Started getting the code about two months ago, comes back after shutting the car off / starting again. Don't feel any difference in driving, and oil pressure remains pretty much the same.

- Changed oil + filter after getting the code, code still there.
- Recently changed Driver Side VTC Solenoid/Sensor, code still there.
- Valve Cover / Valve Cover Gaskets + Injectors were replaced earlier this year.

Looking around the forums/some other VQ forums, I've found that the issue might be related to:

1) Oil Seal behind Cam Cover (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...s/IMG_7602.jpg)

2) Old Paper Gaskets on Front Timing Cover (apparently the new gaskets have some sort of metal in them).

Opinions?

Cliffs:

- P0021 Timing Over Advanced
- Car runs fine, oil pressure is the same, powerband feels the same
- Blackstone Lab Analysis came back great
- Changed oil recently
- Changed the valve solenoid/sensor
- Changed injectors/valve covers/valve cover gaskets earlier this year

 

Did you clear the code?

 

Yes, and it comes on after I turn off the car and start it again. I clear it everytime I drive (have something plugged in constantly - Garmin Ecoroute HD).

I also had a Blacklab Oil Analysis done at the last oil change - everything came back fine and within spec.

 

Look up the ecu reset procedure or try unhooking the battery for a few hours.....although it should shut off eventually if the problem is fixed.

 

Bump

 

My wife's MDX pulled that code. After stressing over possible time and money I decided to go with the basics. Tech ron for fuel system, OEM plugs, throttle body cleaner on pcv and intake vacuum lines. Didn't touch cats or O2s.
Notice I did not say sea foam. 2 days later it cleared itself. Good luck!

 

I've read on some other forums that the fuel additive method worked well for them too - might have to try that now. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Fuel additive can only help

 

Bump. Still haven't found a solution.

 

P0021 Intake valve timing bank 2 (drivers side)

Since you've already changed the vvt solenoid, I'll list your other suspects.

*debris in signal plate of camshaft
*timing chain jumped
*crankshaft position sensor bad
*camshaft position sensor bad

 

Bad crank position sensor
bad cam position sensor (there is one for each bank)
bad flywheel position sensor (on the bottom of the tranny where it mounts to the motor)
The timing wheel itself on either the crank pulley or flywheel could be bad
You could have a flow issue with oil causing seemingly normal oil pressures on the guage but the pressure to the solenoid could be low.

Good luck

 

oh, and could be a bad ECU

 

Thanks for the inputs. I might datalog using Cipher and try to find the culprit, just waiting on UpRev to verify whether Cipher will work with a VQ35HR (listed as not compatible on their website).

 

The timing windows are cut into the flywheel itself, you would know if your flywheel was messed up. I really doubt its the gaskets inside the timing cover, you would have low oil pressure all the time. You need to find somone with a nice scan tool that can stream data. It'll tell you what your cam advance is. If its anything other than zero with that code you probably have a jumped timing chain.

 

^ Sasha (from OnPoint) also suggested data logging to try and try to diagnose the issue from there. I was looking at Cipher from UpRev, but their website doesn't seem to sell it anymore, it wasn't listed as compatible with the VQ35HR, and I can't get ahold of them on the phone. Do you know of any tools for data logging for this platform?

 

A nice obd2 scantool should do the trick.