I was cleaning up my engine bay yesterday (Rochester envy) and had the engine cover off and a wire wheel on my drill. I prettied up the solenoid on the left front bank (as you are looking at the car) and pulled the connector to it to avoid destroying it with the wire wheel.

Got distracted later when my kids came home and had stuff to do, forgot to plug in the connector.

On my 35 mile drive to work today, threw an SES light.

Plugged in my trusty ebay code reader as I was driving and it read out P0021.

Didn't realize what that is until I got to work.

I guess it's good the car reminds you when you are stupid...


Anything bad happen when you drive 35 miles with the solenoid disconnected? Car ran and idled fine, no difference in driveability that I could tell.

 

This thing here? The IVT Solenoid (Intake Valve Timing). There's another on the other bank. I'm guessing yours looks (looked) just as corroded as mine here.

Can't answer your questions one way or another, but I believe this is what you're referring to.

 

Mine looks nice and shiny now

 

hmm...

Don't you be making me buy a nice new drill just so I can use a wire brush attachment.

So did the SES go away on its own, or did you have to clear it?

 

Haven't cleared it yet, I'm at work, will clear it at lunchtime. I bet it goes away on its own once I plug it in. I cleared it on the way in but it (obviously) came right back.

BTW, the wire wheel will shine things up but it will be a "brushed" finish because it lis a rough shine, leaves wire marks in the solenoid.

 

This reminds me of how I left my oil pressure sensor unplugged for 2 weeks after changing my axle :O