maulanasaab

Hello -

My check engine light came on along with my traction light (Not traction off, just traction) today. I had autozone check the codes and it turned out to be P0341...

Additional details-

1- I change the oil every 5000 miles with valvoline's max life oil
2- I just had an oil change last Sunday (8/7) and drove the car for 500 miles afterward
3- Car was driving normally prior to code and seems to be fine after it showed up

I was wondering if anybody could shed light onto what could be wrong and how critical it is for me to go to the dealer and get it checked? What type of costs are associated with resolving this error code?

Thanks for reading!

poorman212

How often do you "check the oil LEVEL"? Changing it is one thing, checking the level is another. Please don't take that question the wrong way.

99% of the time the 0341 is caused by a stretched timing chain....which I will say 90% of the time is caused by low oil levels. I would have it checked out as if the chain is stretched it will eventually "jump time" which will then cause engine damage - bent valves most of the time.

Just a ball park guess, IF it is the chain....dealer repair in the $1,500 range.....independent repair shop (I'd find one that does a lot of work on Honda/Acura) in the $900 range. Again pure guess on these prices.......almost NO GUESS on the chain being stretched.

My two cents.

maulanasaab

Thanks for your reply, I don't usually check the level that often. I did so after the code popped up and the lights disappeared for 5 days but just came back on and aren't going away.

Is a stretched chain pretty obvious to the eye? How often would I have to replace it? The car is at 112K miles right now...

maulanasaab

So I took it to a local mechanic shop who looked at it and confirmed that the chain had jumped time, the two 'gears' on the top were misaligned.

I'll be getting it replaced by him for $595.

For the curious: The reason I was quoted for this happening was potentially driving at 85-90 and keeping the engine at high rpm repeatedly. He said that you usually don't have to replace it but it's done as a preventative measure at 200K...

I hope this thread is of use to someone in the future