/sensor plugs at front of motor.


if you want a stock D00C rom I've posted up most of the stock roms here see end of post.


just download it , unzip it then you should be able to flash it with ecutek, without adding any racerom features.


Those roms were pulled with tactrix or OFT so their not altered in any way.






http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62332