2 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHP1539 Code - Question
Leading reported evidence
Replace the camshaft cover bolts have
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The exhaust manifold on that side has to come off, the camshaft cover has to come off and the cams have to come out (and go back in too) and the solenoid/actuator both have to be removed/replaced, the camshaft cover bolts have to be replaced, the camshaft cover sealed properly and so on.
Leading evidence: 'Replace the camshaft cover bolts have' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Adjust above 3000 rpm' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The exhaust manifold on that side has to come off, the camshaft cover has to come off and the cams have to come out (and go back in too) and the solenoid/actuator both have to be removed/replaced, the camshaft cover bolts have to be replaced, the camshaft cover sealed properly and so on.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion · Original poster
You can still feel the variocam mess and the cames adjust above 3000 rpm.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suggestion
Even though there were no obvious symptoms because the actuator wasn't working properly and the valve timing was off the DME was attempting to compensate for the wrong readings from the O2 sensors by running the cylinders on that bad bank richer.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The exhaust manifold on that side has to come off, the camshaft cover has to come off and the cams have to come out (and go back in too) and the solenoid/actuator both have to be removed/replaced, the camshaft cover bolts have to be replaced, the camshaft cover sealed properly and so on.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The exhaust manifold on that side has to come off, the camshaft cover has to come off and the cams have to come out (and go back in too) and the solenoid/actuator both have to be removed/replaced, the camshaft cover bolts have to be replaced, the camshaft cover sealed properly and so on.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Even though there were no obvious symptoms because the actuator wasn't working properly and the valve timing was off the DME was attempting to compensate for the wrong readings from the O2 sensors by running the cylinders on that bad bank richer.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
2 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T184158Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
A month or so back my car developed a p1539 code. I've done a LITTLE research, but not too much. You can still feel the variocam mess and the cames adjust above 3000 rpm. Just taking a quick look all the wiring appears to be ok. I would imagine the actuator is ok if its still adjusting at 3k. Am I hopefully looking at just the cam position sensor or is that just wishful thinking?
If my info is correct the error arises from the fact there has been no triggering of the actuator yet it is active based on the camshaft position sensors.
The VarioCam actuator is a fancy hydraulic oil (engine oil BTW) valve controlled by the VarioCam solenoid.
There are tests that can be done -- I won't list them here as they are involved -- that can eliminate other possible sources of this error, like if a wire is shorted to ground, that the actuator has 12V battery power, and the wiring doesn't have any breaks.
Now the above doesn't read like an actuator per se but like the solenoid. There is no way to really know if the actuator is bad (assuming it is intact and the engine is not making horrible noises). All the tests can do is confirm the solenoid wiring is ok, and that when there is no activation signal the solenoid (and actuator) are not well active and when there is an activation signal the solenoid and actuator are active.
Now earlier this year my Boxster went through a solenoid/actuator problem and the solenoid was found to be bad but at the same time the actuator was bad too -- briefly the new solenoid was installed and after I got the car back the symptoms returned and the diagnosis was the actuator was bad too and it was replaced.
For my 02 Boxster and its 2.7l engine, the parts cost was roughly $800 for the solenoid and nearly $900 for the actuator.
The exhaust manifold on that side has to come off, the camshaft cover has to come off and the cams have to come out (and go back in too) and the solenoid/actuator both have to be removed/replaced, the camshaft cover bolts have to be replaced, the camshaft cover sealed properly and so on. All of this required about 9 hours of labor.
Roughly you're looking at $3K and change if this needs doing based on a labor rate of $150/hour.
You might be able to drive the car a while longer -- I managed to drive my car 30+ miles back home with no obvious problems though I was on pins/needles the whole time -- but the hardware can go on the blink at any time and things will not get better.
Also, while there may not be any obvious problems I note that while I was driving my car I was monitoring the fuel trims and noticed the bad bank's fuel trims were quite a bit richer than the other bank's. Even though there were no obvious symptoms because the actuator wasn't working properly and the valve timing was off the DME was attempting to compensate for the wrong readings from the O2 sensors by running the cylinders on that bad bank richer.
This ain't good. Over time this can cause extra wear of the cylinders/pistons/rings of that bank and then when you do get around to fixing the solenoid/actuator you have half a worn out engine.
So, my advice would be is you need to take the car somewhere, to a qualified professional and have a proper professional diagnosis made and the other less expensive possible causes eliminated.
Then have fixed what is wrong.
Sincerely,
Macster.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
