Ford Freestyle P0012 Code

My 2007 Ford Freestyle with a gasoline engine is throwing codes. The check engine light is on, and my fuel consumption is terrible! I'm getting a P0012 code which points to the inlet VANOS. I suspect a faulty camshaft solenoid valve or maybe a power supply issue. Anyone wrestled with this?

4 comment(s)

Sounds familiar. I had a similar problem with my Freestyle. Check for oil sludge buildup; it can gunk up the VANOS solenoid and mess with the variable timing. Could even cause engine misfires. Start there.

Good call! Where exactly should I be looking for this sludge? And is there any easy way to test the VANOS solenoid before I tear everything apart? I'm trying to avoid unnecessary disassembly!

The sludge usually accumulates around the solenoid itself. Visual inspection is key. As for testing, I'd recommend taking it to a decent workshop. They've got the tools and know-how to diagnose it properly. Could save you a lot of time and headache.

You were spot on! The inlet camshaft solenoid valve was indeed faulty, likely due to oil sludge as you suspected. Cost me around 250€ to get it sorted, but now she's running great. Thanks for the advice!

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