Faulty intake valve control solenoid (internal short or low resistance) on Bank 2; Wiring chafed or shorted to earth between the solenoid and the control unit; Corroded, damaged or loose connector at the solenoid; Oil leaking into the solenoid connector or harness, causing a short or high leakage; Low or contaminated engine oil affecting solenoid operation and circuit readings; Fault in the engine control unit driver circuit.

P0082

Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Low Bank 2.

Generic
Powertrain
Generic code
Medium severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
0: Defined bySAE, the same on every car
0: AreaFuel and air metering, auxiliary emission controls
82: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P0082 is the generic code for a low signal in the intake valve control solenoid circuit on Bank 2, the side of a V or flat engine that does not contain cylinder number one. The engine control unit commands the solenoid that adjusts intake valve timing or lift and sees a circuit voltage lower than expected, which suggests a short to earth, a wiring fault or a failed solenoid. The exact layout and the solenoid's operation depend on the engine.

Symptoms

Engine warning light on
Rough or unstable idle
Reduced power or hesitation under load
Poor fuel economy
Rattling or noisy variable valve timing on start-up
Engine may enter a limited performance mode

Possible causes

Faulty intake valve control solenoid (internal short or low resistance) on Bank 2likely
Wiring chafed or shorted to earth between the solenoid and the control unitlikely
Corroded, damaged or loose connector at the solenoidlikely
Oil leaking into the solenoid connector or harness, causing a short or high leakagepossible
Low or contaminated engine oil affecting solenoid operation and circuit readingspossible
Fault in the engine control unit driver circuitrare

How to diagnose

Read the stored codes and freeze frame data to see engine speed, temperature and load when the fault set, and note any other valve timing codes
Check the engine oil level and condition, as the solenoid is oil operated on most engines
Inspect the Bank 2 solenoid, its connector and the harness for chafing, heat damage, oil contamination and corrosion
Clear the code and check whether it returns straight away or only under certain conditions, which helps separate a constant short from an intermittent one
Measure the solenoid coil resistance and compare it with the manufacturer's specification for that engine
With the connector unplugged, check the signal wire for a short to earth and check the earth and supply circuits for continuity
Command the solenoid with a bidirectional scan function if available and check the response and the circuit voltage
Check the control unit supply and driver output only after the wiring and solenoid have been proven good

How to fix

Replace the Bank 2 intake valve control solenoid if its resistance is out of specification or it fails the operation test
Repair or replace the damaged wiring section that is shorted to earth
Clean, repair or replace the corroded or damaged connector terminals
Replace an oil-soaked harness or connector and fix the source of the oil leak
Change the engine oil and filter to the correct grade and level if it is low or contaminated
Repair or replace the control unit only when a driver fault is confirmed

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

Short journeys are usually possible, but the engine may run poorly and lose power, and a persistent fault could lead to further problems. Book it in soon and avoid heavy loads or long trips until it is fixed.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.