Difference in VVT-I/Camshaft gears

Hi. Does anyone know the diference between these two VVT-i? or camshaf gears. Both pictures are from 1GR-FE engines of Tacoma trucks.
It is possible to swap them?

Thanks for the help

 

Can I replace the one that has the star like shape with the one that has the flat surfaces or do I need to replace the ECU to do this?

 

You can't just swap them. The bigger gears are the vvt-I actuators which are controlled by oil pressure. So the smaller gears don't have the oil passages needed. It would also be a major clusterfuck for your ECM. Definitely not recommended. Maybe they sell aftermarket cam gears with a modded ECM that deletes the vvt-i, but I wouldn't touch it.

 

i think hes talking about the two main sprockets off the intake cams. the two sprockets that are connected by a single chain to the crank.

 

I guess my question would be why? Is there something wrong with your cam gears? Also, are you sure they're both from Tacomas? Toyota put the 4.0L in the FJ and Tundra as well with different tuning/cams from what I understand.

 

The part that is different is the front metal piece attached to the camshaft sprocket. As you can see, in the bottom picture is like a star with 3 spikes and the top picture is completely different.
The reason I want to replace them is because i have a check engine light on with P340 code on it. I have replace the camshaft position sensor, replace the timing chain, run a direct wire from the sensor to the ECU, replaced the ECU and the light still coming on. So the last thing to do is replace the gears according to the manual.

 

as long as they dont hit anything give it a try, the star ones look more like a proper cam position sensor plate... tops ones i dont even know how the hell they would properly tell the ECU the cam position.

 

Going to revive this thread to add in the accuracy of of information. That first picture is of one of my engines. Lol.

The difference between the 1GR VVT-I actuators of year models 2003-2004, and 2005-2015, for the SINGLE VVT-I 1GR (NOT the dual VVT-I 1GR) is their pick-up design. Visually obvious in the two pictures.

The first picture is what the intake cam gears look like, on the '05 Tacoma to '15 Tacoma. The sensor which reads it is different from the sensor on the '03 - '04 4Runner 1GR, which is in the second picture, the the tri-point pick-up. Ninja star.

Mechanically, the cam gear sensors will swap perfectly between timing covers. Proper sensor must follow the proper intake cam gear.

Therefore, if you swap in an engine which has the style different from what your vehicle came with, then you MUST SWAP the INTAKE cam gears over.

I have done it. They are interchangeable.

 

Hi I'm having this exact same problem right now and it's driving me crazy! I have an 06 tacoma and put in an 04 4runner engine thinking it was the same thing. This is were I'm at with my problem.. did swapping the intake cam gear work for u?

 

Yes it did.

 

Thank you

 

Here are some pictures of what I went through.

 

Can anyone tell me if it's possible for the inlet cam gear to match up with the locating pin on the cam in the wrong hole on the VVT gear and thus wrong timing location? The inlet camshaft has a locating pin, and the VVT gear has multiple holes. Is it possible to attach the VVT inlet gear to the inlet camshaft in the wrong location? Thanks.

 

No. They will not slide into each other, in the other holes.

 

Not unless you force them.

 

It seemed to slide in easy, and the marks on the gears liine up with the bearing cap notches at TDC. But, it runs like shit. No p0016/18 codes - just p0300 misfires. Can't figure it out

 

You sure the timing has been setup properly?

Have you done a compression test since assembly?

 

I replaced the head gaskets (in place, did not pull engine). It ran excellent but had p0018/16 errors. I yanked the valve covers and saw that the chain was off by one tooth. I used the in situ procedure used when adjusting valve clearance - removed the valve covers and chain tensioner via the front access port, loosened the cam gear bolts, and removed the cam bearing caps and removed the exhaust gear, then pull the inlet cam gear away from the shaft and remove the chain from the inlet valve and lift the main chain off the inlet cam gear. Once done, the inlet cam gear can move independent from the cam. With the bearing caps all removed and the cams lifted up slightly to not depress the valves, the crank can be rotated to get the chain adjusted so that at TDC the both inlet gears are aligned with their bearing caps marks. Once that was done, the main chain can be put back on and the crank rotated around a couple of times to make sure both inlet gears align with the bearing cap marks when the crank is at TDC. Then rotate the inlet cam while pushing the inlet cam gear toward the engine until the cam pin aligns and they slip together. Then rotate the exhaust cam until its pin aligns with the exhaust gear & chain and slip it on making sure that the gear mark aligns with its bearing cap mark. I then carefully tightened all of the bearing caps and cam gears, and return the main tensioner. I rotated the engine several times to ensure that at TDC all 4 cam gears align correctly with the bearing cap marks. But alas, it runs like shit. So I was wondering if it was possible for the inlet camshaft pin can align and allow the cam gear to mate st more than one position. I have not done a compression test but maybe I should? Thanks

 

Yup. All of what you said is a major pita, with the timing cover in place. That said, there is an easy way to determine if the cam gear is not fully seated on the cam.

Pull the valve covers and look carefully to compare the intake cam gears. Their respective locations on the cams, and see if there are any obvious differences. As well as inspect the main timing chain. See if it looks at an angle, from the cam gear not being fully seated.

I know of one story where someone did not seat their intake cam gear properly. Thought they had, but turned out they hadn't. Truck ran with issues. I will try to find the thread.

 

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