Powertrain, shared range

P3481 Cylinder 11 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit/Open

Check engine lightOn

EmissionsRelevant

Drive cycleNot required

Limp modeNo

P3481 marks an open circuit to the actuator for deactivation or the intake valve of cylinder 11, a cylinder only V12 and W12 engines possess. No manufacturer documents this code publicly; J2012 reserves the codes for cylinders 9 to 12 for engines with more than eight cylinders. Bentley's W12, the best documented twelve-cylinder with shut-off, stops one complete bank of six and, according to its engineering chief, leaves the valves operating; the ECU alternates between bank A and bank B using intake and exhaust sensor data so cylinders and catalytic converter stay warm. With no valve actuator, there is no circuit for P3481 to check. On a design that has one, it means a broken wire, connector or coil. P3483 and P3484 report shorts, P3482 the function, P3485 the exhaust side.

Likely causes

Wire to the cylinder 11 actuator broken

Cylinder 11 actuator coil open

Actuator connector at cylinder 11 loose or corroded

Driver stage in the engine control module failed

Symptoms

Check engine lamp on
Engine stays on all twelve cylinders

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

References: law.cornell.edu, mobilityengineeringtech.com, bentleymedia.com, gsi.ext.gm.com.