I have a 2009 2.4 and lately I've been trying to fix issues as my paycheck allows. I knew it needed a timing chain kit after taking the valve cover off. I also noticed shavings as seen in the pics but my question is that I noticed openings under the vvt solenoids that I'm pretty sure shouldn't be there but I can't find anything when googling it so here I am.

 

Apparently a neglected oil change schedule, a lot of crud in there, possibly a previous owner used cheap oil filters. You might clean it up with a Seafoam treatment or 2 . Those openings are supposed to be there.

 

The openings at the very bottom are supposed to be there? They just felt really jagged and different from the ones on the side. I just want to make sure before I put more money into it.

 

The P0017 indicates new chain and guides
The P0442 usually means your gas cap is loose. You should turn it until it clicks 3 times.
The other 2 are probably a wire or fuse

 

That’s where the magic happens with the VVT solenoids!

 

That's good to hear, hopefully I can get away with just changing the timing chain and guides. The car wasn't running horrible before I started taking it apart aside from some surging at idle and it shifting up and down where some gear changes are. I'll have to do some looking around and see what fuses/relays I need to swap out. But other than that I have been aware of the 3 clicks about the gas cap, I bought a new one earlier this year but I still keep getting that code. I did a smoke rest the other day and it seems to be coming from the air intake hose and one of the grommets on the bottom of my air box is cracked and not seating right and I saw smoke coming out of the bottom of that.

 

Don’t worry about relays and fuses, just tighten the 4 bolts and firmly push in all the fuses and relays.