What does it mean?
OBD II fault code P0026 is defined as “ Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1)”, with “Bank 1” denoting the side of the engine that contains cylinder #1 on engines with two cylinder heads. Code P0026 is set when the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) detects a fault in the electro-hydraulic control system of the VVT (Variable Valve Timing), or VCS (Variable Camshaft System).
The code setting parameter is generally a voltage variation that exceeds 10% of the reference voltage for the intake camshaft actuator for that particular application. Consult the relevant manual for the exact value of the voltage variation that will set code P0026 for the application being worked on. VVT and VCS systems use pressurized engine oil to act on actuators that control variable valve timing.
The PCM gathers information from various sensors regarding engine speed, engine load, throttle position, and others to calculate an appropriate valve timing setting to increase power, and/or improve fuel economy. Since the engine oil is the agent that transfers power to the actuator that ultimately controls the intake valve timing, it should be obvious that oil of the correct type, viscosity, and cleanliness is crucially important to ensure the proper functioning of these systems.
The image below shows a typical VVT control solenoid. Note: A Range/Performance related code will be set when either a sensor or other component does not perform within the range the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) expects to see, given the current engine load/speed, and information gathered from other sensors.
The possible causes of Range/Performance codes are likely to be defective sensors as easily as they are likely to be the result of wiring issues that affect the operation of the affected sensor or component, which means that with these codes, it is important to regard all sensors and components as part of the control circuit the code refers to.