P3461 Cylinder 8 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit/Open
OBD-II Trouble Code Technical Description
Cylinder 8 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit/Open
What does that mean?
This is a generic powertrain diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and applies to many OBD-II vehicles (1996-newer). That may include but is not limited to vehicles from Dodge, Peugeot, Jeep, Chevrolet, Chrysler, etc. Although generic, the exact repair steps may vary depending on year, make, model and engine configuration.
OBD-II trouble code P3461 and related codes P3462, P3463, and P3464 are associated with the cylinder 8 exhaust valve control circuit.
The purpose of the cylinder 8 exhaust valve control circuit is to turn off the exhaust valve to accommodate the cylinder deactivation feature (e.g. V4 mode of a V8 engine) to improve fuel economy during light load operation at idle or on the highway. The Engine Control Module (ECM) controls the 4 or 8 cylinder modes of the engine deactivating four of the engine cylinders. This process is accomplished by incorporating variable valve timing solenoids that turn the exhaust valves on and off as required. This code pertains to the number 8 cylinder and the other three cylinders in this process are determined by the engine configuration and the firing order of the cylinders. The ECM will limit cylinder deactivation to a cycle time of 10 minutes in V4 mode, and then return to V8 mode for 1 minute. The number 8 cylinder variable valve timing solenoid is mounted on or near the exhaust manifold in the vicinity of that cylinder based of the specific configuration and vehicle.
When the ECM detects improper voltage or resistance within the cylinder 8 exhaust valve control circuit, code P3461 will be set and the check engine light, service engine soon light or both may be illuminated. In some circumstances, the ECM may disable the injector to the number 8 cylinder until the issue is corrected and the code has been cleared causing a noticeable engine misfire.
Cylinder Deactivation Solenoids:
What is the severity of this DTC?
The severity of this code can vary tremendously from moderate to severe depending on the specific symptoms of the malfunction. A misfire requires immediate attention because it can cause permanent damage to internal engine components.
What are some of the symptoms of the code?
Symptoms of a P3461 trouble code may include:
What are some of the common causes of the code?
Causes for this P3461 code may include:
What are some P3461 troubleshooting steps?
The first step in the troubleshooting process for any malfunction is to research the Technical Service Bulletins (TSB’s) for the specific vehicle by year, model and engine. This can save you time and money because it is basically a known fix for a known issue.
The second step is to check the condition of the engine oil and confirm it is serviced to the appropriate level. Then locate all components associated with the cylinder 8 exhaust valve control circuit and look for obvious physical damage. Based on the specific vehicle, this circuit may incorporate several components including the variable valve timing solenoid, switches, fault indicators and the ECM. Perform a thorough visual inspection to check the associated wiring for obvious defects such as scraping, rubbing, bare wires, or burn spots. Next is to check the connectors and connections for security, corrosion and damaged pins. Consult the specific technical data for the vehicle to verify the configuration and identify every component incorporated within the cylinder 1 exhaust valve control circuit.
Advanced Steps
The advanced steps become very vehicle specific and require the appropriate advanced equipment to perform accurately. These procedures require a digital multi meter and the specific technical references for the vehicle. In this situation, an oil pressure gauge may also facilitate the troubleshooting process to confirm an oil passage restriction.
Voltage Checks
The reference voltage and the acceptable ranges may vary based on the specific vehicle and the circuit configuration. Specific technical data will include troubleshooting charts and the appropriate sequence to follow assisting you with an accurate diagnosis.
If this process identifies the absence of a power source or ground, continuity testing may be required to check the integrity of the wiring, connectors and other components. Continuity tests should always be performed with the power removed from the circuit and the normal readings for wiring and connections should be 0 ohms of resistance. Resistance or no continuity is an indication of faulty wiring that is open, shorted or corroded and must be repaired or replaced.
What are some common repairs for this code?
Common Mistake
Hopefully, the information in this article has been helpful to point you in the right direction to correct the problem with your exhaust valve control circuit fault code. This article is strictly informational and the specific technical data and service bulletins for your vehicle should always take priority.
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Let us fix your problem. You are most welcome our diagnosis experts have in most cases the knowledge and skills to find the cause of the error code p3461 and to solve the problems.
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"Delete Error Code Permanently, Disable DTC Error Code Function for p3461 in the ECU"
In extreme cases, we even have the option to permanently remove the specific DTC p3461 and disable the function of the specific error code in the ECU. All other fault code functions will then continue to work to protect the engine. This is different from clearing an error code with a diagnostic device. We have the option to permanently remove the function of the specific error code, so that it never comes back. Also emergency running that occurs on the specific error code can be solved in most cases.
Of course we prefer to first try to solve the cause of the error code, but sometimes the only solution is to permanently disable the DTC function of p3461.
