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Thread: VANOS Codes 2A7A and 2A7C

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    2010 BMW 328xi

    VANOS Codes 2A7A and 2A7C

    I'm getting both codes 2A7A and 2A7C with check engine light. I've already replaced VANOS solenoids, camshaft position sensors, and cleaned filter/check valves. I've checked voltage to solenoids and relearned actuator limit stops. On cold starts the RPMs rev up to 1500 for a second and back down then there's a rough idle until the car warms up. Drives fine and idles fine after the car is warm.

  2. #2
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
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    Going to need some help for you on this one:

    Year
    Model
    Engine

    We don't like to assume it is the car in your "My cars"

    Also what type of diagnostic tool are you using, and can it read live data?
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  3. #3
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    OP, please stop throwing parts at the problem. Doing so wastes money, doesn’t fix the problem and it angers the BMW goddesses.

  4. #4
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    2010 BMW 328xi
    It's a 2010 328xi E90 with N52 engine.

    I'm using the FOXWELL NT510 scanner and it can do live data.

    Thanks

    Quote Originally Posted by dworthy View Post
    Going to need some help for you on this one:

    Year
    Model
    Engine

    We don't like to assume it is the car in your "My cars"

    Also what type of diagnostic tool are you using, and can it read live data?

  5. #5
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
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    That is a good diagnostic equipment for a DIYer, so you can watch the live data. What you need to look for is the cam angles, and what the actual is verse what the DME is requesting.

    I forgot to ask about mileage too, as rough idle can point to maintenance issues as well.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  6. #6
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    Eccentric shaft specified 32deg and actual 28deg. Not sure if these are the right values for cam angle. There's about 144000km on the car. The check engine light cleared itself yesterday and hasn't come back yet today.

  7. #7
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
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    Have you attempted to clean out the VANOS yet? Extended oil services can cause them to get gummed up.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  8. #8
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    Eccentric shaft refers to Valvetronic. You have a VANOS issue. Somewhere in there you'll find specified and actual camshaft angles.

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  9. #9
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    2010 BMW 328xi
    Ive cleaned the vanos filters and replaced the solenoids and cam position sensors. Cam sensors were dirty when I replaced them. Today the check engine light is back on 2A7C. Vanos position inlet 120deg. Vanos position exhaust -115deg. Vanos adaptation inlet -1.1deg. vanos adaptation exhaust -2.3deg

  10. #10
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
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    Okay, what brand of sensors did you purchase? Cheap Chinese stuff and be rather unreliable, so there is only 3 brands I trust: Bosch, Hella, Siemens.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  11. #11
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    Supplied by Beck/Arnley and they have Continental stamped on them.

    These are the cam sensors:

    http://www.beckcatalog.com/partdetail.aspx?part=180-0707&parttype=Engine%20Camshaft%20Position%20Senso r


  12. #12
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    Problem solved. Just had to clear adaptations with the scan tool. https://us.autologic.com/news/bmw-va...and-diagnosing

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by JReiter3 View Post
    Problem solved. Just had to clear adaptations with the scan tool. https://us.autologic.com/news/bmw-va...and-diagnosing
    How do you clear the adaptations? I have BMW carly and can clear fault codes, do you need special tool to clear adaptations?

  14. #14
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
    Join Date
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    Some hand-held scanner cannot clear adaptations, so that is why I use INPA. All you need is a laptop and the OBD-II connector with a USB to connect to the computer.

    Places like Amazon sell the cable and software for under 30 bucks.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  15. #15
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    Lethbridge,Alberta,Canada
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    My Cars
    2011 BMW 323i
    hey
    I bought a bmw 2011 323i, 96000 km done, 9.9mileage.
    it showed up engine light recently so I went to the mechanic as service was due -4200km as well. on servicing they found the oil filter cap's lock was missing. apart from that mechanics scan tool showed the following codes:
    2A87
    2A7C
    2A7A
    2A82
    after service the engine light did not show and showed up again after driving 50 kms. my mechanic said the camshaft valve motors might be bent/ damaged and need to be replaced. I wanna know could there be such big issue or what can you expect. Also it has run around 10,000km before service with same situation, so could it be possible for any big issue to show up? won't the engine had made any sound till then?
    Please help, thank you

  16. #16
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    21'M2C, 09'135i
    So, for those of you that encounter this post and have the same symptoms as the original poster..... Check to be sure you didn't connect the vanos solenoid electrical connectors backwards.... They should look like this on the N54: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=881durZDdHA&t=217s

    I was getting the same issues after replacing my VANOS solenoids and an oil change + new filter cap (my inner filter cage was getting brittle and was worrying me since that's critical to delivering proper oil pressure to components of the engine). I was getting 2A7C, 2A98 (crank shaft - inlet camshaft, correlation), and 3100 boost deactivation (limp mode). Car would start just fine, then progressively run rough when the engine started phasing the camshafts (which I believe is a self-check) in the first 15 seconds, then suddenly the roughness would clear up and RPM would shoot to 1500 rpm and boom, limp mode.

    I accidentally connected the solenoid cables backwards during re-installation - which is easy to do. Oops.

    What caused me to replace the VANOS solenoids was I got the code 2A87: Outlet-Vanos variable cam control test, mechanics. The ECU thought the VANOS solenoids were mechanically jammed. I was due for an oil change and I read this can be common on older cars. I have no sludge in my engine (my OCI was always 5-7 k miles except first few year or two of the car's life when), so I doubted it was clogged, but assumed it was simply worn out at 157k miles.

    Hope this helps. Runs fine now, and still leaves a nice par of 11's on the road.
    Cheers.

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