Hi
i hope you can help we recently bought a 2019 Toyota tundra it does have 170k miles BUT the truck looked and drives like it is new . Have all the records from previous owner who had kept everything up to date . Honestly it drives better than a previous tundra that we had that we bought new . That said a couple of days ago the truck got a check engine light which was confusing because it was not acting like anything was wrong at all. The truck had No misfires no stalling no trouble starting nothing . I scanned the truck first with the Think car scanner that I have then with the launch scanner I have to verify . I got the P0014 code with both scanners . The oil looks good full etc So I first tried cleaning and switching the VVT solenoids to opposite sides to see if the code would follow but it didn’t change . I then thought it may be a good idea to check the camshaft position sensor but was not sure if I had all the tools I would need or how complicated it would be so we took it to a mechanic this morning . Well the mechanic called back and said one of the solenoids was bad which is unexpected given I had tried checking but ok . Then he said he would try flushing the oil and if that doesn’t work he would change the timing chain that was surprising because there are no symptoms that would make me think that was an issue but then he said if that doesn’t work we might just want to pull the engine I asked if he had even checked the the camshaft position sensor and he said there was no need for that. I don’t believe him what he is saying does t make sense to me what do you think ?
You might want to get a second opinion from a good independent shop. (You didn't say what type of mechanic you used - dealer, chain shop, or independent. The first two should be avoided.) Going for the timing chain or pulling the engine as nearly the first step in diagnosing the problem seems a bit aggressive to say the least.
In the link below you'll find details on that code, probable causes, and troubleshooting information:
@chucktobias thank you .it is an independent shop this mechanic obviously is clueless . It’s still there I am going to try to find a better place to take it to.
I would suspect a cam phasor before tearing into the timing chain. In the video linked below which is primarily about a timing chain guide issue on an older Camry, at about the 12:37 mark Toyota expert "The Car Care Nut" describes how Toyota variable valve timing works. The Tundra probably is similar so this may give you a general overiew:
https://youtu.be/RM-bHKW6NEc?t=757