Engine Swap Problem 4.0, Code P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Bank 1 Dual VVTi

Good afternoon, I have basically have this problem, my 2006 toy taco 4.0 engine was swapped out with a salvage yard engine. The code that pops up is P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Bank 1. The wiring harness for my truck is (3wire) definitely different than, the cam sensor on the salvage motor (2wire). I have tried putting my cam sensors in, so not to cut the original wires on my truck, and the light still comes on. The salvage yard gave me a Vin, for the vehicleit cmae out of, but I have my doubts, about whether or not it's accurate because, when I got the motor they had remove the motor identification number. I believe to disguise the actual vehicle it came from. I dont know ...Help please. Is there any solution to this problem, that you have been able to come up with? Thank you very much

 

So I’m in the exact situation, did you ever find a resolution? Please let me know. Thanks Mike

 

He hasn’t been here for about 5 years..



I’m sure someone else will pop in with some suggestions. Good Luck

 

Would help to have some context here.
What year is your truck?
I'm assuming 4.0L engine?
What is the replacement engine out of?

The Tacoma 4.0L is a single VVT engine and only has 1 VVT Sensor (Cam Sensor) per bank (2 total), both are 3 wire Hall Effect type sensors.

 

it's the 4runner that has dual vvti, right?

 

Yes the 4Runner and I believe FJ Cruiser 4.0L have dual VVT, the single and dual VVT engines are not interchangeable.

 

i always wondered why Toyota did that

E="Dm93, post: 27362722, member: 150066"]Yes the 4Runner and I believe FJ Cruiser 4.0L have dual VVT, the single and dual VVT engines are not interchangeable.[/QUOTE]

 

Dual VVT adds a little more tuneability resulting in slightly more power and slightly better emissions.

Alot of us have wondered why the 3rd gen Tacos got the underwhelming 3.5L instead of the updated 4.0L that the 4Runners got, haven't seen an answer to that yet...

 

With a slight twist, I pretty much have the same problem as the OP and have been trying to solve this for months. My 2005 Tacoma 4.0 needed a new motor. I bought a.. 'compatible'.. low mileage motor to have swapped in, which come to find out later, is from a 04 4runner, made in Japan. Motor starts/runs/drives great, no glaring issues other than P0340 CEL.

I've been trying to get rid of this code. My mechanic tested various systems for any voltage issues and found none. He then replaced both cam position sensors, and apparently both the 05 Tacoma and 04 4Runner 1GR-FEs do share the same sensor. Why wouldn't my Tacoma wiring harness still be able to read this? rather than keep throwing the P0340 code? Or could I switch to a 4Runner 'cam position sensor' wire back to the Tacoma ECU?

My mechanic is at a loss. Thinks maybe there is an emissions related thing that could be cured through ECU tinkering by a specialist? ie, is there a way to tell an ECU that it is now utilizing part tacoma, part 4Runner? or?

Any help appreciated. I'm not a mechanic, so apologies for any ridiculous assumptions.

 

Do you have a pic of the sensors side by side?

 

What I find “interesting” is that it is only throwing a code for bank 1.
Did your mechanic check the wave form with a scope to see what is being sent to the ECU?

 

You would need to swap the cam gears or witch the heads the sensor are different. Do you have your old engine?

 

unfortunately i dont. The mechanic said he double checked with the Toyota dealer when he got the parts, and that it is the exact same sensor for the 04 4runner, and my 05 Tacoma.

 

Cam sensors appear to be different according to wiring diagrams (04 uses a 2 wire sensor, 05 uses a 3 wire sensor), it's unclear if the reluctor on the cam gear is the same or not.
The sensors shouldn't even have plugged into the harness on your truck (hopefully they used the harness from your truck and not the one that came with the used engine).

This is why when planning on swapping an engine from a different year or model vehicle research must be done to verify compatibility, manufacturers often change things mid run like sensors, wiring, and cam/crank reluctor profile.

04 4Runner 4.0L Wiring at VVT (Cam) Sensors



05 Tacoma 4.0L Wiring at VVT (Cam) Sensors

 

He said he did, as well as the starter, alternator, and battery voltage. Not being car savvy, his explanation went over my head, but he had some electrical diagram or print out where he thought it had something to do with the emissions signaling to my truck's ECU. Like the difference between the 2 motors was like a 2 versus 1 input - things not being equal. And he seemed to think there would be someone who knew how to tinker with the ECU settings so my truck would accept an 04 4Runner motor.

I'm trying to get him to write out what he told me so I can pass along the actual verbiage, as I might be falling victim to the 'telephone game' where the message gets diluted in passage to the end user

I appreciate all the helpful replies

 

It is my understanding my 05 Tacoma harness is the one being used. The motor runs perfect right now other than this CEL. If I just drive it as is, could the motor in the future just stop running as good as it does now? I realize I'll have lost the ability of the sensor to actually warn me of future issues, but is there any risk to otherwise just drive it for years to come?

 

I couldn't say for sure but I wouldn't think so unless the crank sensor would fail however you won't have the full potential of the engine because variable valve timing is disabled when a cam sensor code is present.
My first step in this would be to scope the cam and crank signals at the PCM and see what they look like and go from there.

This is what the Tacoma 4.0L cam/crank signals should look like at idle.

 

Ok, thanks for all that! Interesting what you said about reaching full potential of the donor motor... I've owned this truck since new, and feel pretty Jedi about when things aren't quite right. I could almost swear the truck at freeway speeds > 65, feels ever so slightly 'held back'. I've thought it was my imagination, but prob not now that I think about what you said.

 

We do a lot of these heads the sensor type is different look at these pics you need to swap the cam gears or heads out. We literally just had to do this exact job about 3 months ago but it was the opposite Tacoma engine went into a 4 runner, same code you got we swapped out the cam gears fixed issue. Sorry for the bad news.

 

ugh...thanks for that info. so basically I'm back to square one prior to motor swap. Either rebuild the motor essentially, or swap in the correct single VVTI 1GR-FE Tacoma motor (the internet junk yard middleman I ordered this engine from has an unlimited mile, 5 year warranty, But I don't think it includes labor.) Or just drive it as is