question about driving ur car with a code

stalker

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hi i was wondering if it would hurt ur car as long u drive it normal and racing it if u have a p0012 code? please chim in as im really wanting to drive my car which has this code for awhile and have been saving my money for the parts just was wondering if something bad would happen and just wait....thanks for ur time mike
 

lostsoul

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a cam code.. I wouldn't take that chance. tow it where you need it and let it sit till you have the $$ to fix it. I'm not sure what is or can make that code and someone here might be able to help you. Tell us what you have done to your car, when it happen and so on. If you dont have the moeny to fix it now I'm sure you wont have it if something worse happens.
 

1fast05

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I'm kinda curious to see what it is!, What have you done to your car performance wise? I had some basic bolt ons and mine threw the same code 3 time in one day, but it was running just fine, until later on that night and it just died, I had to get a jump and drove it home, and the next morning battery was dead, any way it ended up being the alternator was shorting out, Why it threw that code? I haven't a clue but new alternator now and no codes, Just my experience, better have it checked to be safe
 

trill gear head

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P0012 = "A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded.

Like stated before, what have you done to your car lately? Did you get a tune lately or did you install cams?

If your car was stock you might be able to get away with driving it to a close mechanic, but I'd have to agree lostsoul. Just have it towed especially if your modifications caused the CEL.
 

stalker

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k i have no mods except drop in k&n filter, and loud mouth exhaust. i got a programmer and put on just the reg tune (91 oct) i got a code but cant remember what it was i changed the oil in my 4 cars and my uncles car after work one night and was getting tired and didnt look at the last one which so happens to b the stang my baby well went to get my son from school and heard this hissing sound and was like what the hell turned my radio down and looked at the gauges and seen i had NO oil pressure i freaked and turned the car off right away. had it towed and checked everything and seen i had a double gasket on the filter i dranded the oil and put in a diferent oil filter and put new oil in and started it up and it tapped alittle then fine no tapping wow lucky uh well im thinking that is when i got this code the car was tuned back to stock and still a code i changed the plugs and both senors and it still through the code but the car sometimes would sound fine then sometimes it sounds like its muzzeled like a light miss but the car would readjust and would drive fine. sorry so long but can anyone figure what it is ? is it the cam phasers or maybe the vct senor like this one guy said on his sorry just really dumn on this 3v thing ... any help would b cool.thanks for ur time mike
 

trill gear head

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After reading your post, I would under no circumstances drive the car. Get it towed to a trusted mechanic. I guess all you can do now is to hope that it is one small thing.

So when you were driving, how much oil did you have left when you go the car back home?
 

stalker

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would say 2-3 but when i turned it off alot was coming out and the filter had qiet abit in it. but the car seemed fine and no ticks. was wondering if the vct siliniod was damage and that is whats giveing me the problem?
 

Miracle

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I might be able to help you out, if you could speak literate English and use grammar properly.

Holy crap man, are you like 7?
 

stalker

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wow yea i should have proof read it but in a hurry and had to take care of my 3 kids one i was trying to hurry to take to a friends house the other to the swim park and the oldest was going to help me with the yard. yea my spelling isnt the best also at times and yea i was in a hurry but if u have a car that u work hard to get and then have problems with it and ur oldest son is looking forward in going on part of the hot rod tour and now this comes up plus only working 3-4 day a week its hard and really stress full not trying to cry on ur shoulder but yea i wrote it in a hurry and should have proof read it so sorry coming from a 7 year old......just trying to see if anyone on here has had this code before and trying to get it fixed. i know there is alot of guys and gals on here that knows alot about cars so thats why im asking..thanks for ur time in looking and if anyone has any ideas please let me know. going to try to see if i can get it in the dealer to have them to check it, its just it cost $103 and up for them to check and yea 103 what is the extra 3 dollars for dont know. sorry again for not proof reading next time ill try to double check just was in a hurry. thanks mike
 

07 Boss

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Go get your alterator checked. Cam Position sensor code along with a couple of others, seem to be a precursor for charging system failure for some reason. If in fact you have too much retard in your cams it will not hurt the motor, but it probably will feel a little sluggesh. If it feels normal, I bet your alternator will be going out soon.
 
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check the vct solenoid.....mine was intermittent at first, and then the vct decided to just stick wide open. It was mechanically stuck though, like a piece of debris held it open, therefore, cam over retarded.
 

MikeVistaBlue06

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Go get your alterator checked. Cam Position sensor code along with a couple of others, seem to be a precursor for charging system failure for some reason. If in fact you have too much retard in your cams it will not hurt the motor, but it probably will feel a little sluggesh. If it feels normal, I bet your alternator will be going out soon.

+1 on the alternator ...I'm on my 3rd one!

Also, what weight oil are you using? Anything over 5w-30 may mess with the VCTs.

HTH

Mike
 

stalker

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hi and thanks so much for the help so far i changed the vct solenoid from pass. to driver still having bank 1. i took it up to auto zone to have them check the alt. and then to a different store also to make sure and still ok. so im down to the cam phasers r the timeing chain skiped tooth. i can see the timing chain going over the phaser when i have the vct solenoid out. so im going to get it to center and check it. if its the timing chain skip tooth can u still drive it around just not get on it real hard? i know if its the cam phaser not to drive but was wondering about the tooth jumped will it be ok ? thanks again for all your help....thanks mike
 
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