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2011 Malibu LTZ 3.6L V6 Red Jewel Tintcoat
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i have chevy malibu 2.4 L 4 cylinder 2013 and 2 months ago there was check engine light and after diagnostics found P0011 code . I just clean the intake cam position actuator solenoid valve and reset the battery , after 6000km ,same check engine light appeared while i was driving at speed of 80km/hr and i accelerated the car . After diagnostics P0011 code was there.
Engine Oil level is fine and i used to do engine oil replacement on regular basis .

Is this a solenoid problem because last time i just clean the solenoid and check engine not appeared for 6000 km or there is mechanical problem in engine like carbon .

Also there is minor oil seepage on below oil pan side. Oil level on engine remains the same.
Just so you're aware, this thread is for Gen7 vehicles and yours is a Gen8. It's possible that the issues, error code, and correction will apply to both models but beware that it also may not.
 

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That's good to know. When you say low, do you mean physically low or low on life? If you mean physically low, what would make it that low during that time? Is a gasket failing? I changed the oil on my 2011 a couple of weeks ago and it had plenty left in it and I went about 6,000 miles on it.
 

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both issues, low oil level and low % life-left, can cause the CEL. I've seen dirty oil cause it several times, even if oil-life% is still above 0. I've seen oil from a car not driven for over a year with only 1500 miles cause it. I've seen the wrong oil type cause it. many of these smaller engines require DexOS-type oil. buy a good quality oil and filter if you DIY and you'll be fine. I only use synthetic.
 

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Remove the engine cover. Find the two small cylinders just to the left of the #1 spark plug. They are called the intake & exhaust camshaft position (CMP) actuator solenoids. I recommend that you replace them both. But if you choose, you can just replace the intake actuator for a 10 or 11 code or the exhaust actuator for a 13 or 14 code. There are no aftermarket versions available...just the OEM ACDelco. Either get from a dealer or (probably cheaper) online (though a bit harder to find online than at a dealer). Just remove the hold-down bolts & pull up on the actuators. Put engine oil on the new o-rings & don't over-torque the hold-down bolts (torque spec is only 7 ft-lbs). The actuators are keyed differently (& have different part numbers) so you can't interchange them.

Part #
Intake: 12646783
Exhaust: 12646784

What do you do if you have had a professional change these actuators and the code P0010 still exists? I changed the oil three days ago and have been religious about it over the past 7 years. At what point is it safe to say (likely) that I have a faulty ECM? I have had electrical problems from the get go with this car, and I bought it brand new. It is always a sensor, though, and never the underlying problem that needs to be fixed. For example, I have encountered: faulty traction control warning signals, brake lights failing to illuminate, faulty ESC warnings, brake lights staying illuminated, car not starting, ABS light coming and going, tire pressure monitor light giving faulty readings, cruise control failing to work, faulty seat belt lights..... Not sure I can remember them all.... What does an ECM cost to replace? Likely more than the car is worth? This is a 2010 Malibu with 75,000 miles on it..... Thanks!
 

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Read this thread beginning to end and someone came close but didn't solve the problem I have. Back in the 60's I did a lot of light engine work (no rebuilds) and in the 70's a lot of VW work. I include that info in that I have some experience but not much since the dreaded computerization of the automobile, thus my user name.

I'm trying to replace the intake and exhaust solenoids. The problem are those blasted electrical connectors.

My Plan Beginning This Morning

1. Unhook negative term of battery
2. Unhook air cleaner hoses
3. Remove oil cap & replace w/ towel
4. Remove engine cover
5. Replace the 2 parts which involves un- screwing and re-screwing
6. Reverse steps 1-4

I saw a girl on utube do it in 15 minutes.
I figured if SHE can do it in 15, I should be able to do it in 60 minutes.

Well...
1. I've always seen negative cable clamps very similar to the positive cable clamp. Nope!! This puppy was like a washer that slipped over the terminal. O.K., I consider myself pretty flexible in my thinking. But now I'm facing a North Korean nut that's between either 8mm and 10 mm or 5/16 and 7/16.
So she was done with the whole project in 15 minutes... I got the battery disconnected in not much more than 15 minutes.
2. Her hose connections were not that much easier than mine.
3. I was faster than the girl removing the oil cap because I didn't have to explain what I was doing and why.
4. Her engine cover had 3 screws right on top so access wasn't even a consideration. I had only 1 screw and 3 pop-in (or pop-out)snaps. For the 1 screw I had to deal with, I needed a 12" screwdriver, a flashlight and now, physical flexibility.
So...3 hours later, (did I mention I have COPD and we’re surrounded by wildfires?)
5. Now I am at the meat of the matter...
What I need is a video with slo-mo and written notes explaining how on earth
one gets those fracking, electrical connectors to the Camshaft Solenoids
disconnected.
After all that I hope I posted correctly.
 

