Error Code P3409: What It Means & What To Do?

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OBD-II Code Reduced engine performance is a means of a Cylinder 2 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit/Open. In an attempt to reach fuel and emissions values, many vehicle makers are using cylinder deactivation systems. This system enables the engine's control module (PCM) to deactivate chosen cylinders when power that is added is not needed by the engine, such as at idle or when coasting on the roadway. If the engine's control module (PCM) finds out that the Intake Valve for cylinder 2 is not turning ON or OFF in the manner it is being ordered, the PCM will place code P3409.

Inside an engine with eight or more cylinders, a majority of today’s vehicles are built with a facet that enables half of the cylinders to disable throughout moments of light freight performance. This upgrades fuel economy and decreases emissions. The vehicle will only perform on all cylinders when necessary, such as while starting, idling, or under heftier cargo. Whenever the MAF “mass airflow,” MAP “manifold absolute pressure,” or TP “throttle position” sensors transmit a signal to the ECM “engine control module” that is outside of the predicted ratio, disabling in one or more cylinders is impacted and a P3400 code will be supplied. In the circumstance of code P3409, this usually defines that the intake control solenoid circuit has an open, a short, or great resistance. 

What causes this problem with the Cylinder 2 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit/Open? 

• A poor MAP, MAF, or TP sensor
• Valve lifter function break
• Dropped oil pressure resulted by a blocked oil passage
• A defective cylinder deactivation solenoid circuit connection
• A short inside the solenoid wiring harness
• Limited fuel pressure
• A technical issue in the engine
• A defective PCM or ECM (uncommon)

