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Intake and Exhaust cam adjusters on Bank one are not adjusting

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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 09:29 PM
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Intake and Exhaust cam adjusters on Bank one are not adjusting

So, I've been fooling around with this for a long time on my 2009 R350, 3.5L.

Actually had both cam adjusters replaced as I thought they were hanging up. Today I am looking at live data on my Launch x431 and I notice that neither of the adjusters on the right side (bank one) are adjusting at all.... while the left bank is adjusting as the car runs. I can see that the intake is at 36 degrees and the exhaust is at 20.... and they stay there without movement.

Is this potentially a wiring problem?

I am also experiencing the intake flap issue which I plan to get to soon enough too... but could they be related.

I had a shop install the new adjusters and he said the code came back and it has to be the balance shaft sprocket but I inspected both sprockets with a bore scope and they both look pretty damned good to me. He insists that they must have enough wear between the teeth to be causing the fault code... but I think (hope) it is something different.

Could they have maladjusted the timing alignment on bank 1 causing the adjusters to stick to one position? I suppose I can pull the sensors and see if everything lines up correctly at 305 degrees.

Would love any experienced thoughts on this before I dig in too deep. I am fairly mechanically adapt but since an accident a few years ago, I have to leave some of the bigger projects (especially crawling around under cars) to someone else.

I added a few pics below. One of the tensioner, one of the upper sprocket, and one of the lower sprocket.





Last edited by PD216; Aug 1, 2023 at 09:42 PM.
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Old Aug 3, 2023 | 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by PD216
So, I've been fooling around with this for a long time on my 2009 R350, 3.5L.

Actually had both cam adjusters replaced as I thought they were hanging up. Today I am looking at live data on my Launch x431 and I notice that neither of the adjusters on the right side (bank one) are adjusting at all.... while the left bank is adjusting as the car runs. I can see that the intake is at 36 degrees and the exhaust is at 20.... and they stay there without movement.

Is this potentially a wiring problem?

I am also experiencing the intake flap issue which I plan to get to soon enough too... but could they be related.

I had a shop install the new adjusters and he said the code came back and it has to be the balance shaft sprocket but I inspected both sprockets with a bore scope and they both look pretty damned good to me. He insists that they must have enough wear between the teeth to be causing the fault code... but I think (hope) it is something different.

Could they have maladjusted the timing alignment on bank 1 causing the adjusters to stick to one position? I suppose I can pull the sensors and see if everything lines up correctly at 305 degrees.

Would love any experienced thoughts on this before I dig in too deep. I am fairly mechanically adapt but since an accident a few years ago, I have to leave some of the bigger projects (especially crawling around under cars) to someone else.

I added a few pics below. One of the tensioner, one of the upper sprocket, and one of the lower sprocket.
Scan the whole car modules with your Launch tool. Your new timing gear should self-adjust.... why it doesn't move calls for an active fault.

I'd keep out of that shop that can ring up parts without finishing the job. Find a MB specialist who will have access to MB repair procedures to align the timing marks.


Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Aug 3, 2023 at 06:10 PM.
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Old Aug 6, 2023 | 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by CaliBenzDriver
Scan the whole car modules with your Launch tool. Your new timing gear should self-adjust.... why it doesn't move calls for an active fault.
Can you explain a bit more about what you are saying?
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