Oil Control Valve Location

I managed to pull both my OCV's and the cam position sensors and clean them and that seems to have fixed the issue

 

OK Travis . how many miles do you have .

 

Haha... 170,000+ and it was swamped once.... If I had to guess (after lookin at these parts) it's not somethin that should be a regular maintenance thing or potentially ever need to be cleaned.. BUT, that's only if you keep you're truck outa mud/heavy dirt, they are a fairly complex part and if they get dirty I can see how they'd quickly stop working. My suggestion would be if they throw the code, pull em and clean em and see if that fixes it, better than payin the dealer $125 a piece and I couldn't find anywhere else to buy em, although I was doing this on a timeline and couldn't order from online soo..

 

I have 184,000 on mine and I haven't been in any mud . Maybe rain and a spray from the water hose to clean the motor off once or twice . Its crossed some water on some roads maybe almost up to the UCA .

 

The you're probably fine. I'd do like I said and not mess with them unless you get a light on

 

How do you remove the oil control valve to clean it? Do the valve covers have to come off?

 

Is there an oil control valve filter that is separate, in another location, from the oil control valves? Saw a post that notes to check and clean oil control filter before checking OCV. Videos of other cars shows the filter under a bolt on the side of the case but I can't seem to find it in my Tacoma.

I just got code P0012 but my truck is running fine. I'm hoping I just need to clean the ocv.

 

I'm with Azteca, my '08 threw the P0012 code on the way home from work. I cleared it to see if it'd come back and I made it home without another CEL. Then the wife took it out later that night and the same error occured. After sitting all night I left for work in the morning, cleared the code, and arrived at work with no CEL. So whatever is happening is intermittent. For what it's worth, my drive to work is 20 miles one way, she's 126K miles old, 2wd, and a highway commuter.

 

After clearing the codes, cleaning the OCV, checking the wiring, cleaning the harness, and testing the solenoid by jumping it to my battery I finally ending up buying a new one. The code has not come back since. I ordered mine from TRDSparks in SC and it cost around $100.

 

That's good information, thanks. The price for that part is worth preventing insanity given the amount of time you spent diagnosing yours. I'll order mine today!

 

I guess I just had a clog. Punched it on the highway, got home turned it off, turned it on a few hours later and the light was off. Been running fine for a while now but I decided to take a look at the ocv anyway. Took them out and cleaned them, looked good. Hit 130k so I'll just keep running until the light comes back.
Still didn't find that small filter.

 

There must not be a small filter! It's a cruel joke probably because I can't find one either! Anyway, I ended up taking mine out and cleaning them in mineral oil. I filled up a cut water bottle and cycled the solenoid several times to really work the mineral oil in to clean it all out. So far the light hasn't come on. I'll be changing the synthetic oil tomorrow for good measure since it's nearly time.

Cycling in mineral oil to clean it

Nice and shiny

 

I know this thread is quite old but does anyone here know if the "filters" are a type that can be cleaned or should they be replaced ?? I'm ordering parts for a job i want to do this weekend and if I'm going to need new ones i want to order them now.

thanks
Joel

 

There are no filters directly related to the OCV's.

There is a filter on each head, at the front, right before the timing cover.

 

The bolt head can be seen here. To the left of the blue tape, and slightly up.

 

I thought it was in some may related to the function of the OCV.

http://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/p/__/FILTER--OIL-CONTROL-VALVE/3911248/1567831010.html

So is this a cleanable type filter? like a screen or something ?

Joel

 

I did the same thing GovGeek did shortly after my original post and worked fine. The code came back on but when away after I drove it. Im guessing there may be some debris that gets stuck and then releases once I drive it. I will eventually change them out but I'll wait until I have to.

In reference to the filter/strainer, apparently it can be taken out, clean and/or replace. I have looked for the bolt but wasn't sure of its exact location. The picture Torspd helps so Ill look again.

 

This could help you locate the filter:

 

Thank you @Jimmyh