Code P1345?

SZABó LáSZLó VENCEL

MEMBER
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA
1.4L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
125,000 MILES

Hello,

Previously I never had any engine related issues with my car listed above 1.4vvti, but recently my oil light came up, so I took it for oil change. Even after the oil change the light came on so we started to investigate the cause. It turned out that the oil pan sub-assembly was full of dirt, it was black and felt like sand, but I am sure it was burnt oil. It was all around, even on the camshafts so we decided to do a full cleaning as well as to change the chain, gear assembly (smart wheel), sprocket, tensioner, dampers. Also, the oil and water pump has been replaced. Compression is good, and the engine runs nice when it's cold.
Once warmed up (after driving around 12 kms) the check engine light comes up and I am getting P1345 error code.

I've seen in an earlier post that someone was recommending changing the camshaft timing oil control valve, so I bought a new one, we also cleaned the small metal oil filter below the valve and just to be on the safe side we also replaced the crank position sensor.

Unfortunately, the check engine light still comes up after around 12 kms (when the engine warms up) and the error code is still P1345.

When the engine is cold it starts immediately, but once I stop after 12 kms (when the check engine light comes up) and try to restart, it wouldn't start without pushing the acceleration pedal. After the light coming up I can still drive further and I cannot hear any change in the engine sound, but this error code bothers me.

Certainly, there's new oil in the engine.
I don't know what else could be the problem, so I am open to any ideas, comments, especially from those members who had the same issue.
The only thing that comes to my mind is a broken or weak wire that could change its resistance after the engine comes to its operating temperature.

I would really appreciate any help as I am quite hopeless at the moment.

Thanks in advance!

3 Replies

AL514

MECHANIC
4,677 POSTS

Hello, we can post the wiring diagrams for the 2003 Toyota Corolla 1.8L with the 1ZZ-FE engine, it is the closest model we have in the US. I assume you are in another country. And I will try to find wiring diagrams from other databases, You can check the VVT solenoid for power with the Key On, and then check also at the engine computer (ECM) for power to verify there is a complete circuit for the VVT solenoid. But from what you are describing that engine was not taken care of at all. It sounds like there is carbon build up everywhere. Is the oil light still coming on?

We don't even have that code listed here. There is a P1346 which is VVT sensor/cam position sensor circuit range/performance. But I will gather what info I can. Can you tell me what color the 2 wires for the VVT solenoid are, and we will see if they match what we have here.
Also do you have your own scan tool? And if you're not in the US, can you tell me what country you are in? There are a couple different designs for the Corolla, there are the Corolla/Auris, Altis, Cross, and Verso. So, narrowing down the info will help, and there should be a tag under the hood that says what engine it has in it.
The most common engine I'm seeing is a 1.8liter. And that is also from other countries besides the US.

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Friday, April 14th, 2023 AT 1:29 PM

SZABó LáSZLó VENCEL

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Hello and thank you very much for your quick reply.
This is a car from 2003 so is rather old, but I always tried to take care of it inside and outside, so it looks pretty good. Oil had always been changed every year irrespective of the mileage which in practice means that every 8.000 kms. I always added Mobil1 or similar brand oil.
I am located in Hungary and the car is a European model. From the model variants you mentioned it could be the Corolla/Auris. Maybe this helps better: TERRA UKP EUR HB LHD 4ZZFE HTWC MTM 5F 5D.
Unfortunately, I cannot check the VVT solenoid wire colors no, but I will do my best to check them during the weekend.
The oil lamp is not coming on anymore, only the check engine light.
The carbon buildup was coming off very easily and everything has been well cleaned.
As I've read somewhere these 1.4 VVTi engines from 2003 and maybe 2004 as well had this issue of burning some oil and building up carbon and were later redesigned to avoid these issues. Maybe it's not true, I've never read Toyota's official announcement about it.

Best regards

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Friday, April 14th, 2023 AT 1:53 PM

AL514

MECHANIC
4,677 POSTS

Well, with what you were saying about your findings in the oil pan and the carbon build up on the top end near the camshafts, was that because of a previous owner not taking care of it? My concern is possible carbon being clogged up in the oil ports going up to the cylinder head. Once there's as much as you described, it's pretty much all through the engine. If you want to check the VVT solenoid wiring, it will have a 12volt feed wire and then a wire running back to the ECM which controls the solenoid on the Ground side of the solenoid circuit. So, with the key on engine off, you can actually check the wire at the ECM (the control wire) for 12volts. It will have 12volts until the ECM starts to control the VVT solenoid, which obviously won't happen until the vehicle is running. So, a good circuit check method is to see if the 12volts is making it from its source, through the solenoid, and then back to the ECM connector.
I can make up a quick diagram to explain this a bit better, but that control wire will have 12volts until the ECM starts to pulse the Ground of the solenoid, at which time the 12volts will be pulled to ground, and you would read 0volts. (Or average of the ECM pulse width modulation). Since that is how the ECM controls these solenoids, it pulses the ground wire on and off extremely fast to have accurate control of the solenoid. I understand this might sound confusing, so we can start checking things wherever you are comfortable. Do you have a scan tool and/or basic multimeter?
If you have any questions just ask, I'll keep trying to find this engine's info.

Here's a little diagram to help check the VVT circuit voltage:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

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