BMW (2A99) VANOS exhaust/crank fault

this car is an E90 with a N52 engine, the car has a fault code that can be cleared but the code comes straight back when the engine is started. also the exhaust VANOS stops adjusting after this 2A99 fault code is there

[@the_retired_mechanic]

Well done mate. You go far deeper into that fault diagnostic than I would have done. Guess known fault and least customer has a choice as to what to do next

[@briankotze57]

Learning from you every time. Thanks for all the effort

[@chrisi1909]

I noticed that the Adaption Values both were out of the range the Scanner said, and after all in spec....Nothing to do in rainy Weather :-) Very good one !!

[@JLsAutoSolution]

Nice Job matt, I would not have gone so far as to re-time the vehicle(personal Preference) but as long as the client is happy that's all that matters.

[@mechanicmatt871]

Hi thanks for watching buddy, how are you getting on with your business? I saw your business card. I think he has sold the car as it is. Someone said in the comments about not changing a chain on a motorbike because it has stretched, it would just be adjusted. I hadn't thought about timing chains in that way before.

[@CarsExposed]

Nicely done there mate very thorough as always 👍

[@mechanicmatt871]

Thanks mate

[@TheGibby3340]

Well it doesn’t get more definitive than that! Top job Matt 👍

[@mechanicmatt871]

Thanks Ian, it was a pain removing so much to test the cam crank correlation. With variable valve timing on both banks I didn't think a known good cam/crank waveform would help. I had to pin it to be sure of the correct timing. The customer is happy to leave it like this and won't be replacing the chain. Cheers Matt

[@prashanshan7125]

Hi doesn't CAM sprocket have key way..? So it can be adjusted.

[@mechanicmatt871]

There is no key way on the sprocket

[@ehombie]

nice professional walktrough!....i think your are just as good as diagnoseDan btw.

[@mechanicmatt871]

Thanks Erik 👍

[@oldnbald]

hi matt, i was wondering what the green probing tool your using with the power probe is at 2:07?

[@marti4580]

Hi Matt, how easy is it to adjust the cam on these? i keep getting crank camshaft correlation faults on both cams on my n52. i have changed the solenoids already and didnt help

[@MartiansChronicle]

Once you get a crankshaft-camshaft reference error on one or both of the VANOS units, the DME will stop controlling the relevant VANOS solenoid. That's why the exhaust camshaft position angle was not moving. When you slackened off the VANOS bolts, was there any danger in TDC moving since you didn't lock the crankshaft with the pin? The camshaft locking tool is enough to hold everything is place?

[@DeejayMC25]

Hey man Installed a new chain and i have this code could it be that my timing is off, my 530i runs exactly like the car in this video,it only runs rough on cold starts

[@alex298dos]

a bad battery or small battery (no the right size)can cause the problem to???

[@fritzz2]

did check the bolts behind the vanos units?

[@Adicarr]

Good job 👍🍻

[@kevinpalmer7452]

What a fantastic job you’ve done there Matt. That timing set looks expensive did you buy it especially for that job? Thanks for the great tips on identifying the correct solenoid and connections orientation very much worthwhile remembering if I remember Diagnose Dan had a case where another garage had spent ££££££ on a BMW the problem was they had the solenoid connections the wrong way round could happen to anyone.

[@mechanicmatt871]

Thanks Kevin 👍 Diagnose Dan is a legend. Cheers Matt

[@kevinpalmer7452]

@@mechanicmatt871 your up there with the best of them Matt.

[@stephanevaucelles6378]

thank for video

[@hamham4547]

Hello nice video thank you so much, I have a question, how can you tell if a vanos is bad or good what test do you do?

[@mechanicmatt871]

Usually the VANOS sprocket knocks when it faulty.

[@fritzz2]

the chai would be loose between the vanos sprockets when you put back in time the exhaust vanos

[@tykendrick800]

I just rebuilt my engine. Ran fine first drive. But I confirmed that the left camshaft isn't exactly TDC any more. It was running rough. What exactly can cause the cam to all of a sudden go out of sync. I tighten everything to spec while crank lock and cam holder tools where in place

[@mechanicmatt871]

After rotating the engine by hand a couple of turns, I often have to re adjust the timing slightly. After that it's ok. Thanks for watching and your comment

[@330Details]

I have an N54 with the same code 2a99 followed by a 2a82 VANOS intake and code 3100:Boost Preassure Deactivation .. I cleaned my Vanos solenoids do you believe my engine just may be out of timing ?

[@brunolepew]

What solved your issue?

[@330Details]

@@brunolepew so far I haven’t found it as I have been doing the valve cover gasket and oil filter housing gasket aswell as walnut blasting but my oil filter was not connected to the stem it was collapsed and just floating in the housing so I really hope that was my Vanos fault issue

[@330Details]

@@brunolepew and the oil has lost its viscosity due to previous owner not changing it in a while (i just got the car) so I haven’t gotten to doing anything to it yet haven’t even hardly driven it 10-15 miles Lol

[@simplelangperorock]

Hello chief, I changed the Exhaust and Vanos Adjusters Sprockets because of their sheared bolts and nuts. After putting it back together… …Car runs normal now but CEL keeps coming back. I’m getting the P2099, P209A, and P13B2 codes. What could these be from? What else did you do aside from setting the Exhaust Vanos timing? PLEASE help chief.

