P0018 I dont know what to do!

Hello, I am looking for some advise. I have a 2012 Tacoma TRD Sport, with 230,000 KM. I have recently got this code for the camshaft position sensor. The engine is running and sounding fine. The code has come on and off as well. Typically will come off after an oil change. The last time the code came on, the engine ran ruff for about 3 seconds, almost like a weird vibration, then back to normal. I have talked to a few different shops and have been told a bunch of different things. Toyota dealership is telling me the timing chain needs to be replaced and quoted me almost 6k CAD to get it fixed. They also said we can try getting the sensor replaced first, but probably wont fix my issue. They Quoted 1k CAD to replace the sensor.

Someone also recommended draining half my oil and running some ATF to try to clean the sensor as they can apparently get pretty dirty.

I dont know much about engines, so I am hoping someone has had a similar issue and knows a fix.

 

I would start with inspecting/cleaning/replacing the VVT filters.
Followed by cleaning/inspecting the actual VVT Solenoids.

Lots of good information in this thread
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ssues-p0011-p0012-p0016.770671/#post-27521079

 

do not put ATF in your oil please

 

Do not add ATF to your oil!

Lots of good info in my thread. @TnShooter linked above Is P0018 the only code?

It is possible the VVT screen(s) are plugged if oil changes have been neglected. You say it gets better after an oil change.. Easy to check. If not that, probably a solenoid. P0018 is the drivers side. I think the VVT screen is a little more tricky to get to on that side (behind the AC) but I am not 100% sure on that, I only had to deal with the passenger side.

As a side note, $1k is highway robbery for replacing the camshaft position sensor

 

Wow ! 6 grand to replace a timing chain. I have no idea of the work involved to do that...I just recall replacing timing chains 40 years ago in old school cars....Just about the cost of the chain is all ! Well...that was then..

 

not hard just time-consuming, as that old commercial goes if you got the time, we got the beer, Miller beer

 

I worked with someone who did all atf & destroyed his engine. I’ve done it to my air compressor but I just added a tiny amount, less than 1/16 quart, ran it for a couple minutes then drained it.

 

I have an update. It needed a timing chain and gears, 7k CDN later I have my truck back. Now I am concerned about the sound, only while accelerating i am hearing a ticking. like a zip tie hitting a fan almost, When a truck is at idle sounds completely normal.

 

Possibly an exhaust leak at one of the manifolds.

 

For 7 k CDN with 200k plus on the motor,I would of just had the entire motor rebuilt.

 

7k CDN? HOLY CURRENCY CONVERSION!!! Maybe I'm too much of a cheap@ss combined with being too old, but that sounds like a replacement engine.

 

Welcome to Canada. Where everything is super expensive.