1. Engine Oil - If the cold viscosity of your oil is excessive, and too thick, then you might fail to start your vehicle under any cold temperature. While this frequently occurs, it results in the oil to become far thicker to a point that it fails to correctly lubricate all moving components and thus causes too much resistance when the vehicle gets started. If you consume synthetic oil in a vehicle with older or high mileage, you could start to build up slight oil leaks that you wouldn’t have gotten if you’d been using conventional motor oil. This is all because of a scale of flow assets that synthetic oils have, which conventional oils does not have. It enables the oil to press its way through smaller spaces than regular oil. Expending synthetic oil in these situations will not eventually lead to any type of damage, so you might be noticing drops of oil scattered on your garage floor or a burning door while you are driving. As this oil leaks slowly, you may want to pay extra attention to your oil level and ensure it tops off when necessary. Shifting back to conventional oil while you change the oil is strongly advised. Few vehicles will easily not perform the right way as it uses synthetic oils. If the motor oil has a hot thickness that is not high enough, the oil might begin to break down under seriously hot settings and won’t lubricate the parts of the engine correctly. This will ultimately cause the oil to burn. Over duration, this can eventually damage your engine because of too much rubbing and colliding between metal parts. If your motor oil has too much viscosity to expend for their ratio of settings, your fuel mileage will probably be suffering. This is due to the viscosity of oil that increases resistance while monitoring components such as pistons. While providing the correct protection to your engine, it will be more expensive if making more trips to the gas station. If you are utilizing motor oil with a thickness that is too thin for these kinds of settings, you might hear your engine make a ticking sound. Your engine will normally make the loudest sound after starting and periodically reducing after driving around for a specific time frame. This occurs if engine oil has a correct weight that entails a bad job of coating and lubricating all engine parts. You can hear metal parts such as valves and valve lifters colliding with other metal parts. A short change to a differentiation of oil thickness could solve the problem.
2. Oil Filter - A plugged oil filter restricts the oil flow inside the engine. If it becomes too negative, oil won’t have the ability to access the engine at all. If the moving parts are not lubricated and cooling off by the oil, it will initiate much of friction and heat. An engine that is overheated will eventually be the outcome of this. You will notice this designated on the temperature gauge inside the dashboard. The needle will direct its way into the red zone, which states the engine as excessively hot. Oil is meant to enable the engine to perform steadily. Whenever the oil can’t direct its way past the engine’s parts correctly, this is because of a poor filter, then it will prompt the engine to operate less steadily. This states it will be tougher for the engine to generate power as you press your foot onto the gas pedal. As an outcome, the engine performance and acceleration will become weak. Having less lubrication for the metal parts of the engine, they will grate and rub together. This will initiate so much heat, but it will also lead to many unusual metallic noises to be imitated too. You will hear these noises more seriously as you try to speed up your vehicle. If you speed up and notice many dark exhaust fumes emitting from the tailpipe, this defines that you maybe have a poor oil filter. Exhaust fumes should be “see-through” or white in other cases. They shouldn’t ever be black or brown because this specifies the fumes are filthy. This only happens when there is a plugged or damaged oil filter. The oil pressure gauge on your dashboard allows you be aware of whether or not oil pressure is normal. With a poor oil filter limiting the oil flow inside the engine, the oil pressure will be decreased. This states the oil pressure gauge will display this on the dashboard. You will notice the pressure plummet some more while you speed up the vehicle.
3. PCM - An illuminated Check Engine Light is a major sign of a problem that is related to the Engine Control Module. The Check Engine Light regularly illuminates as the computer specifies a problem that is related to all of the sensors or circuits. These are cases when the ECM activates a Check Engine Light to illuminate by mistake, or when no present error is evident. Ensure a mechanic scans the computer for trouble codes to diagnose whether the error is associated with the ECM, or another area within the vehicle. Abnormal engine operation may also identify a defective or failing ECM. A faulty computer could lead to vehicle to stall or misfire irregularly. The symptoms might come and go, but not demonstrate any certain behaviour under any type of pattern of their accuracy or extremity. Engine operation errors are another symptom of a crucial problem that is related to the ECM. If the ECM is experiencing with any issues, it leads to timing and fuel settings within the engine to poorly impact the operation system. A faulty ECM might result in the vehicle facing a reduction in fuel efficiency, power, and acceleration. A bad ECM could result in a vehicle that fails or refrains to start. If the ECM fails completely, the vehicle will remain without any engine management control, and will start or perform as a result. The engine could still be cranking, but it will restart, and not retain any crucial inputs from the computer. The ECM will not completely lead to any problems while starting the vehicle, so it is best to perform a diagnosis by contacting a professional mechanic to persist in monitoring for a final outcome. A bad fuel economy could take place when the ECM fails. A faulty ECM denies the engine from being familiar with the quantity of fuel that burns inside the combustion system. Usually, the vehicle consumes more fuel than it demands in this scenario. As an outcome, you will be purchasing more on fuel than you need to with a running ECM.
4. Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP) - A MAP sensor that measures high intake manifold pressure identifies high engine cargo to the PCM, which causes a rise of fuel that gets injected into the engine. In succession, this decreases your maximum fuel economy. It also increases the amount of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions from your vehicle to the outside atmosphere. Hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide make up for some of the chemical components of smog. A MAP sensor that measures low intake manifold pressure identifies low engine cargo to the PCM. The PCM behaves by reducing the amount of fuel that gets injected into the engine. When you might notice an increase in fuel economy, you will also notice that your engine isn’t as powerful as it was before. By reducing the fuel into the engine, combustion chamber temperatures are rising. This increases the amount of NOx (oxides of nitrogen) process within the engine. NOx is also a chemical component of smog. A bad MAP sensor will cause your vehicle to fail an emissions inspection. Your tailpipe emissions could show a high level of hydrocarbons, high NOx production, low CO2, or a high level of carbon monoxide.
5. Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) - A contaminated hot wire is a generic symptom that indicates a Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF). The contamination can become the form of spider webs, potting compound by the MAF sensor itself, dirt that is attached to oil on the MAF by overly oiled aftermarket air filter, and more. Any part that reacts like insulation on the hot wire will lead to this type of issue. The adjustment is as simple as cleaning the MAF sensor with a well recommended cleaner, which the technicians at Parts Avatar can easily do for you if detecting this is the referenced issue. A MAF sensor that continues to produce over-reports or under-reports on flow of air entering the engine will lead to an engine performing too rich or lean. If the engine control system is working correctly, you will probably not ever see this apart from a change in fuel economy. An experienced technician will need to see the fuel trim placement while utilizing a scan tool to reveal this. A MAF sensor that behaves in this manner will have to be exchanged. In advance to exchanging the sensor, the rest of the circuit has to be detected for the right operation. If the circuit has an issue, replacing the sensor will not resolve your problem. A completely failed MAF sensor will not send any airflow data to the PCM. This prevents the PCM from accurately controlling fuel, which will lead an engine to either idle rough or not idle at all. Apparently, replacing the MAF sensor is needed in this case.
6. Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) - It could feel as if the vehicle basically doesn’t speed up as it’s supposed to, and jerks or hesitates when it is accelerating. It could speed up steadily, but will be losing power. In turn, it could be that your vehicle abruptly accelerates when you are driving, even if you haven’t pushed the accelerator. If these symptoms occur, it is very likely you’ve got an issue with the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS). In these cases, the TPS is not providing the correct input, so the onboard computer is unable move the engine to perform the right way. While the vehicle speeds up when you are driving, it usually states the butterfly valve in the throttle has closed up and pops open so suddenly as the driver pushes on the accelerator. This prompts the vehicle with an unexpected burst of speed that occurs because the sensor cannot identify the closed placement of the throttle. If you begin to encounter engine misfires, stalling, or rough idling as the vehicle has stopped, it can also signal a failing TPS. You don’t want to wait for this to be checked out! If the idling shows up on the dash as OFF, it states the computer is unable to identify the entirely closed throttle. The TPS can also send bad input that ultimately stalls the engine at any given moment. This is another failure mode that is displayed in the TPS, which checks that it is deniable to limiting the power that is demanded by your accelerator foot pedal. You could determine that your vehicle will speed up, but not outside a restricted speed of 20 - 30 MPH. This symptom often is closely related to acting out in reference to a power loss. The Check Engine Light could illuminate if you are encountering issues with your TPS. This is not usually the scenario, and don’t wait for the Check Engine Light to illuminate before you identify any of the above symptoms. Make sure your vehicle is checked for trouble codes to specify the reference of the issue.
7. Variable Valve Timing Solenoid - When an Engine Control Unit (ECU) regulates the latest vehicles, nearly all-separate parts are tested by the ECU. When one component starts to fail, the ECU will supply a particular error code that will allow a mechanic to use a scan tool so they can check that a problem is apparent. As soon as the code has been initiated, it will alert the driver by illuminating a certain zone warning. The most generic light that illuminates as a VVT solenoid is failing is the Check Engine Light. According to the fact that each vehicle manufacturer uses various codes, its crucial for a vehicle owner to consult with a professional mechanic to monitor the vehicle, download the code through the right diagnostic tool and find out the exact reference of the problem. In turn, there are dozens of separate codes for VVT solenoid problems for each vehicle manufacturer. As soon as the mechanic has this official data, they can start to solve the certain problem. The VVT solenoid functions better as the engine oil cleaned, free of dirt, or have lost a portion of its lubricity or thickness. As the engine oil gets plugged with debris, dirt or other external particles, it happens to plug up the passage from the solenoid to the VVT chain and gear. When your engine oil hasn’t been changed outside of the schedule, it could damage the VVT solenoid, the VVT chain, and the gear drive. To present this case, ensure to have your engine oil changed as advised by the vehicle manufacture. Oil levels that dropped can also result in problems with the VVT solenoid and other timing system parts. Usually the VVT system doesn’t trigger until the engine is at higher RPM or is proposed to load up bearing positions such as driving uphill. Whatsoever, if the VVT solenoid is failing to function, it is viable that it will propose added engine oil to the VVT gears. This can lead the engine to idle roughly, particularly the engine RPM to change when the system is actuated. If not detected fast enough, it can lead to added engine parts to wear away earlier on. Whenever your engine idles is rough, ensure to have a professional mechanic monitor this right away. The objective of variable valve timing is to make sure that the valves open and close at the correct time to utmost engine operation and decrease fuel consumption. As the VVT solenoid is failing to function, the whole system can be settled, which might lead to intake and exhaust valves opening and closing at the incorrect time. This usually results in the fuel economy to dramatically decrease. If you are familiar with any of the top warning signals of a poor or failing variable valve timing solenoid, consult with a professional mechanic from Parts Avatar.
8. ECM - An illuminated Check Engine Light is a major sign of an error related to the Engine Control Module. The Check Engine Light usually starts to illuminate when the computer detects an issue that is related to all the sensors or circuits. In some circumstances, the ECM triggers a Check Engine Light by mistake, or if there is no present issue. Doing a scan on the computer for error codes can assist with detecting whether or not there is a problem with the ECM, or determining where the problem is located on the vehicle. Irregular engine behaviour is another major sign of a faulty or failing ECM. A failed computer could lead to a vehicle that deals with erratic issues such as stalling or misfiring. These symptoms might come and go, and might not show any kind of sequence to their accuracy or extremity. Engine operation problems are another major sign of a critical error related the ECM. If the ECM encounters any problems, it might result in timing and fuel settings to poorly decrease in fuel efficiency, power, and acceleration. A vehicle that fails to start or prevents restarting is another major sign of a faulty or failed ECM. If the ECM fails entirely, the vehicle will stay dealing with a loss of engine power control, and will fail to start or perform as an outcome. The engine might still crank, but will fail to start if experiencing any missing vital inputs from the computer. A vast extension of other problems can also result in this symptom, so it’s a good idea to run a rigorous diagnosis that is accomplished by a local mechanic that will continue to check for an official result.

