2009 Yaris no start after timing chain - Toyota Yaris Forums

jblock · 10-20-2025, 07:34 PM

Hey all.

333,000 on a 2009 Toyota Yaris Base 1.5. Head gasket was shot so I installed a new one with a Reman cylinder head. Put everything back together but ended up having no low end power. Found my timing was 1 tooth off, made the adjustment and now the vehicle wont start. I did get a MIL that I will check tonight.

Between the time of running it after the head gasket and the chain adjustment, I did take it in to my local Toyota service center. They eliminated the VVT Solenoid, said the VVT wasnt engaging at all and wanted to move to the Cam gear with the VVT hub on it. They are the ones that verified for me that the timing was slightly off. I didnt want to pay an extra 2k for them to tear into it so I just brought it home and made the adjustment myself.

I have verified the 2 grounds on the head to be secure, but Im needing some advice here on how to proceed. The cams were 1 tooth off in the advance position so it was close to 5 Degrees before TDC.

In my mind, if it was acting retarded before the adjustment, moving it to TDC would retard it more and cause it not to run well. Im tempted on setting it at 10 Degrees before TDC to see if advancing the timing solves my problem. Am I looking at this the wrong way? Should I be looking somewhere else?

jblock · 10-22-2025, 01:48 PM

So I checked the MIL history and I have nothing particularly concerning, just an ABS code. Could my VVT cam gear have failed and caused retarded timing?

jblock · 11-18-2025, 12:46 PM

UPDATE:

I adjusted the timing and replaced the VVT gear. I still have the same problem.

Upon further diagnosis, I applied 12V directly to the OCV Solenoid and was able to get the car to start and run. What am I looking for here as far as why I wouldnt be getting a pulse signal to the solenoid from the ECU?

10-20-2025, 07:34 PM	#1
jblock Drives: 2009 Toyota Yaris Base Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Washington Posts: 5	2009 Yaris no start after timing chain Hey all. 333,000 on a 2009 Toyota Yaris Base 1.5. Head gasket was shot so I installed a new one with a Reman cylinder head. Put everything back together but ended up having no low end power. Found my timing was 1 tooth off, made the adjustment and now the vehicle wont start. I did get a MIL that I will check tonight. Between the time of running it after the head gasket and the chain adjustment, I did take it in to my local Toyota service center. They eliminated the VVT Solenoid, said the VVT wasnt engaging at all and wanted to move to the Cam gear with the VVT hub on it. They are the ones that verified for me that the timing was slightly off. I didnt want to pay an extra 2k for them to tear into it so I just brought it home and made the adjustment myself. I have verified the 2 grounds on the head to be secure, but Im needing some advice here on how to proceed. The cams were 1 tooth off in the advance position so it was close to 5 Degrees before TDC. In my mind, if it was acting retarded before the adjustment, moving it to TDC would retard it more and cause it not to run well. Im tempted on setting it at 10 Degrees before TDC to see if advancing the timing solves my problem. Am I looking at this the wrong way? Should I be looking somewhere else?

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10-22-2025, 01:48 PM	#2
jblock Drives: 2009 Toyota Yaris Base Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Washington Posts: 5	So I checked the MIL history and I have nothing particularly concerning, just an ABS code. Could my VVT cam gear have failed and caused retarded timing?

11-18-2025, 12:46 PM	#3
jblock Drives: 2009 Toyota Yaris Base Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Washington Posts: 5	UPDATE: I adjusted the timing and replaced the VVT gear. I still have the same problem. Upon further diagnosis, I applied 12V directly to the OCV Solenoid and was able to get the car to start and run. What am I looking for here as far as why I wouldnt be getting a pulse signal to the solenoid from the ECU?