Check Engine Light with P0012 code

For some back ground information to aid in some diagnosis tips, in January I replaced the front main seal, all idler pulleys, drive belt and water pump. Drove the Taco to California to ship it to Kauai, no issues during trek. Took it through a drive through car wash to meet the shipping companies specifications and for whatever reason had the drive belt shred INTO the front main seal, lost all my oil and towed it to a mechanic. Mechanic replaced parts with OEM parts (the belt and front main seal) and put new oil in. Drove it to the port and it was off on the boat.

Got my truck just over a week ago have been driving around since running errands and seems to have no issues, it idles between 500-600 RPM's in drive at a full stop. I've had my check engine light come on and go off 3 times over the last 4 days, on this last time it came on (03/17/2022) I went and bought a code reader and got a P0012 code. Read the code as "camshaft position timing over-retarded", looked into some things online regarding what could cause it, what are the symptoms, etc. I checked my oil level as that CAN be a potential cause, oil levels are normal and the oil is clean. I can't imagine that the mechanic put in the wrong oil type but can't be too sure and unfortunately didn't ask.

Anybody have an y thoughts or suggestions? I am not in a very comfortable spot to be spending an arm and a leg on getting a CVT solenoid or VVT actuator replaced as I just moved. Yes I can do it myself but I'd hope for some tips in what to look for rather than taking the age old approach of throwing parts at it until it goes away. Let me know what you guys think, thanks for the info.

 

You can pull the OCV and inspect it.
And I suppose changing the OCV Filter wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Other than that, you’ll need to pull the covers and physically check the timing marks.

There’s lots of information on it here.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/oil-control-valve-location.270960/

 

@TnShooter Alright, I'll look into it tomorrow. Checking the timing marks sounds like getting into the timing chain area and that is a project I'm not sure I can accommodate now. Thanks for the info.

 

It's possible you have a plugged VVT screen or failing VVT Oil Control Valve, or the engine jumped time from low oil pressure or a piece of the belt getting behind the crank seal.
You could check the VVT Screens first of all and make sure they are clean, if they are then you will have to check the Oil Control Valve on Bank 1 (Passenger Side).

 

@Dm93 That is my fear that a piece of the old belt getting wedged into the front seal and messing with crankshaft position. I'll check out the vet screens and OCV tomorrow as well.

 

I just dealt with that code a few months ago. Changed the oil/filter, erased the code, and ran the truck for close to 1000 miles before it returned. At that point, I replaced the passenger side OCV (fairly easy job) and have been fine for the last couple of months/1000 miles...

 

@Doc Samson Right on, I hope it's that simple haha

 

@konane Did you end up putting a new OCV in? Did that solve the p0012 code?