So......I was bored, and decided to check my VTC solenoids for bad o-rings or whatnot. I read eric's post about replacing them and so pulled my own. To my complete surprise, when the connectors came off both of them the little well that the prongs sit in were filled with engine oil! I then pulled the solenoids out and the o-rings and mechanisms seemed completely fine! So I am wondering if perhaps oil is leaking past the black plastic part of the solenoids and getting on the connectors. This could explain why my ticking is so erratic.
I am going to try and clean the connectors of oil, put them back in and check in a few days if they are dirty again. The condition of them surprised me -- I am wondering if this VE already had VTC work done on it. Any VE guru's care to offer a theory as to where that oil is coming from?

 

how difficult was it to pull the solenoids?
Jae

 

Take off the connectors and unscrew the solenoids with a wrench.....much easier than I thought.

 

any pics or is this in tha archives?

 

That means your solenoids are bad
They have a fracture in them, I reccomend replacing both of them.

You said the o-rings are fine, but do you know how to properly measure them? b/c a visual inspection is not adequate. You need a verneer or another precision measureing instrument. The OD (outside diameter) is 14mm, but this is not the dimension that wears down. The ID (inside diameter) is 10mm and this is the dimension that wears.

To clean the oil off the connector properly you should use alcohol, isoproply (house hold item) will do, or you can use a stronger alcohol based solvent like mineral spirits.

 

So let's say his solenoids are bad, what good (if any) would replacing them do? I mean the actual damage/noise doesnt come from the solenoids itself, right?

 

Dude, if oil gets into the connectors there will not make good continuity and the solenoids will be intermitent and probably (should) fail.

The solenoids are needed for proper vtc function

I think new o-rings come with the new solenoids.


Correction in previous post, The OD is what wears, not the ID.

 

I know. When I first read this I just assumed he already had the VTC problem though. With that assumption in mind my question: So let's say his solenoids are bad, what good (if any) would replacing them do? I mean the actual damage/noise doesnt come from the solenoids itself, right?

I'm guessing though that he doesnt have the VTC failure or is in the beginning stages and this is all for some sort of preventative maintaince?

 

Yeah, it is in the beginning stages. It only ticks when I turn it on, and once I shift out of first they stop making noise. I am going to price the solenoids on monday, and if they are reasonable I will just go ahead and replace them.

 

So I called Courtesy and decided to order a new set of solenoids -- they were $50 apiece so I figured why not give it a shot. They had to order them, so I figure I won't get them till late next week. I'll let everyone know what happens.