Powertrain, shared range

P3469 Cylinder 9 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit/Open

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modeNo

P3469 is set when the circuit driving a separate exhaust valve actuator on cylinder 9 is open. No manufacturer documents this code publicly; J2012 reserves the codes for cylinders 9 to 12 for engines with more than eight cylinders. A distinct exhaust actuator only exists where intake and exhaust valves are switched independently; a GM patent at least shows that the exhaust valves can follow their own timing, being deactivated before the intake valves and reactivated before them too. GM's own production system uses one solenoid per cylinder for both valves, and the publicly described ten- and twelve-cylinder systems (Audi R8 V10, Bentley W12) keep the valves moving altogether. So an open circuit here can only concern an engine that carries such hardware. P3471 and P3472 report shorts, P3470 a functional fault, P3465 the intake side.

Likely causes

Open or chafed wire to the cylinder 9 exhaust actuator
Exhaust actuator coil of cylinder 9 open
Connector at the exhaust actuator loose or corroded
Engine control module output failed

Symptoms

  • Check engine lamp on
  • Cylinder shut-off blocked

Repair estimate

DifficultyMediumDIY possible
Parts and labour€60–900
Time0.5–4 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

cylinder deactivation solenoidwiring harnessecm

Related codes

P3470P3471P3472P3465P3400P3497

References: law.cornell.edu, patents.google.com, static.nhtsa.gov, media.audiusa.com.