Wiring to the bank 2 exhaust valve control solenoid chafed or shorted to ground; Faulty exhaust valve control solenoid with internal short or low resistance; Corroded, loose or damaged connector at the solenoid or harness plug; Oil contamination or leakage into the solenoid connector or harness; Low or poor-quality engine oil or a blocked oil feed affecting the valve timing system; Fault inside the engine control unit driver circuit.

P0085

Exhaust 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
85: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P0085 means the engine control unit has detected a low voltage or low signal state in the control circuit for the exhaust valve control solenoid on bank 2. The ECU drives this solenoid to adjust exhaust valve or exhaust cam timing, and it sets the code when the circuit voltage does not match what it commands, typically a short to ground or a high-resistance fault. How the system works and where the solenoid sits depends on the engine, so check the model-specific layout.

Symptoms

Engine warning light on
Rough idle or uneven running
Reduced power or poor throttle response
Poor fuel economy
Engine may run in a limp or reduced-performance mode on some models

Possible causes

Wiring to the bank 2 exhaust valve control solenoid chafed or shorted to groundlikely
Faulty exhaust valve control solenoid with internal short or low resistancelikely
Corroded, loose or damaged connector at the solenoid or harness plugpossible
Oil contamination or leakage into the solenoid connector or harnesspossible
Low or poor-quality engine oil or a blocked oil feed affecting the valve timing systempossible
Fault inside the engine control unit driver circuitrare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes and note the freeze frame data, including engine temperature, load and rpm when the fault set.
Check engine oil level and condition, as many variable valve timing systems rely on clean oil at the correct level.
Visually inspect the bank 2 solenoid, its connector and the harness for oil, heat damage, chafing or corrosion.
Disconnect the connector and check for moisture, bent pins or poor terminal tension.
With the ignition off, measure the solenoid coil resistance and compare it with the manufacturer specification for that engine.
Check the supply voltage and the control wire for a short to ground or excessive resistance back to the ECU, following the wiring diagram for the model.
Clear the code and road test, using live data or the actuator test, if available, to confirm the solenoid responds and the fault does not return.

How to fix

Repair or replace damaged wiring and secure it away from sharp edges and heat.
Clean or replace the corroded or damaged connector and terminals.
Replace the faulty exhaust valve control solenoid.
Fix any oil leak into the harness and replace the contaminated connector or harness section.
Correct the oil level and change the oil and filter to the specified grade if it is degraded.
Replace or repair the ECU only after all wiring and solenoid faults have been ruled out.

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

The car can usually be driven short distances to a workshop, but get it checked soon as the engine may run poorly and the fault could worsen. Avoid heavy loads or long journeys if there is a noticeable loss of power or rough running.

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