997.2 Engine Error Light

[david.hearne]

Update: I plugged in my iCarsoft V1.0 and got the attached error descriptions/codes. I can see that it is running rich on bank 2, so cylinders 4, 5 and 6 are misfiring, but the overall error is ‘Valve Lift Adjustment - One Bank In Wrong Lift’. That sounds expensive to me, but I have no idea how serious it is?

2010 Base Carrera C2 PDK. On the way home from a Classic Porsche meet-up in Swindon today the car stalled a couple of times, but restarted fine. A few minutes later I got warning lights 17 and 18 in the attached photo from the manual and a message saying ‘Check Engine, Visit Workshop’. I drove it home very carefully and will take it to my Indy to check over, but I also have it booked in for detailing/ceramic coating on Monday, about 8 miles away. Is it OK to drive the car? It sounds fine and drives OK, but I want to be sure. Thank you, Dave Hearne

 

[Motorhead]

Hi Dave,

Your 997.2 will be equipped with Porsche’s Variocam Plus system which alters both the valve timing and lift [on the inlet only??] and since the error message highlights all three cylinders on one bank it sounds like an electronic rather than a mechanical issue associated with the variable valve lift mechanism. I believe that its operation is electro-hydraulic and maybe there’s a fault with an activation solenoid? I would think that some Porsche-specific diagnostics [PIWIS or equivalent, which hopefully your Porsche Independent should have] would point to a more specific fault than your limited iCarsoft device.

I would imagine that the high valve lift setting will only operate at higher revs to produce full performance, so it should be reasonably safe to drive gently to your detailer, but please don’t take that as gospel.

Jeff

 

[malarcy]

If it’s running ok and you are being gentle then likely the fault will be on the higher revs. You won’t know unless you try higher revs and then it may well misfire.

If it doesn’t say “stop engine” then common sense exploration won’t kill it.

I suggest clearing the codes and trying a gentle run. Get it up to temp and then try slightly higher revs (I can’t remember the Variocam plus range for that engine but about 4k seems to stick in my mind. )

It’s not unheard of for rodent damage to affect this. So have a look in the engine bay for any evidence of fiery interventions.

Otherwise it’s time to goto a specialist. I personally haven’t heard of the 9x7.2 engines having a regular weakness in this area so maybe it is just a sensor or a plug.

 

[david.hearne]

Hi Dave,

Your 997.2 will be equipped with Porsche’s Variocam Plus system which alters both the valve timing and lift [on the inlet only??] and since the error message highlights all three cylinders on one bank it sounds like an electronic rather than a mechanical issue associated with the variable valve lift mechanism. I believe that its operation is electro-hydraulic and maybe there’s a fault with an activation solenoid? I would think that some Porsche-specific diagnostics [PIWIS or equivalent, which hopefully your Porsche Independent should have] would point to a more specific fault than your limited iCarsoft device.

I would imagine that the high valve lift setting will only operate at higher revs to produce full performance, so it should be reasonably safe to drive gently to your detailer, but please don’t take that as gospel.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. I cleared the codes and the main one (P1381) returned, but the car runs fine most of the time, albeit with a slightly lumpy tickover at times. It’s booked into a local Indy next week (April 29th) to have the bank 2 Variocam Solenoid checked/replaced.

 

[david.hearne]

If it’s running ok and you are being gentle then likely the fault will be on the higher revs. You won’t know unless you try higher revs and then it may well misfire.

If it doesn’t say “stop engine” then common sense exploration won’t kill it.

I suggest clearing the codes and trying a gentle run. Get it up to temp and then try slightly higher revs (I can’t remember the Variocam plus range for that engine but about 4k seems to stick in my mind. )

It’s not unheard of for rodent damage to affect this. So have a look in the engine bay for any evidence of fiery interventions.

Otherwise it’s time to goto a specialist. I personally haven’t heard of the 9x7.2 engines having a regular weakness in this area so maybe it is just a sensor or a plug.

Thanks Malarcy. I cleared the codes and the main one (P1381) returned, but the car runs fine most of the time, albeit with a slightly lumpy tickover at times. It’s booked into a local Indy next week (April 29th) to have the bank 2 Variocam Solenoid checked/replaced.