[corvairbob]

so today i did an oil change and i started the engine an it sounded bad then i remembered i forgot the oil! old timers i guess what a dummy anyway i shut it down add the oil and now the poo17 so what caused that? timing chain slap the crank sensor? i can clear it then it comes back the car runs it goes down the road doesn't seem to be any issues but it needs to get fixed. i can do that by changing the sensor i'm guessing but i would like to know if running it for a minute without oil and the noises it started to make caused that or maybe the sensor just failed? any ideas?

 

[ChevyGuy]

I'm thinking less likely the sensor and more likely the exhaust camshaft is out of position. It could be caused by a bad camshaft sensor, but I think that's unlikely. I'm thinking it's more likely that that start-up and quick shutdown left the camshaft at the wrong timing position. But I'm not sure how you can get it back "home".

 

[BowtieGuy]

If still within the factory 5 year/100k mile powertrain warranty, you could likely have it covered under warranty, despite your mistake.

Given that the VVT runs off of oil pressure, maybe one of the camshaft actuators was damaged by running it dry?

 

[au201]

If still within the factory 5 year/100k mile powertrain warranty, you could likely have it covered under warranty, despite your mistake.

Given that the VVT runs off of oil pressure, maybe one of the camshaft actuators was damaged by running it dry?

That's worth a shot. But it's also worth considering that the cars computer might (probably) record an instance of the low oil pressure warning coming on. Hopefully for the OP though, that's not the case.


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[corvairbob]

i will give the service department call and see what they say. this has had to happen before even oil change places must have had it happen. if the computer stored it my 100.00 harbor freight scanner did not see it. i checked for stored codes and nothing but then that scanner may to cheap to find one them. if they will not cover it then i will have to find a way to reset it myself. any procedures located on this site? or does anyone have a website that tells how to do it. might be a way during timing belt/chain change.

although i find it hard to believe that short run could have damaged anything. might be a simple fix. i took off a sensor at the top of the engine at the cam on the back side and it did not look damaged, no marks on it at all. thanks

 

[Robby]

Odds are, since you only ran it less than a minute, no harm occured.

The cam phazers are oil pressure driven.....the code likely was the result of a phazer command that didn't respond.....

If you can't clear the code with the HF tool, just disco the negative cable for a few minutes.....usually works once the capacitors drain off.

Rob

 

[corvairbob]

thanks rob i will give that a try tonight and see. the hf scanner would clear it but then it would come back in less than a minute. it would seem odd that this would be that big of deal. i can't believe that gm would engineer an engine that would be that sensitive to running without oil from an oil change for a minute or so. being everyone need this and that has had to happen. if i were a betting man i would say that happens at least once a week. so saying that this should not require that much attention. and filling with oil and running it should have cleared that by itself. but my scanner may not be good enough for that job. but disconnecting the battery may just do that. the engine rung fine in fact we drove it miles afterwards before i noticed it and got home to clear it. it did clear but came back.

 

[spacedout]

I can't believe that gm would engineer an engine that would be that sensitive to running without oil from an oil change for a minute or so.

Its not just GM, allot if not all cars cam sensors are oil pressure driven. My guess running it without any oil damaged the sensor. When you take it to the dealer I would not mention you starting the car without oil as this part is covered by the 5year/100K powertrain warranty which doesn't cover issues caused by improper maintenance(yes that's what I would call running an engine without oil even for a short period).

The fact the code comes back after you clear it indicates there is a problem with the cam timing or the sensor it self. Since you indicate the car is running fine, I would think its just the sensor. Is out motor interference engine? if the timing was off and it is, you would probably be hearing some not so nice sounds as the valves make contact with the pistons.

 

[corvairbob]

i took the sensors off the cams the ones that have just one bolt holding them they both are the same not the ones on the end of the cams as those look like they have something to do with the timing anyway those sensors did not look like they made any contact with anything in that area, no scrapes or nicks. and if the cams are oil pressure driven as soon as the oil pressure got back they should have returned to there original spot. i can see bearings getting damaged but with only that short time i can't even see that. i had the oil drain out of a filter while on the road once and did not know it until the engine started to run so bad it started knocking and it did not damage the bearings. anyway before i go to the dealer i will take the battery connection off for about 10 minutes and see if that clears it and keeps it cleared if not then off to the dealer this week. thanks

 

[ChevyGuy]

I'm thinking the problem is that the cam timing doesn't match what the car remembers as the last commanded. I'm sure there's a reset procedure, but I'm not sure what that would be if it can't straighten itself out on it's own.

 

[corvairbob]

took battery connector off for a few hours last night started and the engine lite was gone but the wife will drive it today and we will see if it stays off. if not friday it goes to the repair shop for a fix. thanks will keep this updated on the fix.

 

[corvairbob]

ok took the car to the dealer and they said it needs a solenoid so that must be the vvt cam valve it needs. at first they told me i had not put the oil cap on the engine and that was the code. then he called me and said it need the vvt valve. so i get it monday. now we are looking at trading it for the chrylser 200 . but have not made a firm decision yet just looking. not because of this issue we started before i goofed on this issue. but that car has more comforts that the cruze. i will post the final results monday or tuesday depending on when we get the car back. thanks.