Enthusiastic in learning about the symptoms to OBD code P3409? If the answer is yes, then you have found the right service! Our team at Parts Avatar has written out some generic symptoms related to Cylinder 2 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit/Open. 

Common Symptoms 

• Engine could misfire
• Growing fuel consumption
• Bad engine performance
• Illuminated Service Engine Soon light
• Illuminated Check Engine light

Take a glance at a few methods that will help you correct the P3409 code: 

• A certified mechanic with an advanced scanner might be able to detect the common location of the function break so much faster and more easily than somebody utilizing a code reader and a digital volt ohmmeter.
• If the resistance level doesn’t reduce with heat and rise when it is cooling, swap the sensor.
• If you’ve checked everything else so far, turn the key to the ON mode and test for the occurrence of a voltage, and a ground signal, at the exhaust gas temperature/pressure “or heated oxygen” sensor electrical connector.
• A few applicable vehicles are equipped with up to 18 individual control modules. If you decide to approach this complex job, start with a heedful visual monitoring of all system circuitry, connectors, and fuses.
• If the fuel shutoff switch and all system circuitry get checked out, surmise a faulty PCM or other associated controller. 

Do not feel stressed out if your OBD Code is still flashes on as we are available to help you out. Take a glance at our upscale range of Engine Oil, Oil Filter, Valve Filters, Cylinder 2 Deactivation Solenoid, Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP), Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF), Throttle Position Sensor (TP), Variable Valve Timing Solenoid, ECM or PCM and even more. This way all of your errors will disappear in a flash. 

These are a few methods that you can read as a way to diagnose this P3409 error code: 

• The first step in the process of troubleshooting for any function break is to research the Technical Service Bulletins (TSB's) for the particular vehicle by year, model and engine. In some cases, this can save much time after a long period by directing you into the correct path.
• The second step is to detect the setting of the engine oil and affirm it is employed to the correct level. Then pinpoint the area of all parts related to the cylinder 2 deactivation intake valve control circuit and search for evident physical damage. Grounded on the particular vehicle, this circuit might integrate numerous parts that comes with the deactivation solenoid, switches, defect indicators and the ECM. Operate a rigorous visual monitoring to detect the related wiring for evident faults such as scraping, rubbing, bare wires, or burn spots. Next step is to detect the connectors and connections for security, corrosion and damaged pins. This process has to incorporate all wiring connectors and connections to all parts that come with the ECM. Contact the particular technical data for the vehicle to make sure the arrangement of the cylinder 2 deactivation/intake valve control circuit and affirm each part is included inside the circuit that might come with a fuse or a fuse-able connector.

Advanced Steps - The advanced steps get to be applicable to all vehicles and need the proper advanced equipment to operate consistently. These methods need a digital multi meter and the certain technical sources for the vehicle. 

Voltage Checks - The sourced voltage and the accepted ratios might differ based on the particular vehicle and the circuit arrangement. Particular technical data will incorporate troubleshooting charts and the proper pattern to read as an easy way help you with a consistent diagnosis. If this process specifies the deficiency of a power source or ground, progression testing might be needed to detect the robustness of the wiring, connectors and other parts. Progression tests should constantly be operated with the power swapped from the circuit and the typical readings for wiring and connections should have a resistance of 0 ohms. Resistance or no progression is a sign of defective wiring that is open, shorted or corroded and must be adjusted or exchanged. 

Common mistakes when diagnosing the P3409 code 

It can be alluring to easily swap the deactivation solenoid and/or wiring, without detecting for oil restriction, which is a frequent wrongdoer in this problem. 

• Faulty cylinder deactivation solenoid
• Dropped engine oil level or pressure
• Limited oil passage
• Defective or damaged wiring
• Loose, corroded or damaged connector
• Faulty ECM