chubert

Hi ,

I need some help with a P1539 CEL that has been plaguing me for about 2000 miles.

"Camshaft adjustment bank 2"

Here are the specifics.
1999 Boxster
55K
After a reset, CEL P1539 comes on every 525 miles consistently.
Pending P1539 comes on within 10 miles.
Car seems to run fine.
Very very slightly lumpy idle.
Never a blinking CEL
No misfires or other codes.

My research here shows it's possibly a VarioCam solenoid.?
Questions….
Is there a way to test the solenoid while it is in the car? Also which side is Bank2?
Has anyone changed a solenoid DIY? I know special tools are needed...
Can I apply 12V to the solenoid to test when the car is running?

Thanks any direction is appreciated.

Macster

P1539 - camshaft adjustment, bank 2. Bank 2 is the cylinder bank on the driver's side (USA) car.

Fault condition: no triggering of the actuator, nevertherless active position. Possible causes: short to ground or actuator defective.

Time after end of starting 200 seconds.

Engine oil temp above 86F.

Engine speed above 600 rpm.

No fault with reference mark, camshaft position sensors and engine oil temp.

The camshaft adjustment actuator must be triggered.

Test 1: checking triggering wire for short to ground. Connect special Porsche pin-out box 9616 to wiring harness. Connect digital ohmmeter to pin out box pin 25 and ground. Read: infinity.

Test 2: Positive (+) supply of actuator. Disconnect harness connector from actuator. Connect digital voltmeter to pin out box 1 and ground. Read: battery voltage.

Test 3: Checking triggering wire for continuity. Connect Porsche pin out box 9616 to harness. Disconnect harness connector from actuator. Connect digital ohmmeter to pin out box pin 25 and connector pin 2. Read: 0 - 5 ohms.

You can get by with out the pin out box I guess but you need a Bentley manual for the wiring diagrams to know what pin's what.

Sincerely,

Macster.

chubert

Thanks macster. I have the bentley manual i'll take a look at the pin outs.
Any idea how much the porsche pin out box costs?

chubert

Ok i just googled the pin out box and found it to be aroun 800..
I think i csn get it with the bentley manual since it has a good section on the dme connector.

What i could not see is the expected voltage when testing pin 1 on the solenoid Connector. Should i test with the car running or just in the on position?

Thanks

racer

I had the same failure on my Boxster a few years back. Yeah, around $800 part.. and another chuck of money for the shop to replace and retime the cams. They were able to replace it without pulling the motor, iirc.

chubert

Thanks, I am hoping it's just the solenoid and not the adjuster. If it's the adjuster it certainly goes beyond what I want to take on.

Byprodriver

Yeah the solenoid is about $200. It has a extra long wire & unless it is damaged /repairable, the solenoid is probably bad. The adjuster oil passages can become blocked but it is fairly easy to disassemble & clean once you take it loose with the cams but that is very difficult especially with the engine in the car

Macster

My reference does not say whether to test or do the voltage check (pin #1 and ground) with the key off or key on engine off or key off engine running.

However, my WAG is I would think at least the key should be on. 'battery voltage' of course means you should measure ~12 volts and I doubt the actuator would be powered anytime the key is in the off postion.

Sincerely,

Macster.

chubert

OK I tested the connector to the DME and it shows 12V with the key on. No apparent short.

I also applied 12V directly to the solenoid and heard a click. For reference I applied voltage to the passenger side as well. I got the same intensity of click.
Can you tell by sound if the solenoid is working??

Can this be an oil problem? I did not get this problem until I changed to 5W40 Castrol Syntec this spring. Probably unrelated but I know the actuators rely on oil....