08 Malibu 2.4 p0017 [Fixed]

Anyone have a known good scope capture of the intake and exhaust cam sensor correlation I haven't had time to check vs crank sensor yet

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Or an exhaust cam to crank cam capture would would help if a cam to cam isn't available

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Oops crank shaft not crank cam...

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Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, Ben!

I've got this capture from an Equinox with the 2.4L. Exhaust cam in green, crank in yellow. I have an intake capture, but it was out of time, and not a good reference. :lol:



For what it's worth, I don't even scope the cam/crank for these correlation codes anymore. Not saying you were wrong to! But every time I've seen this code, there has been a genuine timing issue.

Yea I agree it's likely out of time. I just wanted to check cam to cam this 1 had a bunch of melted wires and i think it's a possibility I may have a wire issue between the ECM and the exhasut cam sensor I haven't had any time to check it at the ECM to be sure I have a good signal there. I'll get to it sometime this week . Later this week I will post a good cam to cam and maybe a good cam to crank if I have time unfortunately modis ultra only gives me 2 channels so I can't put all 3 together....

Hi,
I concur with not in time, you did not say if there was any codes set, nor did you state how many miles are on it, I would guess 125,000 or more.
You need to check VCT and make sure its working. Vct works by oil and changes the timing it may be stuck and testing would be my next step….

Let me know how you make out ggod luck….

Doc n2mx

These engines are HIGHLY prone to defective cam actuator solenoids. These solenoids are pulse width modulated, with both wires going to the engine computer. They are pulsed on the positive side. Given that you don't have a circuit fault code, I would closely inspect the engine oil for proper level and quality. I have seen these solenoids get gunked up and cause oil flow issues to the phasers, subsequently causing correlation fault codes. An easy way to catch this is to monitor desired vs actual camshaft position, and rev the engine at idle in park. You should see changes in both commanded degrees, as well as actual on a working system. If the affected cam is slow to respond to command changes, or totally unresponsive, this again points to a solenoid or oil quality/level problem.

Interestingly enough, I just had a 2011 Equinox roll in for the very same fault code. (Just kidding, I lied, see post further down, my actual fault code was a P0014, NOT a P0017) It is intermittent, (of course), but offers an opportunity to show you the data I usually use to troubleshoot these. This is a known good, (at least right now) , capture.

Hey doc at the moment the p0017 is all I have . this car came to me after the customer had there fingers in it and changed both cam sensors it ran like crap and had no spark on number 2 . It had a code for exhaust cam solenoid circuit. I verified bad vvt solenoid and replaced it after fixing the coil wire this car starts and idles great but almost acts like it has limited throttle body. I haven't had much time to look into it I am aware of these chains becoming loose and jumping time or the phasers letting go but I haven't had time to pull the valve cover and check it I thought if someone had a known good cam to cam correlation I could skip digging into any farther . The only reason I question this as being a signal issue is because it had part of the harness melted . Otherwise I would agree with both of you that it would need timing work or an engine but this 1 is a friend of the owners and he wants a easy fix....

My sister has the same car I'm going to catch up with them later this week and scope there cam to cam correlation I'll post it for anyone who wants a known good . I may or may not have time to pull the valve cover on the problem vehicle in the mean time . But I'll let you all know what I come up with when it's done attached is a pic of the harness on this car

Hey Dan I have changed tons of these solenoids this 1 needed it as well and the desired and actual data looks good on mine as well

Since I have this Equinox at my disposal, I'll grab you a cam to cam waveform. It may or may not work, as this is a GDI engine and I'm sure yours is not, but what the hay. Stand by.

Here you go. Green trace is the intake camshaft, and the yellow trace is the exhaust. This capture was taken at idle, with BOTH camshaft solenoids disconnected, so the engine computer could not make adjustments to timing.

Hey awesome Dan that's exactly what I was looking for good luck with your intermittent issue don't rule out rubbed through wires at the oil filter housing I kind of suspect that is my problem on this car although it wouldn't surprise me if it needs a new timing set we all know these motors don't handle a lack of oil changes.

Thanks again Dan . confirmed it is in fact out of time from cam to cam correlation without hardly spending any time doing it

I guess the lesson here is when you find correlation codes there always out of time don't question it lol. good luck with yours though!

I'm glad to have helped! Mine was a gunked up VVT solenoid. Vehicle only had 60,000 miles and was a little late on a few oil changes I suppose!

EDITTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!

I realized I made a HUGEEEEE mistake recommending the diagnostic procedure with the desired vs actual cam stuff. The fault code on my equinox was a P0014, not a P0017.

Upon going back and re-reading, I realized we were dealing with two completely different problems!

Hopefully no one in the future will get confused on this. Again, apologies for misreading brother!

Lol good catch . I try to tell everyone with vvt engines they need to stay on top of oil changes these motors can't handle dirty oil! And even worse is these cartridge filters fibers coming apart and plugging oil passages I see fibers on these solenoids all the time it's like come on guys you don't want to pay for a new motor!

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Ben wrote: Thanks again Dan . confirmed it is in fact out of time from cam to cam correlation without hardly spending any time doing it

Sweet! :woohoo: I mean, that sucks for the owner, but great to confirm.

I can give you link counts from cam to cam if you end up tearing this thing down. Replacing the chains themselves is gravy.

I guess the lesson here is when you find correlation codes there always out of time don't question it lol. good luck with yours though!

This is where I'm at, on GM's anyway. The code set criteria for these correlation codes has to pass EVERY other cam/crank sensor test before it'll consider a timing issue.

Thanks tyler I doubt I'll get into this motor since I was able to confirm out of time by cams I don't see a need to open it up I'm going to push a low mile engine at this customer and explain they need to keep up on oil changes. I suspect oil issues with this engine so I won't recommend a timing kit for it .

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Ben wrote: Thanks tyler I doubt I'll get into this motor since I was able to confirm out of time by cams I don't see a need to open it up I'm going to push a low mile engine at this customer and explain they need to keep up on oil changes. I suspect oil issues with this engine so I won't recommend a timing kit for it .

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Good call.