Vauxhall mokka camshaft sensor fault

[motorhead]

Hi, a friend has a 2017 1.6 petrol vauxhall mokka with the engine light on.

When I plugged it in the obd the two codes I got were, Generic P0014 - B camshaft position timing over advanced or system performing bank 1

And P0597 thermostat heater control circuit open.

I cleared the faults but as expected the engine management light came back on soon enough but I didn't have the car to re read it.

Are these common for the camshaft sensors failing and is it just a simple fit a new one and clear again and job should be a good un or is there more to these for common faults with the timing? Also I noticed there was two sensors on the camshafts area so does B - mean a certain position like back? Thanks

[valhalla]

What is the service history on this Mokka?

I think that this just has the common cambelt that operates both camshafts, so as long as the cambelt is timed correctly, the two shafts should be synchronous. What I cannot remember is whether this engine has a variable valve timing on just inlet or both of the camshafts. That would be the first place to start, assuming that the belt has not just been changed (and mistimed) to see whether the variable timing control is seized or not.

The "B" refers to one of the cams, so it suggests that the inlet/exhaust camshaft has a problem with the timing - most likely through its variable timing control on the timing-belt end of the engine. I think "B" might be the exhaust camshaft - no doubt someone more familiar with these engines will come along to correct me.....

[motorhead]

Thanks for your reply mate, the guy hasn't had it that long, 5 months i think he said and I checked the levels after I scanned it and the oil was half way on the dipstick so i put 300ml of dexos 2 engine oil in and noticed it was black and smelt overdue so I don't think it's had the best maintenance (probably why the previous owner got rid before it was a bag of problems for them, who knows)

I've done a bit of research on Google and a vauxhall specific forum for enthusiasts does mention that the two solenoids can block up with crappy old oil or can fail, but someone has also mentioned about one which was a parts cannon for the Vauxhall dealership who sold them the car and it was another one of them ones which they never got to the bottom of, so I don't mind helping my mate by trying to get this fixed for them especially as they will need the car with another baby on the way for them early next year but I also don't want it to be MY permanent problem either. I'm thinking at this moment in time at the top of my head possibly ordering the two sensors from autovax £70 changing the oil and filter so the old crappy oil doesn't clog them further and hoping for the best, but obviously telling him it's no guarantee and it may need more in depth rectification if the solenoid valves don't work. Unless anyone else suggests anything else what could be done. Thanks

[chippie]

Might be worth flushing the engine out with a proprietary flushing agent before adding fresh oil and a filter…
Perhaps remove the solenoids and give them a clean too…

You might be in with a better chance then..,?

[Joepublic]

If the two sensors are the same part number you could swap them, if the code swaps to the other bank then the sensor is at fault? Same code you’d need to dig deeper.

Could be blocked oil pump pick up gauze if serving has been poor?

[motorhead]

Thanks for your replies. And yes that woth swapping them over is a simple and free test and a dam good idea.

My mate works at a truck/bus garage and he usually acquires me the odd 5 litre can of 10w40 heavy duty engine oil and every now and then when I know I'm going to be changing the oil on my cars or anyone else's car and I think it could do with a flush I drain the old oil out red hot and refill with the hgv oil and then change it a few days or a week later along with the oil filter and fill it with the correct engine oil. This really pulls a lot of crap out and the replenished correct oil stays cleaner for a lot longer. It also only costs me a few cans of beer for my mate so I will probably also do this if I end up changing the solenoids.

[motorhead]

After asking if the timing belt has been changed on this car as it's due at 6 years old and where they bought it from 5 months ago are being weird about it not having a service book with it (yeah probably cos it's had the FIBR maintenance schedule, F*** It Be Rate)

I will be changing the timing belt including the tensioner, idler pulley, water pump, them solenoids and the inlet and exhaust actuator pulleys as I want to do it in one hit and it's done with, neither me or the owner have the time to be messing about doing it twice.

My friend sent me an autodata link for this vehicle but it says on this Mokka the starter motor has to be removed and a different locking tool used for this to lock the flywheel
unlike the usual flywheel locking tool on other models of Vauxhalls with this engine. Has anyone done one of these on a Mokka like what I am going to do and please advise. Thanks