[@mechanicmatt871]

Mine just had the valve timing pinned and re adjusted.I checked the solenoids. All worked ok

[@simplelangperorock]

@@mechanicmatt871 im having those codes now and theyre driving me nuts. car is fine mate, but only for those codes. advise olease mate

[@salahabdulselam556]

maaaat nice one mate ... whats the scanner that you use BTW?

[@mechanicmatt871]

Hi it's a launch scan tool thanks for watching

[@salahabdulselam556]

@@mechanicmatt871 I mean which model x431 v+? cheers mate

[@mechanicmatt871]

Oh yeah it's the X431 V the smaller and cheeper one. Cheers

[@sebczajna700]

Did I understand correctly that the reason for the fault was the replaced plugs on the vanos? Best regards

[@mechanicmatt871]

It was setting the code because the exhaust valve timing was out of sync with the crank shaft and the intake cam shaft. I loosened the VANOS sprocket bolt to allow me to adjust the valve timing to be back in time. The fault code has now gone. Cheers Matt

[@tello479]

Got an e90 vamos position inlet value changes at startup then it will go to 120.00 and 115 and it will no longer move on live data, I have a service engine soon msg but the car runs ok any ideas? I have cleaned vanos and will replace soon but wanted to get your thoughts

[@mechanicmatt871]

That may be worth checking the valve timing with the correct timing tools. If it is even slightly out it will stop the variable valve timing.

[@tello479]

Thanks for your help and great job with the video!

[@tello479]

@@mechanicmatt871 my car is running good, it’s new to me so not sure if it’s to full potential, do you think it’s still timing ?

[@tello479]

I had the timing done and that fixed that error!! Thanks

[@tello479]

My car was driving great with error 2a99 that would not change when swapping vanos solenoids, mpg would not go above 15.9 if you get this only error timing as per the video

[@chubbychequer1512]

What probe was you using that measured the duty cycle

[@mechanicmatt871]

I had an autel power probe although it doesn't work any more

[@chubbychequer1512]

@@mechanicmatt871 thanks pal just found your channel love the content and your skill, where do you get your wiring diagrams I have my own garage but don't wanna subscribe to autodata at the miniute a bit to expensive. Thanks

[@mechanicmatt871]

I use Tech4Techs its half the price, maybe not got as much as auto data. You get a free trial with them. I have been impressed so far.

[@danieledwards3803]

Hi there Matt i am getting same fault code 2a99 with 3100 on my 335i e93 n54 also changed solenoids for new bmw ones still the same should i now do what you did? thanks Dan.

[@mikaeelbadat575]

Did you figure out the issue? What was it?

[@danieledwards3803]

Slipped chain

[@mikaeelbadat575]

@@danieledwards3803 did you just retime the engine or change the chain aswell?

[@danieledwards3803]

@@mikaeelbadat575 I sold her mate to much hassle

[@NatanAlmeida99]

Hi, I'm Brazilian and I can't understand everything you say. I have a 325i 2011 that also uses the n52 engine and I'm getting the code 2a99 as well. Can you summarize what was the real problem with your car?

[@mechanicmatt871]

It was a stretched timing chain, I had to slacken the camshaft sprocket bolts so I could fit the timing pins then tighten the camshaft bolts. Now the valve timing is ok.thanks for watching

[@austinmerrival927]

@@mechanicmatt871 So you didn’t have to replace the timing chain and tensioner? I retimed my engine properly as well and it ran perfect for 6 days until I got 2A99 with 3001 again. Really at a loss of what to do at this point, already checked and cleaned all camshaft and crankshaft position sensors, both solenoids, non return valves, changed oil (Liqui Moly 5W-40 and OEM filter) and replaced oil filter cage (old one wasn’t even broken). Going to try changing oil back to 5W-30 and hope for the best.

[@mechanicmatt871]

The only thing I could think if you haven't already done so is change the intake and exhaust solenoids over and see if the fault changes with them

[@austinmerrival927]

@@mechanicmatt871 I’ve tried that multiple times actually, no changes at all.

[@NatanAlmeida99]

Há nove meses atrás eu fiz essa pergunta e até hoje não consegui resolver o problema da minha bmw.

[@fritzz2]

146000km the chain streched?

[@mechanicmatt871]

Yes, that's what was wrong with it

[@baims8367]

genius

[@mechanicmatt871]

Thank you for watching

[@baims8367]

@@mechanicmatt871 I took a gamble on a 08 328xi 1 owner w 103 k for my daughter she's 16. the car just turns over. code is crank cam correlation im hoping the crankshaft sensor does the trick as I wouldn't think 103 k would show timing chain issues what are your thought's sir ? your obviously very mechanically inclined and w BMWs obviously. thanks in advance I hope my gamble pays off w just crank sensor 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@turbob7437]

So he cleaned the vanos ?

[@mechanicmatt871]

It had a stretched timing chain, this made the exhaust cam go out of alignment. After adjusting the timing chain it worked ok.

[@Ianf1x]

You seem to know you're way around that engine. Customer will probably just drive it until it starts playing up again. May last 60.000 miles . When you adjust chain on bike you don't think I need new one.

[@mechanicmatt871]

Thats a good way to look at it Ian. Unless there is so much slack that the chain rattles. Cheers Matt

[@pabl0cc033]

Really hope I don't have this