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Yes. You read that right. Broken Camshaft - driver side intake camshaft to be specific. Thought I’d share this on the site.
Story:
I was driving to work on a normal day. The weather seemed favorable as I live in beautiful Southern California. I was driving at around 45 mph in a 50 mph zone when suddenly the engine goes into limp mode. Power is limited, so I pull over to the side of the road, clear from oncoming traffic. I turn off the car and pull out the OBD2 Scanner only to find trouble code P0345. So in my head, I’m already expecting that the timing chain jumped a tooth. I call AAA road side assistance and while I wait for them, I check the camshaft position sensors on the driver side and they seemed fine. The engine seemed clean, oil as well.
... Well once all that was situated and I have the car in my garage, I get to work. I start taking the front end off to get to the front timing cover and take off the spark plugs and valve covers as well to get a better look of the valve/timing components. I put the engine to TDC, notice that the timing chain jumped 1 tooth and the driver side intake sprocket is facing down at an angle. It’s strange to see that happen, which lead me to investigate more by taking off the plate that holds down the camshaft. Surprise! It’s a broken intake camshaft!
Over a year ago, I had trouble with code P0011, which ended up being an internally broken intake sprocket. Few months later, I spun a bearing ( cylinder #5) rod knock was audible. I rebuilt the bottom end with forged internals from Wiseco, Brian Crower (11:1), and King main/rod bearings and a new crankshaft that was balanced by the machine shop. Roughly 2,500 miles later on the rebuild, this happens. I was using Amsoil Signature Series 5W-30 (6.5qts w/ JWT oil pan spacer).
My next step is to check for bent valves and compression. Just curious on how the phenomenon happened and if anyone has VQ35HR Camshafts for sale. TDC I covered the truth. Trash Broken
My reaction exactly,wow, just wow...other than a casting flaw, how could that even happen.
Not sure. I torqued the sprocket bolt(s) to 75ft/lbs. It could have been a faulty tensioner, most likely the driver side upper tensioner.
The cylinders seem to hold adequate pressure when air is blown into the spark plug hole. That means that the valves are not bent.
Was browsing online, as my G (VQ35HR) just popped this code tonight as i accelerated onto the main street, and it started running like shi*. Pretty sure i snapped the intake cam on mine also. NDS is showing the cam stuck at 64deg, hence the cel being thrown since it can't advance/retard it. Ride has 277k on the clock, and I was really hoping to hit 300k on the OG drivetrain. Trying to decide if it's upgrade time or just throwing a fresh(er) drivetrain in 'er.
Once I removed the outer timing cover today I got my answer to why the car was kicking a code for my intake cam sensor. The lt intake cam was sheered Off at the head. My guess is because the vtc cam sprocket locked up. The cam spun freely in the head so I removed the cam caps and they all look smooth.
OP, if you see this, would be curious to find out whether your valves were ok and you just replaced the cam/sprocket on yours.
2026 update: it was the snapped cam. valves, surprisingly, were fine. somehow the sprocket was still attached to the chain lol
