~85000 miles, Engine Code P0011

My 06 Tacoma has about 85000 miles on it. I was pulling into a parking lot on Sunday, the engine shuddered as was pulling into the parking spot. I noticed the check engine light came on. I was late so i just turned the beast off and went inside. About an hour later i came out and opened the hood to see if i could notice a reason for said shuttering. (I had the ac compressor seize [fixed by pulling the relay that engages the compressor solenoid] on me last winter, the shudder i felt reminded me of that experience) I noticed nothing out of the ordinary, so i started the beast up, noticed the CEL is still on, but did not notice any noises or shuddering. I drove it to the dealer and left it there for them to look at today. They got back to me today with a $1500 estimate to replace a/the (?) VVTI cam. The engine was pulling a P0011 code. Am I being hoodwinked??? Is this a common problem for the mileage?? Help!

 

Thanks for the quick feedback, I'll check out the filter first.

 

Check the filter and replace if needed. I would also have the code cleared and continue to drive the truck if it seems like its OK. If it's something in the VVTI it will throw the code again and then you can decide to spend $1500 dollars.
Bill

 

Please help, I am having the same issue as the OP, only mine is so bad that the truck is undrivable... Can anyone tell me where the VVTI filters are? I can't pics with locations of these.

 

Which code you have? Are you looking for Bank 1 (RH) or Bank 2 (LH) ? I can try taking picture when I get home.
Basicly from outside they are single bolts, when you unscrew them there is filter underneath them.

 

I am throwing codes: P0011, P0301, P0303, P0305.
The P0011 is in constantly now and will not clear. When this all started last week it would clear and stay gone for a few hours but now it will not go away.

The other codes only come in after the engine is warmed up and I am sitting at a stop sign or red light. Everything is associated with bank 1.

I have changed plugs, changed oil, and replaced both cam sensors. I took my baby to the dealership and they don't have a clue, although they did quote me $2300.00 for them to replace a cam gear! I thought it was weird that they would tell me that they don't know what's wrong with it then the very next sentence out of their mouth was giving me a quote for a cam gear... As you can imagine I lost all faith I my local dealership.

I also removed the VVT valves when I changed the cam sensors, but honestly I would not know if they were bad or not? They appeared to be in good working order...? I never saw a filter or screen of any sort. Are these in a different location?

Thanks to anyone who responds, just need help .... I can't see speeding $2300 and the dealership told me that it still might not fix the problem.... I don't know... is there any merit to what they are telling me?

 

My problem turned out to be a faulty oil control valve. I had the cam replaced for 1800 and the problem came back 3 days later. They checked it over again and found that the oil control valve for that bank was working sporadically. I bitched up a storm and they covered half of my original cost. Good luck!