How to (properly) test if the VVTi control is working properly. Technical...

[Chris Wilson]

From a colleague of mine in the US, albeit on a GS300 with the 3 litre V6, nonetheless this is exactly how I test for a sticking or inoperative VVTi control solenoid. You can control the MKIV VVTi solenoid with some diagnostic readers / tools, like my Asian specific one, and you can use a 2 channel oscilloscope instead of the Snap On Verus and Vantage readers. In a pinch you can energise the solenoid remotely with a jump wire. It shows how easy it is to trace odd electrical gremlins with a `scope! You also get to see how to see if the crank sensor is working, and in a similar manner you can see if it's slipped or moving about. A `scope is the BEST diagnostic tool in my workshop, it is an abslute Godsend for automotive diagnostics. Hope it's of interest! Bear in mind the V6 has two solenoids, one for each bank. The straight six 2JZ-GTE has just the one. Some straight six engines have one for each cam. The VVTi Supra is not new enough to show codes as per the video, you are in the next diagnostic code reading era here.

 

[pedrosixfour]

Interesting stuff and the first time I've seen the 'scope being used.

 

But I'm sure it is only as good as the person using it.

 

Do repair manuals offer a guide that kind of test procedure or is that familiarity with that type of machine & investigative deduction something one picks up over the years working with electronic test equipment?

 

I never graduated beyond the basic multi-meter & Wilkson test set myself.

[Ian C]

Scopes are ace diagnostic tools. I've got a cheapo USB one that makes a laptop do the display and config work, it's not the greatest but it cost