18 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH3.4L M96 VarioCam Solenoid Lifespan
Leading reported evidence
Replace every 60k miles or so
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
This is most likely due to the fact that the chain pads wear out and need to be replaced every 60k miles or so.
Leading evidence: 'Replace every 60k miles or so' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'stuck actuator or worn pads, as you said' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean oil' (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
On the pass side i damaged the original solenoid when removing the valve cover and the drivers side actuator went bad shortly after i replaced the pads.
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
I also used durametric to activate it before I removed engine.
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 suspect a cause
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.
Suspected cause
What causes the solenoid to fail prematurely is likely a stuck actuator or worn pads, as you said.
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
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.
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
The actuator being stuck is most likely caused by debris from the pad material as well as sludge and/moisture from not having clean oil (many short trips and extended oil change intervals).
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
The actuator being stuck is most likely caused by debris from the pad material as well as sludge and/moisture from not having clean oil (many short trips and extended oil change intervals).
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
On the pass side i damaged the original solenoid when removing the valve cover and the drivers side actuator went bad shortly after i replaced the pads.
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
At this point the cost factor (well over $1k ea.) usually convinces them to test the actuators and they find out that they�re usually ok - but the questions have already been asked, and the answers, theories & armchair diagnosis have already been made (and posted here and elsewhere) lending credence to the idea that they fail more often (�common problem�) than they actually do�
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.
18 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: 20261026T112012Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hi everyone, new Rennlist member here. I have been doing a little research and could not find much on how long the VarioCam solenoids typically last on the 3.4L motors. Does anyone have an impression of the average lifespan, if there is one? I'm in the process of replacing the Bank 1 solenoid that died recently and was curious since I have heard it is a common issue. My car is a 2000 base Carrera, if that makes a difference. Any thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Best regards,
David
Since when has this been a common issue? Who told you that? How many 996 owners have you polled to find that this is a common issue? Average lifespan of a variocam solenoid..go figure? This is stupid. They last as long as they last. You are in the process? Does that mean you are doing the work yourself? Who did your diagnoses and said replace your variocam? Well...there you have my thoughts and opinion.
If u need parts i have a passenger side soleniod and a drivers side soleniod with actuator with less then 1500 miles in them. Also have an older pass side actuator that was working fine. $1100 shipped.
As far as your question goes, i dont think that its a common issue but they do go bad. My motor had over 200k miles when i did the service because of worn variocam pads. On the pass side i damaged the original solenoid when removing the valve cover and the drivers side actuator went bad shortly after i replaced the pads. The new actuator came with the solenoid. The motor went boom on the track shortly after.
Second post on this forum and already spreading misinformation was my point. My 99 (made 7/98) is 22 years old, has 147K miles and I have not replaced either of the variocam solenoids. So my second point is - this is not a common problem and never was.
"I'm in the process of replacing the Bank 1 solenoid that died recently and was curious since I have heard it is a common issue."
Back to my point - where did he hear it was a common issue? What sources? Got to back up a claim like that.
Thanks, everyone, for the responses, and for the offer on the parts. My intent is certainly not to spread misinformation, but only to learn. Yes, I am doing the work myself and am comfortable with the diagnosis, largely thanks to forums like this one. My impression of the VarioCam solenoids being problematic came from there being a number of existing threads on relevant fault codes, etc. as well as the list of common engine problems given in Wayne Dempsey's project book:
As far as polling 996 owners, that's really what I had in mind when asking the question, so I guess the answer would be 2. So far, it sounds like it may not be an especially common or predictable failure, but if there is anyone else who would like to chime in, please feel free.
In defense of OP - maybe their only error is the use of the word "common." This is an occasional failure and it happens with enough frequency that I have read about this on Rennlist and have asked Skip a few questions about the actuators themselves, while we were discussing internal parts of the actuators, that can disintegrate and force a full replacement of the actuator and not just the pad. It is my understanding that the actuators should not be disassembled because the internal parts are not for sale from any vendor and thus you would have to be very, very knowledgable to attempt a rebuild.
question on this. I am in the process of replacing the Vario pads. I had the Code P1524 Camshaft Adjustment bank 2 and some deviation. The pads are almost new, only one little chip. Should the pin go back into solenoid immediately after power is removed? The bank 2 that I removed is sluggish and looks like oil is coming out of it. I would hate to put this all back together to find out that the actuator is bad. Now don't shoot me for asking.
The mode of failure on the actuator itself is little green bits of seal material in the oil filter. The mode of solenoid failing is it does not click when 9V is applied to it. Did you do any diagnosis before tearing into it?
I could remember this wrong, but the code for a failed solenoid is P1530 or P1531 depending on bank. So if you don�t have these codes, probably not the solenoid.
it did click when I applied 12v before I tore into it. I also used durametric to activate it before I removed engine. It stumbled and ran rough so I know it engaged. I just wanted to do pads because I know that can be a weak spot. Along with a bunch of �while your in there� I ended up ordered a new replacement actuator. Unless you Pros think it could be just solenoid . I was Just going to bite the bullet and order new replacement.
I think there may be a perception that the variocam solenoids fail more often than they actually do. This is most likely due to the fact that the chain pads wear out and need to be replaced every 60k miles or so. I think that since it�s a fairly big/pita job that people question whether the problem could be the actuators themselves and if they should replace them �while they�re in there�. At this point the cost factor (well over $1k ea.) usually convinces them to test the actuators and they find out that they�re usually ok - but the questions have already been asked, and the answers, theories & armchair diagnosis have already been made (and posted here and elsewhere) lending credence to the idea that they fail more often (�common problem�) than they actually do�
In theory, the actuators are simple electromagnetic devices: a wire wrapped around an iron core. They really should not ever fail. I think the design on the early 5-chain engines was not ideal, which is why they changed all that on the 996.2 engines. What causes the solenoid to fail prematurely is likely a stuck actuator or worn pads, as you said. The pads were another poor design feature. The actuator being stuck is most likely caused by debris from the pad material as well as sludge and/moisture from not having clean oil (many short trips and extended oil change intervals).
It�s another reason to maintain clean oil.
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