02 I35 P0011 no sensor, should I reprogram?

[bbwolf]

Hello

I have a 02 I35 w/ 130K mileage. it has been running fine but since last October it had engine check light on three times with code P0011. at the first time, I went to a local shop and they cleared the code and asked me to bring my car back when it shows it again. In Jan/Feb, it did show up again, and the shop said the engine oil level was very low so they added oil and cleared it again.
on 4/3 I replaced engine oil (synthetic) and yesterday the light was on again.
Today I went to a different shop and to my surprise, the owner used two different scanner and got the same code P0011 but told me I shouldn't have this code on my car since I don't have the sensor at all!
thus there is no reason to generate that code.
I was asked if the computer was changed before, which i had no idea since it is a second hand car.
then the owner asked me to bring it back to have the computer reprogrammed then wait to see if I will still have the code.

I know there have been many posts talking about this P0011 code, but I still want to know what is the pros / cons to get the car computer reprogrammed .

please share your experiences / suggestions.

thanks

[MaximA32]

Is this an Infiniti dealer doing the reprogramming?

[bbwolf]

no, this is a local mechanic shop with AAA authorized logo

[MaximA32]

AAA authorized logo or not, reprogramming is not something I would allow an independent shop to do. Your best bet is to have a factory authorized dealer do the work.

[bbwolf]

got it, thanks

[the converted]

Find a new shop, you certainly do have that sensor! There was a recall on some of the cam sensors, so the first thing you should do is call an Infiniti dealer and confirm that the sensors had been replaced. If they have, then it narrows it down to the cam phase solenoid, cam phase sensor, crank position sensor being bad, or a plugged oil passage. I might try putting some seafoam in the oil and seeing if that loosens up anything. It's definitely cheaper than trying to hunt down an intermittent fault.

[bbwolf]

thanks for all your replies. I called infiniti and found that my car i snot in any of three recalls. then i went to Infiniti dealership and was told they don't honor the code checked by other stores and they need to do a complete diag, which costs $162!
after that they can tell me what is the issue and how much for the repair.
gosh, i will stay away from dealership and go to local store again.

[Markc]

Yea, but, local store told you that you didn't have a cam pos. sensor, which you most certainly do.

[jetroy240]

This DTC P0011 is about intake timing valve/circuit control on bank 1, not cam sensor code. Since it's only bank 1, I suspect you have a bad bank 1 intake timing control valve, it's a superceded part already. I have never seen it's wiring circuit go bad yet, but it's possible. If it's both banks, it's an oil issue, probably dirty & low level, since you have an oil change already so, it's ruled out. I would replace that bank 1 intake timing control valve first, erase the DTC & retest.
Another possibility is oil pressure on the intake timing control valve is low due to leak internally, a split gasket on the rear timing cover. If replacing the ITCV-B1 did not fix it, & after making sure connector, wiring & ECM is ok. Next step is to open the timing cover & inspect the rear backplate. We've seen a couple of this, the paper gasket is sticking out of one of the cover located in between cam sprockets. Always follow manufacturers oil grade, it's usually 30 weight, here in California, we always use 5w30, except the new Nissan models that carry esther oil .

[bbwolf]

some updates: two weeks ago, I went to another local shop and they told me that camshaft sensor was dead and asked me to change a pair of them (both Bank) I asked them to replace only the one for Bank 1. Today, the light is ON again and I drove back to the shop and the code is again P0011. The shop owner told me that I should have changed both sensors but I don't see it make any sense.

Wish I have seen jetroy240 reply earlier, it may be an oil issue. I somehow feel the engine is burning the oil since I can see some black residues on the tip of the oil stick when I check it and after engine is cool down, the oil level seems to be low.

may be I should switch to another shop?

[the converted]

These engines are pretty well known for burning oil. Mine does it to the tune af a quart per 1000 miles or so. If you have low oil, it's possible that the cam phase solenoid wouldn't be able to function properly. I would look at that and make sure the passages in the head are clear of any debris.

The shop you are going to seems a little suspect to me. It is a different code for the other sensor and they most likely know that.

Good luck with it and let us know if you need more help!

[bbwolf]

Here is an update after couple of months

I went to the other local shop couple of times about P0011. Every time the code was cleared since no significant problem was found related with this. (good thing is the shop is kind of generous in the sense of diagnosing / clearing every time without charging any :-))
only once I was told that the Intake valve timing control solenoid valve does not seem to have correct resistance, but the cost to replace that solenoid valve will be $400.
then I was suggested to keep on driving it.
last week, the light is on again, I brought my car in, something new, I got P0021 w/ the notorious P0011
shop owner checked the sensor on Bank II but didn't found any issue.
but it was noticed that my engine has burnt 2 Q oil since April's oil change
( after that change, only 2K miles added and < 5 months)
so the shop owner added 2 Q oil in and cleared the code.
he wanted to see if this is a relevant point for the code.

so will update if something new. May be I need to change my oil more often or add some from time to time ? :-)
anyway, this shop looks to be good (haven't been charged any about this, xixi)