p0340 wtf can not remove it even after following procedure

[Jgrov2]

engine is a jdm 2002 celsior 3uz-fe
car is 96 hilux

So the scanner says p0340 is cam position sensor however if I unplug that sensor, it throws a vvt sensor code (p1345). Ive replaced the vvt sensor bank 1, both bank plugs and check for shorts/continuity all fine. The resistance on the old sensor was very close to the spec limit hence I replaced it. All that seems to have made no difference as the code still comes up. The only thing left is possibly the timing belt and after checking that everything seems fine all the marks line up except all the lines are in the middle of the timing marks except the bank 2 side is on the edge of the timing mark (possibly half a tooth out if thats possible?)

The belt has 1000km on it so I doubt its stretched and I fear if I wind it back a tooth it will be too much in the opposite direction.

Symptoms
The car drives and performs great no issues whatsoever til it gets hot. If I go to start it when its hot such as stalling it in traffic or stopping for fuel. The car will refuse to start unless I have the accelerator half down and then I need to keep the revs up around 2k otherwise it will stall out and after a while of driving it will idle again. Ive checked for vacum leaks and fuel pressure/supply everything is perfect. The only thing coming up on dtc besides the obvious (auto trans removed) is this p0340 code.

Anyone got any advice on where to go from here this is really driving me nuts

crankshaft

bank 1

bank 2

 

[gloverman]

Have you changed the camshaft position sensor or the vvti position sensor? Have you got access to a oscilloscope? Camtiming looks ok from the photos. Did you have the cams out at all?

 

[gloverman]

Have you checked live data for hotstart? Like just before you start the engine and then as its requiring more throttle to maintain its running? Its not unusual for something to fault but be within the threshold of normal to not throw a code but should be visable in live data.

 

[Jgrov2]

Is there a chance it will run with the vvt sensor cable connected to cam position sensor and vice versa? By vvt sensor I mean the one either side of the intake manifold between the middle injectors and by cam sensor I mean the one which connects through the cam cover bank 1.

When I disconnect bank 1 vvt sensor, nothing changes and throws p0340 (cam pos sensor error). When I disconnect cam pos sensor it throws p1345 (vvt sensor error bank 1) and wont start. When I disconnect bank 2 vvt sensor, it idles like shit and throws p1350 (vvt sensor error bank 2). This is according to lexus service manual for ls430.

When searching for p0340 error it appears it can mean vvt sensor error or cam sensor error specifically for celsior.

I dont recall changing those wires or any way of it changing over as we didnt length or shorten wires in the harness when we swapped it over but to me it seems they are around the wrong way. Im thinking since the sensors are all the same anyway, should I try and switch them or will the world implode?

The vvti solenoids are bank specific so I cant swap them but resistance is ok and i powered them they worked fine.

As for live data, where should I be looking, the scanner has a shitload of parameters to display, there is about 8 parameters for each cam but im thinking if there is something wrong with the sensors wont it show in the timing or cam position?

Also no access to ocilliscope sorry

 

[Jgrov2]

Scope checked out fine when I looked at vvt sensors, couldn’t check the position sensor. I’ve since striped down the cam and everything is fine and clean so it’s got me fucked. Only thing I can think of now is the solenoid maybe not working. Live data shows bank 1 all fine and bank 2 reads 0 angle change 0 angle aim and 0 duty cycle on solenoid while bank 1 fluctuates slightly