2007 HHR, 2.4L. Replaced timing chain and all guides, tensioner, etc about 6 months ago. Was running fine. Now have an intermittent issue with starting, get two codes. P0017 and p0014. Read a lot about the timing, so I pulled it apart and seems to be fine.pics attached. I checked the two vvt actuators and both function but on the exhaust actuator I get 10.6 ohms resistance and the intake less than 1 ohm resistance. Looking at pics, is timing good, and if so, could this possibly bad intake actuator cause the two codes?

Intake cam

No slack

Exhaust cam

Crank

 

Hmm.
2 different member accounts posting up 2 different threads about the same car. And, the same pictures.

Guess our moderators are going to have a field day with this........................

 

Same IP.

One person one screen name, please.

The answer is, not ordinarily, it indicates that the timing chain is stretched or off a link.

It means that the crankshaft and camshaft sensors are doing their jobs, finding that whatever is supposed to keep them correlated is not doing it's job.

 

Hmm, wonder if my son posted on this site, I am helping him with his car. I will step out on this and let his post ride.

 

Ok, but to answer your question, no the code indicates a skipped link or stretched chain! So cheap chains stretch out even after only a few thousand miles!

https://www.obd-codes.com/p0016

 

Ok, but is it P0016 or P0017, or both?

Perhaps the best way to clarify is to re-state the codes you’re getting, all of them.

 

Well he had the P0016 code but now he has P0014 and P0017, I’m not sure if the P0016 was prior to changing the timing chain 6 months ago, and now these codes recently .
I suggest changing the VVT solenoids with AC Delco

https://www.obd-codes.com/p0014


https://www.obd-codes.com/p0017

then again it could be a stretched chain , already.

 

Not that anyone should listen to my advice but I too would start by putting in 2 new AC Delco solenoid valves. The codes indicate a problem with the exhaust side but the solenoid resistance is within spec, so the valve could be gummed up. The intake solenoid resistance is low so maybe it still functions (poorly? Intermittently? for now?) with an internal short. Unless OP got the readings reversed.

Even with a little chain stretch, if it’s tight, it should be no problem; it’s a servo loop that should correct for that unless it gets so for off that the phaser can’t get the cam to where the computer wants it when calling for positions near the limits, or loses tension. I even wonder if being off by a single tooth on the phaser sprocket is always a problem. Maybe someone knows otherwise. (I’m not talking about non-VVT and would expect a single tooth off on either cam sprocket to run bad and throw a code.)

 

The systems run in open loop until it warms up. It stays in open loop if there are codes present.

 

A tooth off either the camshaft phasers or the crankshaft sprocket will cause code P0016.