01 Infinit QX4 Variable valve timing solenoid

[rkmerrell]

My car was running really rough while driving. I would loss power randomly and would not let me accelerate. So I took it to a local shop, where tested it and said I need to replace the variable valve timing solenoid and both catalytic converters were plugged. I dont really want to dump a bunch of $$$$ into it, so I want to try to replace the solenoid myself. Where exactly is the solenoid on the engine? I have already replaced on Intake valve timing sensors but am still getting error codes.

Also where can i get cheap(inexpensive) catalytic converters?

Any help is appreciated

[CanuckQx4]

How did they determine your catalytic converters were clogged?? How many miles on the truck??

When you say loss off acceleration do you mean the car sputtered / misfired or did the rpms rise and the car just wasnt accelerating

[Chuck Tribolet]

What codes are you getting?

What weight oil do you run? (Yes, that IS significant. The solenoids are hydraulic and use oil pressure.)

How many miles on the truck?

[CanuckQx4]

check this thread, the link explains a power loss issue and why it happens

hole-in-the-front-of-my-engine-needs-at ... 22998.html

[rkmerrell]

Not exactly sure how they determined that the converters where clogged but they said they hooked it up to read error codes. When I say losses power, the rpm's going up but the car will not accelerate. The car idles and start just fine, just when i try to accelerate it doesnt want to go. The car has around 135k miles on it and I just changed the oil a couple of weeks ago, with high mileage synthetic oil. It was acting up before I changed the oil.

I will have to check the error codes again, but there were like 4 or 5 different codes. Here are couple,
Random misfire
Gear 3 ratio
Bank 1 too lean
I think else were a few but will check it again.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Please post the numeric codes. (P1234 or whatever).

[rkmerrell]

So here are the error codes that I got with my handheld code reader,
P0300 Random Misfire
P0732 Gear 2 Ratio
P1145 IVTC position sensor RH Bank 2
P0174 Sys. too Lean Bank 2
P0733 Gear 3 Ratio

Also after looking under the car at the cat. converter system, are there 4 cat. con. or just the two, which seem really hard to get to.

[Chuck Tribolet]

P1145 is not the variable timing solenoid, but rather the sensor that controls it. Specifically the US drivers side sensor. But that
won't make your truck run like crap. Chase the other codes first.

I'd start with the P0300 Random Misfire. Misfires can ruin the cat. So get that fixed before you ruin the cat. If you don't have an
FSM, download one. You want section EC. It MIGHT be related to the P0174.

P0732/P0733 is internal to the transmission and unrelated to the other stuff. The first thing I'd check is transmission fluid level.

There are two cats, one for each side.

Again, get an FSM.

[rkmerrell]

Where can i get a FSM to download?

On the random misfire, I have already replaced the spark plugs, so Im assuming the next thing is the wires.

The gear ratio codes, I have checked the transmission fliud and it looks fine. Is there anything else that might throw that code.

[rkmerrell]

Still looking for answers regarding my valve timing seloniod. I would like to try replacing the sensors before replacing the cat. converters. Any help is appreciated

[asnorton44]

Where can i get a FSM to download?

On the random misfire, I have already replaced the spark plugs, so Im assuming the next thing is the wires.

The gear ratio codes, I have checked the transmission fliud and it looks fine. Is there anything else that might throw that code.

I was in the same situation with my 01 QX4 regarding the P0300 and P1145. For your 01 there are not any spark plug wires so unfortunately your problem probably is the ignition coils, as was the issue with my 01. Your going to want to change all six, they run about $75 a coil. The P1145 is your crankshaft sensor, I think I paid about $60 or something like that.