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Camshaft actuator

Tiny
WILKINSONT22
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK
  • 3.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
What would happen if I put left bank intake actuator on the right bank intake actuator?
Monday, November 4th, 2019 AT 1:48 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,002 POSTS
If you mean the exterior part that transfers the oil to make the internal sprocket move, nothing, they are the same part number #12615613 for all 4. If you mean the interior timing sprocket I don't think the engine would even start as the timing tabs are in different areas on the intake and exhaust sprockets.
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Monday, November 4th, 2019 AT 10:07 PM
Tiny
WILKINSONT22
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
I got the car from the auction with a broken timing chain and intake camshaft actuator on the right side. So I don't have any info on how it ran before. I changed everything but I got a left intake actuator instead of right actuator and put it on because they looked the same. I started the car and it runs but sounds like engine is backfiring and got codes saying cylinder 1, 3, and 5 are misfiring. What's the chances of it being the actuator? Or is it going to be something else that I'm overlooking? Thank you for your help.
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Monday, November 4th, 2019 AT 10:29 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,002 POSTS
The VVT actuator solenoid is on the left they are the same for all of the positions. The VVT cam sprockets on the right are different however, they have different range of motion and timing provisions. If you are talking about the sprocket actuators that is likely the problem.
Run a compression test on those three, I expect there is some valve damage if the chain broke while it was running.
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Monday, November 4th, 2019 AT 11:06 PM
Tiny
WILKINSONT22
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
The dealer said the engine is a non interference engine, but I will check the compression to make sure.
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 AT 9:48 AM
Tiny
WILKINSONT22
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
Should I change the actuator first or can I get a correct reading using the one that's on there? By the way, thank you for helping us novice people out. Without your expertise we would be lost.
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 AT 10:34 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,002 POSTS
Like many "non interference" engines, they are that way on paper, in the real world odd things can happen. I would probably do it both ways, that way you could see for sure. However at cranking speeds the actuator is usually not doing anything because there is no oil pressure. Then while running it advances and causes problems.
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 AT 12:07 PM

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