Service Engine Soon, VDC and SLIP lights on -- P0340 code

[Zen_master]

2011 V8 LE.

Started the truck and drove about 2 miles and the dash lit up like a Christmas tree with three indicator lights -- the Service Engine Soon, VDC and SLIP lights all popped up simultaneously. Drove home, ran an OBD2 check and it came up P0340. The check engine light is still on but the VDC and SLIP lights are off.

P0340 is listed as a Camshaft Sensor Circuit.

Other codes that show up are:
P1832 - Traction Control Signal (TCS) operation signal
P1831 - Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) operation signal
P1819 - Shift Actuator Circuit

And C1130 ENGINE_SIGNAL_1 related to the antilock brake system.

Anyone ever experience anything similar? I am running it to the dealer tomorrow so I will find out soon enough. Just wondering if I should brace myself for the impact to the wallet.

[VStar650CL]

All of those codes are derivative crap except for the P0340. That code caused the ECM to temporarily stop transmitting the engine speed signal. That in turn caused the C1130, which in turn made the ABS stop transmitting the vehicle speed signal. Then everything else said, "Duh." Once you cycled the key, everything but the P0340 went "past" and everybody started transmitting again, so the ABS and slip lights turned off.

Fix the bad cam sensor and the rest will be erasable.

[Zen_master]

Awesome. Thank you.

Found some threads on here about cam sensors that suggest replacing them in pairs is best practice.

[VStar650CL]

For the most part I do recommend that my customers replace both if they can afford it. The biggest thing is, aftermarket sensors are a bad idea. There are lots of places on any Nissan where aftermarket parts do just fine, but Hall sensors aren't among them. Use OEM.

[Zen_master]

Service writer said they recommend replacing all three -- both cam sensors and the crank sensor. Will report back what the cost is. X-factor is shop labor cost.

Saw these on Z1 for reference.

https://www.z1offroad.com/cam-crank-sen ... 52192.html

https://www.z1offroad.com/cam-crank-sen ... 16915.html

[VStar650CL]

Actually, I missed that you had a VK and not a VQ. P0340 on a VK is specific to the "phase" sensor which is located below the lefthand "IVT control" sensor on the front left of the engine. The crank sensor can falsely cause the ECM to blame the phase sensor in some cases, so I'd replace those two. The IVT control sensors (the two right on top of the engine) have their own codes and do their own thing, so if they aren't broke, my advice is don't fix them.

[Zen_master]

Well now this is getting interesting.

Service writer just called and said they are still attempting to diagnose the problem. In fact, the technician was going back and forth with Nissan technical support for help on the codes. They mentioned on the phone the multitude of codes referenced in the previous posts here.

The service writer stated that it could possibly be an ECM that is starting to fail.

That sounds pricey to me. Anyone have experience with a failing ECM?

[VStar650CL]

Aargh. Every one of those codes is potentially derivative except the cam sensor. The P1819 might be something to worry about, but only if it doesn't erase after the P0340 is fixed. I hate to say it, but you're getting your d!ck pulled.

[Zen_master]

Well they haven't come back and said for sure it needs a new ECM... yet.

However, in the event that they do say it's an ECM, what would be your advice -- tell them no, and to instead replace both cam sensors and the crank sensor instead?

[VStar650CL]

You're not getting this about "both" cam sensors. The VK56 actually has three cam sensors, plus the crank sensor. The one which is throwing the code is the "phase" sensor, which is actually clocking the left cam's mechanical position before any phasing. Then there are "IVT control" sensors on each bank, which monitor the cam positions after phasing. There's no reason to think there's anything wrong with the IVT control sensors. However, because of the way the ECM's are programmed, sometimes they can get mixed up as to whether the crank or phase sensor is actually the faulty part. So my advice is replace both of those, phase and crank. Then erase the other codes and see if they stay erased.

[Zen_master]

Yea, modern vehicles and their associated electronics is not my area of expertise. Much more comfortable around old carbureted engines.

So in summary, I should request the phase (aka cam) sensor and crank -- just the two -- or should I request both "cam" sensors and the crank too, for a total of three?

[VStar650CL]

It wouldn't be total of 3, it would be total of 4. One crank sensor, one cam (phase) sensor, two cam (IVT) sensors. Except the only one throwing a code is phase. Change that and the crank, leave both IVT's alone.

[VStar650CL]

Change green plus the crankshaft sensor. Leave the blues alone. Green is the one throwing the P0340.

[Zen_master]

Good information. Thank you

What would be the tell that an ECM/ECU is going bad -- what further info would you need to see in order for you to view that as the problem and not these two sensors? Just trying to get ahead of the conversation tomorrow should that be the direction it takes

[VStar650CL]

The principle tell would be replacing the phase sensor with an OEM one and the P0340 doesn't clear, but then you still need to check the wiring before condemning the ECM. I don't go around advertising it in here without a reason, but I'm a Nissan master tech in a midwest dealership, electrical specialty and EV/HEV certified. I'm telling you flat out, if they're going around with TechLine about this, they don't know what they're doing and you're getting your d!ck pulled.