Code
P3471
Generic
P — Powertrain
Cylinder 9 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit Low
Views:
UK: 15
EN: 23
RU: 21
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Open or shorted wiring in the exhaust valve control circuit
- Poor or corroded connector or terminal at the actuator or PCM
- Failed exhaust valve actuator/solenoid (stuck or electrically shorted)
- Blown fuse or faulty relay supplying the actuator circuit
- Faulty PCM/ECM driver output
Symptoms
- Malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated
- Rough idle or misfire feel under certain conditions (if valve stuck)
- Reduced performance or poor fuel economy
- Stored DTC P3471 (may be accompanied by related camshaft/exhaust codes)
What to check
- Read freeze frame and pending codes, note operating conditions when fault occurred
- Visually inspect harness and connector at cylinder 9 exhaust valve actuator for damage, corrosion, or oil contamination
- Check engine fuses and relays related to valve actuators
- Backprobe the actuator connector with key ON and while commanding the actuator (scan tool)
- Measure actuator coil resistance with connector disconnected
- Swap actuator/connectors with a known-good cylinder (if available and applicable) to see if code follows the actuator or stays on cylinder 9
Signal parameters
- Key ON (engine off): control circuit supply should show battery voltage on the feed side (approx. 11–14 V)
- When PCM commands actuator: driver output normally switches/pulses (PWM) or grounds the coil — voltage at the harness may vary but should not be persistent 0 V unless commanded and expected
- Actuator coil resistance: typically low-ohm range (vehicle dependent) — commonly ~5–60 ohms for solenoids; consult vehicle spec
- Cranking/actuation current: expected small amps (often 0.1–2 A) depending on design; a short to ground will show excessive current, an open will show no current
Diagnostic algorithm
- Retrieve codes and freeze-frame data; note conditions when DTC set.
- Perform a visual inspection of wiring, connectors, and actuator for damage, corrosion, or oil intrusion at cylinder 9.
- Check related fuses/relays for the valve actuator circuit; replace if blown and re-test.
- With connector disconnected, measure coil resistance of the exhaust valve actuator and compare to manufacturer spec (if unknown, compare to other cylinder actuator).
- Backprobe the actuator connector with a multimeter or oscilloscope: verify feed voltage (key ON) and monitor signal while commanding the actuator with a scan tool. Look for PWM or switching and proper voltage levels.
- Wiggle test harness while monitoring signal for intermittent shorts/opens.
- If actuator wiring and connector appear correct, swap the actuator with another cylinder (if identical) to see if the fault follows the actuator or stays with cylinder 9.
- If fault stays on circuit, disconnect actuator and check continuity and resistance between the harness connector and PCM pin for opens/shorts; check for shorts to ground or battery.
- If wiring is good and actuator is good, test or inspect PCM driver output; consult manufacturer procedures for PCM bench testing or replacement.
- Repair/replace the faulty wiring, connector, actuator, fuse, or PCM as indicated. Clear codes and perform functional test and road test to confirm repair.
Likely causes
- Corroded/loose connector at cylinder 9 exhaust actuator
- Wiring short to ground between the PCM and actuator
- Failed actuator coil (low internal resistance or open)
- Missing power feed or ground due to blown fuse or damaged harness
- PCM driver transistor failure
Fault status
Status
PCM reports low voltage/low signal in cylinder 9 exhaust valve control circuit — actuator not receiving expected control signal.
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 1.0-2.5 hours
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