Powertrain, shared range

P3482 Cylinder 11 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Performance

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleRequired
Limp modeNo

P3482 is the functional check for cylinder 11: the actuator circuit is electrically fine, but the cylinder does not actually go dormant or wake up when told to. No manufacturer documents this code publicly; J2012 reserves the codes for cylinders 9 to 12 for engines with more than eight cylinders. Bentley's Bentayga and Continental W12 can run on six of twelve cylinders, yet the published description has the valves keep working, so a valve-switching failure cannot arise there. Engines that do close valves rely on oil pressure acting on switching lifters, as NHTSA's review of GM's lifter design lays out in detail; contaminated or low oil and worn locking pins are the usual reasons for a missed switch. The electrical counterparts on cylinder 11 are P3481, P3483 and P3484.

Likely causes

Contaminated or insufficient oil for switching cylinder 11
Worn or sticking locking pins at cylinder 11
Oil screen to the cylinder 11 actuator clogged
Actuator seal leaking pressure

Symptoms

  • Check engine lamp on
  • Misfire on cylinder 11 (P0311)
  • Noticeable shudder when switching modes

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

P3481P3483P3484P3486P0311P3400

References: law.cornell.edu, static.nhtsa.gov, en.wikipedia.org, mobilityengineeringtech.com.