P3444

Code

Generic P — Powertrain

Cylinder 6 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit High

Brand: Generic

Type: P — Powertrain

Views: UK: 25 EN: 36 RU: 22

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Page language: EN

Causes

Open or short-to-battery in the Cylinder 6 valve control wiring
Faulty cylinder deactivation / intake valve actuator (solenoid) on cylinder 6
Corroded, damaged or poorly seated connector at the actuator
Blown fuse or related power supply issue feeding the actuator circuit
PCM driver (low-side) failure
Oil contamination or mechanical sticking of the deactivation mechanism causing abnormal electrical behavior

Symptoms

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
Possible rough idle or intermittent misfire on cylinder 6
Reduced engine performance or temporary loss of power when cylinder deactivation should operate
Possible increased fuel consumption
Stored DTC(s) related to cylinder 6 or cylinder deactivation

What to check

Read stored DTCs and freeze frame/vehicle status with a scan tool; note any related codes (misfire, injector, cam/crank, battery/charging)
Perform a visual inspection of wiring and connectors at the cylinder 6 actuator and along the harness for damage, pin corrosion, or oil contamination
Check fuses and power supply circuits that feed the valve control system
Use a scan tool to command cylinder deactivation on/off (bi-directional) and observe live data for the Cylinder 6 control status
Backprobe the actuator connector and measure voltage and ground reference with ignition ON and during commanded activation
Measure actuator coil resistance with the harness disconnected

Signal parameters

Typical actuator coil resistance: commonly in the range of ~5–25 ohms (varies by manufacturer) — measure and compare to spec
Expected voltage behavior: circuit often switches between near battery voltage and low/ground or a PWM-modulated waveform when commanded — compare with OEM spec
When PCM commands activation the control circuit is usually pulled to ground or modulated by PWM; uncontrolled high voltage (near battery) while PCM commands low indicates a short-to-voltage or driver fault
Typical current draw during activation: actuator coils commonly draw on the order of 0.2–2 A (manufacturer specific) — measure with appropriate tools

Diagnostic algorithm

Connect a scan tool, record P3444 and any related codes, note freeze frame and readiness status.
Visually inspect the Cylinder 6 intake valve actuator connector, wiring, and nearby harness for damage, oil intrusion, corrosion, or loose pins; repair any obvious faults.
Check related fuses, relays and the power feed that supplies the valve control system; verify battery voltage present where required.
With the harness still connected, backprobe the actuator control and power/ground terminals. Observe voltage with ignition ON and while commanding the actuator ON/OFF from the scan tool. Compare waveforms to expected behavior.
Disconnect the actuator and measure coil resistance with a multimeter. If resistance is out of expected range or shows open/short, replace the actuator.
Check continuity from the PCM driver pin to the actuator connector; look for shorts to battery or ground and for high-resistance connections. Repair any wiring faults found.
If wiring and actuator test good, command the actuator while monitoring current or using a scope to verify correct switching/PWM and driver operation. If PCM driver does not switch but wiring and actuator are correct, suspect PCM output fault.
If possible, swap a known-good actuator from another cylinder (where applicable) to confirm symptom follows the component. Do not swap if doing so could create new faults on another circuit without documentation.
After repair, clear codes and perform functional test/road test to ensure cylinder deactivation operates correctly and code does not return.

Likely causes

Damaged insulation or chafed wire causing short to battery on the Cylinder 6 control lead
Failed cylinder deactivation solenoid (internal short or internal open)
Connector pins corroded, bent, or pushed out at the actuator or PCM harness
Failed or intermittent PCM output driver for the Cylinder 6 control circuit
High resistance or poor ground in the actuator supply/ground path causing abnormal voltages

Fault status

⚠️ Status

PCM detected an abnormally high voltage on the Cylinder 6 intake valve control / cylinder deactivation circuit. This indicates the control line is reporting a higher-than-expected voltage while the PCM is commanding or monitoring the actuator; potential causes include a short to battery, failed actuator, connector/wiring fault, or PCM driver failure.

🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium

⏱️ Diagnostic time: 1.0-3.0 hours