Toyota P1354 Code: VVT System Malfunction (Bank 2)
On a Toyota V6 or V8, the bank 2 intake camshaft isn't reaching the timing the ECM commands.
At a glance
Severity: Moderate
- Meaning
- VVT System Malfunction (Bank 2)
- System
- Fuel & Air Metering · Powertrain
- Safe to drive?
- With caution
- Typical repair cost
- $60–$1,400
- DIY difficulty
- Moderate
P1354 is the bank 2 counterpart of P1349 and only appears on Toyota and Lexus VVT-i engines with two cylinder banks. Each bank has its own oil control valve (OCV), oil screen and VVT-i controller, so the two sides can fail independently. Once the engine is warm and running between roughly 400 and 4,000 rpm, the ECM checks whether the bank 2 cam actually moves when commanded and whether it is stuck at one position; if not, it stores P1354. The code is best known on the 3.0-liter 1MZ-FE VVT-i V6 of around the 1999 to 2003 model years in the Camry, Solara, Avalon, Sienna, Highlander, ES 300 and RX 300, where bank 2 is the front bank with the even-numbered cylinders 2, 4 and 6. Later Toyota V6 and V8 engines report the same fault with P0021 or P0022.
Can I keep driving? The car can usually be driven carefully to a shop, but expect poor idle and weak acceleration. Check the oil level first; if it's low or the engine is knocking, don't drive until that's sorted.
How to read P1354
- P Powertrain
- 1 Manufacturer-specific
- 3 Ignition / misfire
- 54 Specific fault
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Rough idle, sometimes with misfires on cylinders 2, 4 and 6
- Hesitation and flat response when pulling away
- Bank 2 fuel trim differing clearly from bank 1
- Occasional stalling when coming to a stop
- Higher fuel consumption
Possible causes
Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).
- Bank 2 OCV sticking or clogged with sludge
- Bank 2 OCV oil screen blocked
- Oil sludge or low oil pressure starving the bank 2 VVT-i controller
- Bank 2 VVT-i controller (cam gear) worn or stuck
- Bank 2 cam timing off after belt work, or OCV wiring fault
- ECM fault
Diagnosis step by step
Compare the two banks with live data
On a Toyota-capable scan tool, compare target and actual VVT angle for bank 1 and bank 2 at warm idle and during a gentle rev. If bank 1 follows its target and bank 2 stays flat, the fault is isolated to the bank 2 oil path or hardware.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Judge the oil and look for sludge
Pull the oil filler cap and, if possible, look under the front valve cover. Brown gel or thick deposits mean the whole oil system needs cleaning, and any new VVT parts will clog again without it.
Tools: Flashlight
Measure oil pressure
Screw a mechanical gauge into the oil pressure switch port and check pressure hot. Toyota specifies only a few psi at warm idle but roughly 40 psi or more at 3,000 rpm on this engine family; low readings point to sludge, a worn pump or a blocked pickup rather than the OCV.
Tools: Torque wrench
Clean the bank 2 OCV screen
Each bank has a small mesh screen in the oil feed to its OCV, sealed behind a plug bolt near the valve. Remove it, clean it in solvent or replace it, and fit a new gasket; a blocked screen alone can set P1354.
Tools: Screwdriver, Torque wrench
Test the bank 2 OCV
Unplug the valve and measure coil resistance, typically around 7 ohms cold. Then remove it and check that the spool snaps back and forth cleanly with brief 12 V pulses; if both OCVs share a part number on your engine, swapping them between banks is a quick confirmation.
Tools: Multimeter, Pliers
Clear and road-test warm
After the repair, clear the code, then drive with the engine fully warm through varying rpm. The ECM needs warm-engine conditions before it re-checks bank 2 cam movement.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Where the parts are
- 1Ignition coil
- 2Spark plug
- 3Fuel injector
- 4Camshaft sensor
- 5Crankshaft sensor
- 6Engine computer (ECM)
- 7Intake manifold
Repair options & costs
| Repair | DIY? | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Oil change with engine flush and filter | Yes | $80–$200 |
| Clean or replace bank 2 OCV screen | Yes | $60–$220 |
| Replace bank 2 oil control valve | Yes | $180–$450 |
| Replace bank 2 VVT-i controller | No | $600–$1,400 |
| Sludge cleanup: remove oil pan, clean pickup and valve covers | No | $500–$1,200 |
Rough US estimates for parts and labor; shop rates vary by region. Not a quote.
Notes by brand
Toyota
The 1MZ-FE V6 of the late 1990s and early 2000s is known for oil sludge when oil changes are stretched. On these engines P1354 is often the first sign, so inspect for sludge before fitting new VVT parts.
Emissions / smog test impact
Will fail
P1354 turns on the check engine light, so the vehicle fails an OBD emissions inspection. After the fix, drive several warm cycles so the monitors complete before the retest.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of my V6 is bank 2?
On the transverse 1MZ-FE V6 in the Camry, Avalon, Sienna and Highlander, bank 2 is the front bank next to the radiator, with cylinders 2, 4 and 6. Its OCV is usually easier to reach than the rear one.
Why does P1354 come with misfires on 2, 4 and 6?
Those are the bank 2 cylinders. When their intake cam sits at the wrong timing, the cylinders breathe poorly at idle and can misfire, while bank 1 keeps running normally.
Do I have to replace both oil control valves?
No. Each bank has its own valve and screen, and P1354 only concerns bank 2. If the engine is sludged, though, clean the whole oil system, or the bank 1 side may be next.
Is P1354 the same as P1349?
It is the same test on the other bank. P1349 covers the rear bank with cylinder 1, P1354 the front bank.
Sources
- Manufacturer public service information (cross-checked)
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