2006 Tacoma 6 cyl P0022 code

My 2006 6 cyl Tacoma has 200 KMs (120 mil) on it. It runs great, lots of power and it appears to idle fine. Today the engine check light and the little oil can light illuminated on the dash. I took it to the Toyota dealer and they diagnosed the code as "Bank 2 over retarded". I was advised they suspect the timing chain is stretched "because they've seen this before" and it was going to be a $4000 repair bill. They cleared the code and said to drive it and see if the code returns. If it does then the timing chain needs to be replaced. I have since checked and there are various other causes of the P0022 code:

• Incorrect camshaft timing

• Wiring problems (harness/wiring) in intake timing control valve control solenoid system

• Continuous oil flow to VCT piston chamber

• Failed timing valve control solenoid (stuck open)

None of these alternative causes of the P0022 code were mentioned to me, only what appears to be the most expensive repair possible for this error code. They did not do an oil pressure check either. I was under the impression that these timing belts were pretty bullet proof. Any constructive and knowledgeable comments appreciated.

 

The key here is this: " The Little Oil Can Light Came ON ". This means that you lost Oil Pressure. The Valve Timing is controlled by oil pressure. That is where the Over Retarded code came from.

That being said you need to find out why you lost oil pressure. A loss of oil pressure will destroy an engine pretty quick. If it comes back on immediately turn the ignition off and call a tow truck unless you want to rebuild or buy a new engine.

 

Jimmyh,
I asked the dealership if they did an oil pressure test as I was worried about that very thing. Their only response was "No" and they suspect a stretched timing chain and to drive it and see if the light comes back on.

 

Does anyone know how much of an oil pressure drop is needed to set off the dash light and what the time duration of the drop needs to be?

 

Nope. I hope I never find out either. That would be the 10,000 dollar question though.

 

Just for clarity, did you check the dipstick? If oil is low, a hard turn or hard braking/acceleration can slosh low oil away from the pickup. If you are not careful, the retarded valve timing will be the least of your problems.

One thing is for absolute certain, if you let the dealership replace the chain and you pay the $4,000 for doing that, be SURE you raise your hands up over your head when you pay, for safety, since they are already robbing you, and if you don't appear compliant, they might also shoot you.

BTW, most vehicles trip the oil lite at around 1/2 nominal pressure. I assume it went back off or did it stick on? I have never looked at that specific circuit on a Taco, normally it is just a pressure switch threaded into an oil passage somewhere, and it requires pressure to stay open.

 

i had this code once. also lost oil pressure. ended up being a spun bearing on the no 4 piston. gouged the crap out of my crank. had to put a new engine in it.

 

check your oil and see if u have a shimmer to it. Dirty oil can cause this too and if u are losing oil pressure, then its probably not good

 

The dealership checked the oil level and condition of the oil and said both were fine. I thought it might be low oil level too. After the oil light and engine check light came on I shut it down and restarted it and only the check engine light came back on. That is when I took it to the dealer and they cleared the check engine light and told me about the P0022 code. I have driven it several times since and no oil light has come back on. It idles fine, has lots of power. If an oil passage was plugged or the oil pump was not functioning I would think the oil light would have come back on by now. I wish these had an oil pressure gauge to actually tell you what the oil pressure was doing at any given time. I remember hitting the gas peddle pretty hard to get onto the freeway and it was a little while after that I noticed the dash warning lights were there but I can't say exactly when they came on.

 

did u check the oil? and low oil level is not an indication of low oil pressure. my oil pressure was running at like 4psi at idle and about 25-30psi while driving. it was full of oil but one of the bearings on the crank to the no 4 piston had spun which im sure was the cause of the low oil pressure. all the damage to my engine is around page 24-25 on my build thread. I never had a idle problem (once I fixed my vacuum leak), or lack of power. hell, I even went wheeling on the bad motor and had the low oil pressure light flicker a few times. it got worse later on to where unless I was revving the engine, it would come on.

 

You were certainly lucky. I have seen more than one that launched a connecting rod out the side of the block when a bearing spins and almost instantly starts wearing like mad. They usually go quickly from tap-tap-tap to TAP-TAP-TAP to BANG.

 

id been happy with that still replaced the engine.