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· Administrator
2011 Malibu LTZ 3.6L V6 Red Jewel Tintcoat
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No matter what, using the OE brand is highly recommended.
 

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2014 Malibu LTZ 2.4 I-4
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Thanks Driven Daily, for your welcome. I'm in Australia and the Malibu is not a model here. The Captiva is a Holden (GM's Australian presence) branded SUV car from Daewoo with an ecotec 2.4 engine the same as used in the US. The car belongs to my daughter. When I first started chasing up the check engine light I found P0010 fault I read through a number of forums regarding this engine and I noticed people recommended just changing the solenoid/oil control valve. Others recommended cleaning the valve. Neither made sense in my mind without knowing the "why". I note the engine is now intermittently developing P0014 fault which is for the exhaust cam actuator so I'm about to order one from the States. They only cost $US40- $60 over there, here they are $AUD250- $300. Hopefully it gets here before complete failure. The resistance today was 17 ohms.

Australian Captiva looks like this.
http://resources.carsguide.com.au/s...images/uploads/Holden-Captiva-5-LTZ-wide2.jpg

pete
Gen 8 Malibu exists in Australia, in fact, Holden designed that model!
 

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What keys do I need to remove the cover?
Remove oil cap, unhook air hose, unhook PCV hose(I think that's it... lower left side), and unhook throttle body (low center thru the little hole you can see the screw).

For the record: 2009 2.4L and I have gone thru about 4 sets of these in 110K miles... if I was not a DIYer I would have gone insane by now, but with the parts being $20 a set I just see it as a little Oil Change add-on activity.

For all the problems our Gen 7's seem to have, I will say I'm pleased the aftermarket supplies affordable parts and the car is decently simple to work on from a POWERTRAIN perspective. Headlights? Random Stuff? not as much I know...

Cheers all.
 

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2017 SS Sedan 6.2L
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Remove oil cap, unhook air hose, unhook PCV hose(I think that's it... lower left side), and unhook throttle body (low center thru the little hole you can see the screw).

For the record: 2009 2.4L and I have gone thru about 4 sets of these in 110K miles... if I was not a DIYer I would have gone insane by now, but with the parts being $20 a set I just see it as a little Oil Change add-on activity.

For all the problems our Gen 7's seem to have, I will say I'm pleased the aftermarket supplies affordable parts and the car is decently simple to work on from a POWERTRAIN perspective. Headlights? Random Stuff? not as much I know...

Cheers all.
You have gone through 4 sets because you didn't replace with ACDelco parts. The $20 aftermarket replacements are trash. Almost no one on this site has had to replace the OEM parts more than once.
 

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You have gone through 4 sets because you didn't replace with ACDelco parts. The $20 aftermarket replacements are trash. Almost no one on this site has had to replace the OEM parts more than once.
seems we are about even on costs, then, and I’ve had the pleasure of a bit more wrench time in the driveway!

as they say, YMMV. Enjoy the holiday weekend.

dropped this note as it might be helpful, and it sounds like indeed it is a lesson! If you want no maintenance for a while in this dept it seems Delco is the way... but if you take it around the corner don’t be surprised if you hit this again in a few years. They aren’t using delco parts.
 

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2017 SS Sedan 6.2L
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seems we are about even on costs, then, and I’ve had the pleasure of a bit more wrench time in the driveway!

as they say, YMMV. Enjoy the holiday weekend.

dropped this note as it might be helpful, and it sounds like indeed it is a lesson! If you want no maintenance for a while in this dept it seems Delco is the way... but if you take it around the corner don’t be surprised if you hit this again in a few years. They aren’t using delco parts.
You'll see in most VVT solenoid threads, a number of members here will point out that the solenoid actuators need to be ACDelco parts like a broken record. There is at least one report here of brand new aftermarket solenoids not working and the owner ends up believing something else is wrong.

It's the same story with a lot of aftermarket sensors and minor wear and tear items. If it's super cheap, it's probably a lousy part. Conversely, in rare instances the aftermarket can be better, like stabilizer end links and oil filters. We do our best on this forum to recommend good repair parts.
 

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Makes sense to me, seems like I’ve gotten lucky in a way—based on mine all working (temporarily). Knowing this all, I’d have definitely gone with Delco in the first place but I can’t change that now...

I might keep an eye out for a sale then as it sounds like I’d be good for the remainder of the service life of the car pretty much with a genuine part.
 
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