Cause for the dreaded P0011/P0021 codes that everyone is curious about
 

I have seen numerous amounts of these cars come in with the dreaded P0011/P0021 intake timing control codes and I have read numerous posts of how nobody knows the answer. I have repaired a bunch of these and it is indeed an oil pressure issue and not a sensor problem. When the front timing cover is removed you will see 2 caps held to the rear timing cover with phillips head screws. The paper gasket gets blown out and it blows oil right into the timing cover and causes pressure drop to the intake timing solenoids. There is an updated gasket that has metal inside the gasket to keep it from blowing apart like the paper gasket seen in images. This is why the codes keep coming back no matter what oil flushes and sensors are replaced. Hope this helps you guys.

are there certain years/models that are prone to this?

Only models that I have seen with this problem are the 07-08 sedans with VQ35HR. I'm sure the EX and FX with the VQ35HR could do this as well, but the G35 are the only vehicles so far.

Can you give an R&R time estimate on repairing this?
Thanks!

Warranty time is 12.5 hrs. because they want you to replace the whole rear cover which comes with the gaskets, but I think you can get the gaskets separately now. They can be changed without having to remove the entire rear cover. The only thing you will need to remove is the main timing chain. The 2 small chains do not have to be removed. I can do this job in about 7 hrs. give or take.

Ouch!

I don't know how many times I have worked my *** off to replace a $2 part....

Thanks for the input on this topic!

No problem guys, haven't really seen a common mileage issue. If these codes do pop up the easiest thing to do is hook an oil pressure gauge up where the sending unit is by the oil filter and you will have a very low reading on the oil pressure.

Hey Infinitidude,

I don't have an oil pressure light illuminated, but I am throwing the SES code P0011 AND P0021 on my 2004 Infiniti G35 6m/t.

The car runs fine, except occasionally hard to start and I suspect the timing to be off.

With that said, do you it is the oil pressure still?

Thank you,
-Tom

On the V35 models like ours the P0011/P0021 codes are normally caused from low oil levels. If your oil level is ok then the intake valve timing solenoids may be bad as they work off of oil pressure. These are the 2 solenoids at the front of each valve cover and I think they have a green connector on passenger side and a blue connector on the driver side. We don't have the paper gaskets that blow out like the V36 models do. More than likely if you let your car sit for about 20 minutes and check the oil it is probably low. If it is low, just top it off and reset the ses light and you should be fine. Hope this helps bro...

Part number for the metal gasket?

Metal Gasket
 

Any chance you have the part number for that gasket? I have an 07 Infiniti that the dealer is saying needs a new rear timing cover because of an internal pressure leak. I'm guessing this gasket would fix the issue.

Yes the gaskets will fix the issue. I will check in the morning to see if the gaskets are indeed available separately. I will post the part numbers for you if they are available. I know at one time you could only get the gaskets with the cover itself which is crazy.

I will check my oil and top up if I need to. Thanks a lot for the reply! I will update and let you know if it fixed it. I have take off the IVT solenoids and cleaned them a while ago. But I didn't check if they work or check resistance or shorts or anything.. so I will do that next if topping up the oil doesn't keep the codes away

2007 G35x
 

Thank you! Mine is actually throwing a P0024 code, but I think it is related to the other codes you mentioned.