Powertrain, shared range

P3474 Cylinder 10 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Performance

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleRequired
Limp modeNo

P3474 is about function rather than wiring: cylinder 10 should shut down or come back, but measured engine behaviour says it did not, while its control circuit is intact. No manufacturer documents this code publicly; J2012 reserves the codes for cylinders 9 to 12 for engines with more than eight cylinders. Audi's R8 V10, one of the few ten-cylinder engines with shut-off, works without valve switching; Audi reserves the valve-closing method with zero-lift cams on axially sliding sleeves for its 4.0 TFSI V8. Where valve deactivation is used, causes lie in the oil supply or in a sticking switching element, and NHTSA's description of GM's lifters with oil-pressure locking pins shows how small leaks spoil the switch. P3473, P3475 and P3476 are the electrical codes of cylinder 10.

Likely causes

Oil pressure or oil condition not sufficient to switch cylinder 10
Lifter or cam sleeve at cylinder 10 sticking
Oil screen or passage to the cylinder 10 actuator blocked
Leaking seal at the actuator

Symptoms

  • Check engine lamp on
  • Misfire on cylinder 10 (P0310)
  • Tapping noise from the valve train

Repair estimate

DifficultyHardWorkshop job
Parts and labour€100–3,500
Time0–12 h

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

Parts involved

cylinder deactivation solenoidlifterengine oil

Related codes

P3473P3475P3476P3478P0310P3497

References: law.cornell.edu, static.nhtsa.gov, audi-technology-portal.de, media.audiusa.com.