Camshaft Position Actuator Solenoid Valve Replacement (w. pics) - P0010/11 P0013/14
Senior Member
Joined: 07-06-2008
Posts: 211
From: Was California, Md now Metter, Georgia
I wish you had stated that up front. Bogus Check lights? Was anyone able to download the diagnostic codes? If so, were they different than your P0011? What were they?
Fyi: - the solenoid problem may result in the abrupt shifting without the CEL lighting up. The light may come on sometimes, and sometimes it doesn't.
- a number of other error conditions can also cause it to go into error mode, and does the hard shifting thing
- the abrupt shifting may also come and go (after an engine shutdown) - can be very intermittent
- if you had read past the first page, part way down on the 2nd page, there is a reference about broken engine mounts caused by the hard shifting - but that has not been verified.
- and further down in the thread are the resistance readings for the solenoids in case one wants to throw an ohm meter across the contacts to see if the current ones are out of spec.
Fyi: - the solenoid problem may result in the abrupt shifting without the CEL lighting up. The light may come on sometimes, and sometimes it doesn't.
- a number of other error conditions can also cause it to go into error mode, and does the hard shifting thing
- the abrupt shifting may also come and go (after an engine shutdown) - can be very intermittent
- if you had read past the first page, part way down on the 2nd page, there is a reference about broken engine mounts caused by the hard shifting - but that has not been verified.
- and further down in the thread are the resistance readings for the solenoids in case one wants to throw an ohm meter across the contacts to see if the current ones are out of spec.
In the past, when the light has come on, we have had OnStar tell us what they are "seeing". Many times it was some sort of clutch sensor that after taking it to the dealer if the CEL didn't go off in a few days, the dealer would say that they could find no problem and that OnStar at times gives out bogus info. Can't remember what any other of the CEL's were for.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-10-2008
Posts: 239
From: Snellville, GA
Thanks Whopper. I seldom drive it as it is my wife's car. She has said nothing about any shifting abnormality only that the CEL was on and I didn't notice any shifting problem when I drove it to AutoZone.
In the past, when the light has come on, we have had OnStar tell us what they are "seeing". Many times it was some sort of clutch sensor that after taking it to the dealer if the CEL didn't go off in a few days, the dealer would say that they could find no problem and that OnStar at times gives out bogus info. Can't remember what any other of the CEL's were for.
In the past, when the light has come on, we have had OnStar tell us what they are "seeing". Many times it was some sort of clutch sensor that after taking it to the dealer if the CEL didn't go off in a few days, the dealer would say that they could find no problem and that OnStar at times gives out bogus info. Can't remember what any other of the CEL's were for.
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,043
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Well, if there are no abnormal symptoms like the hard shifting/Traction control light etc. coinciding with the P0011 code, and it's a transient issue - then changing it or not is a decision you will have to make on your own.
Oh........... Buried somewhere in this thread as well as a few others, is some info about the issue sometimes being caused by low oil levels, and/or dirty oil, so some people have changed their oil with some success. So that is something else to consider for you.
Oh........... Buried somewhere in this thread as well as a few others, is some info about the issue sometimes being caused by low oil levels, and/or dirty oil, so some people have changed their oil with some success. So that is something else to consider for you.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-06-2008
Posts: 211
From: Was California, Md now Metter, Georgia
I have to say something in JCJSS's defense, in that my wife's '06 2LT had the CEL come on, she told me about it, I called my GM master tech buddy and he said bring it over to his house to run the code reader, not one of those cheapie units either, anyway it was the above described part(s), but, in driving over to my buddy's house, I did not notice any abrupt shifting, ran like normal
Senior Member
Joined: 08-10-2008
Posts: 239
From: Snellville, GA
Ironically my wife just came home and said the CEL had gone off while see was out running errands. Even with the light now off, I decided to take the car out for a drive myself to pay special attention to the shifting. Shifting felt normal to me and no special clutch action (double clutching, babying the clutch) was required for any gear. Just as I was coming back home, the CEL reappeared. Guess I call the local dealer.
Platinum Member
Joined: 12-06-2009
Posts: 11,719
From: Alabama
Ironically my wife just came home and said the CEL had gone off while see was out running errands. Even with the light now off, I decided to take the car out for a drive myself to pay special attention to the shifting. Shifting felt normal to me and no special clutch action (double clutching, babying the clutch) was required for any gear. Just as I was coming back home, the CEL reappeared. Guess I call the local dealer.
The harsh shifting symptom is what occurs with a car with a auto transmission. The 5 speed is not gonna have any shifting issues because of that CEL.
And JCJSS. I've read a couple of your posts. It sounds like you think once the CEL light goes off, everything is back to normal. Not always true. Certain CEL's may not remain lit but will still be stored in the computer as a problem has been detected. Just because the light went out does not always mean the problem is gone.
Sorry to jump into your thread but just trying to help out.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-06-2008
Posts: 211
From: Was California, Md now Metter, Georgia
Joined: 12-11-2013
Posts: 2
From: ON, CAN
Hello,
I am new here and am hoping you can help me.
I just purchased a used car from a dealership, it is not an HHR. It is NOT under any warranty. It is a 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS (automatic). However it is having the same symptoms as are described here: TCL comes on and the shifting is clunking hard. It is intermittent at this point. Is there any chance that your described replacing the solenoid(s) might fix this problem on the Cobalt as it does in the HHR?
If there is any chance of this working, and fixing my car, I will take it down to an auto-shop and have them read my codes for me.
Thank you.
I am new here and am hoping you can help me.
I just purchased a used car from a dealership, it is not an HHR. It is NOT under any warranty. It is a 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS (automatic). However it is having the same symptoms as are described here: TCL comes on and the shifting is clunking hard. It is intermittent at this point. Is there any chance that your described replacing the solenoid(s) might fix this problem on the Cobalt as it does in the HHR?
If there is any chance of this working, and fixing my car, I will take it down to an auto-shop and have them read my codes for me.
Thank you.
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,043
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
If the codes that are downloaded match the P0010/11/13/14 as noted here, then yes. But you won't know till you get the codes.
The process of replacing them will definitely differ from the first posting in this thread - so for that you are kinda on your own. There are some Cobalt forums out there that you might want to check out as well.
Good luck - and keep us posted.
The process of replacing them will definitely differ from the first posting in this thread - so for that you are kinda on your own. There are some Cobalt forums out there that you might want to check out as well.
Good luck - and keep us posted.