P0345 Cam Pos. Sensor Bank 2 - Desperately need help...

[westonn]

I'm at a loss on where to go next, if anyone can throw in any suggestions I would really appreciate it. The 2003 z I bought came with a P0345 cel code, camshaft position sensor bank 2. I started with first replacing the sensor, while also replacing the bank 1 sensor and crank position sensor, with oem hitachi, that didn't help. So I checked the power and ground to the connector, checked continuity through the wires to the ecu, couldn't find any issues. I just went ahead and decided to replace the timing chains, found the dowel pin for the camshaft and the sprocket was all mangled up so I figured that was the issue, replaced those pieces but the car is still having the same issue. Won't rev up past 3k rpms, and the cel, slip, vdc lights all come on quickly after trying to drive. Tried throttle position re learn multiple time. Don't know what to do next and I dont wanna give up. Thanks for any help.

[VStar650CL]

You may not figure out what's going on without renting an oscilloscope and/or a scanner which can stream the cam angles, but check the teeth on the reluctor to make sure the problem isn't being caused by magnetic trash. If you did chains and didn't "dry crank" it with the ignition or fuel disabled until it built up oil pressure, it's entirely possible you jumped a chain when it first fired. VQ's are notorious for that, usually the bank1 chain but it can be any of them. In any case, you need some better tools which can stream the IVT angles (both should be zero +/- 1 degree at a normal idle) and maybe take a peek at the sensor waveform.

[westonn]

I'm guessing the reluctor is the end of the camshaft where the position sensor picks up the signal? That is all perfectly fine, I think i'm gonna be borrowing a scanner this weekend to check out live data and all that, I also did not know about building up oil pressure after doing the timing chains, it's definitely possible that happened, there's a knocking noise that sounds like a chain knock on the left side of the engine, I replaced all the tensioner and guides, no idea why its making that noise. Thank you so much for the info though, gives me a good place to start

[VStar650CL]

Yep, "reluctor" is a generic term for anything which triggers a magnetic sensor. You can't accurately call the end of the camshaft a "tone wheel" because the sensor doesn't face the diameter of the wheel. I suppose you could call it a "tone rotor" if you wanted to, but that sounds weird.

[westonn]

So I just pplugged in a more advanced scanner and looked at the live data, found that the Intake Valve Timing (Bank 1) was at -14.5 degrees at idle, I don't really know what that means exactly but the numbers are way off according to what you said, another data line was int/v tim (B2) that read at -19 degrees, soo maybe I'm thinking here that the timing possibly jumped on startup??

[VStar650CL]

Yep, that's definitely way off on both banks. Almost certainly a jumped main chain and probably another tooth or two on the bank2 chain.

[westonn]

Smfh!! Guess this is a huge learning curve, never dealt with an Asian vehicle before, time to tear it apart again Thank you for the input though!

I'm curious if I could get your input on this knocking noise, it's coming from right around the bank 2 intake camshaft, which is the one I replaced, it wasn't making this noise before, I might've also messed something up there as well, but followed the factory service manual so I have no idea what went wrong...

https://youtu.be/tiTZ7aam9b4?si=WMh4oQR3ICUj3W1K

[VStar650CL]

That doesn't sound healthy, but it might just be from the engine protesting the bad timing. One other thing to check is to make sure you didn't accidentally goop the pressure hole in the timing cover. That will give you a runtime retard condition and can even result in the chain jumping further, because the same oil port supplies everything in the cover, including the tensioners.

[westonn]

Okay got it, I was pretty detailed with making sure that didn't happen but i'm gonna take it apart and see what I find, one person of my350z forums was saying that the noise is valve knock, hence the valve hitting the piston, I hope not... Thanks for the help.

[VStar650CL]

Could be but I'll hope not. Crossing my fingers and toes for you.

[westonn]

Thanks man! I'll try to give an update when I get around to it.

[westonn]

I opened up the engine front cover and re timed everything now she running but with some Ivt codes haha it never ends, any suggestions for built motors and superchargers?

[VStar650CL]

If resetting the chains helped, there has to be a reason they jumped. If the guides looked okay and the chains weren't stretched, then the culprit may be low oil pressure in the cover. Either way, the fact that it fired back up after re-timing means something under the cover isn't healthy.