Chrysler 300 VANOS Failure Symptoms and Fixes

As someone with moderate experience working on similar engines, I encountered nearly identical symptoms with my 2019 Chrysler 200, which shares many components with your 300 model. The check engine light came on unexpectedly, and I noticed rough idling along with higher fuel consumption. My mechanic diagnosed a faulty inlet camshaft VANOS solenoid valve, which was causing timing issues. The diagnostic revealed inconsistent voltage readings at the VANOS solenoid, affecting the variable valve timing system. The repair involved: Complete diagnostic scan, Testing the VANOS solenoid electrical connections, Replacing the defective inlet VANOS solenoid, Clearing fault codes and testing Total cost was 250€, including parts and labor. The repair resolved both the check engine light and the high fuel consumption issues. Before suggesting specific solutions for your case, could you share: Current mileage, Any unusual engine sounds, Whether the check engine light is steady or flashing, If you have access to the specific error codes This information would help determine if your symptoms align with a typical VANOS failure or possibly point to other timing chain related issues.

Thanks for the input. My 159956 KM reading and recent oil service two weeks ago help rule out maintenance-related causes. After checking the codes, turns out it was not the VANOS solenoid but severe oil sludge buildup causing low power and the engine misfire symptoms. Getting a full engine flush and new filter sorted the check engine light and performance issues. Just wanted to update in case others face similar problems.

Thanks for the update. Interesting that it turned out to be oil sludge rather than VANOS issues. Actually, after fixing my Chrysler 200, I also discovered some oil sludge during a later service, even with regular maintenance. The low power symptoms can be quite similar between VANOS problems and oil sludge buildup. In my case, the mechanic recommended doing both the VANOS repair and a thorough engine flush since the variable timing system is particularly sensitive to oil contamination. The combination of fixes completely resolved the performance issues and improved fuel economy back to normal. For anyone following this thread: Heavy oil sludge can mimic inlet camshaft and VANOS-related problems since it interferes with proper oil flow through these precision components. Regular oil changes using the correct grade oil are crucial for preventing these issues, especially in engines with variable timing systems. Total cost for my additional engine flush service was 180€, but definitely worth it for protecting the VANOS components long-term.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. Just to close the loop, had the engine flush done yesterday and the difference is remarkable. Total bill came to 220€ including new filter and synthetic oil. The shop showed me the old oil that came out and it was seriously contaminated. For anyone searching later: what looked like VANOS failure symptoms (rough idle, low power, increased fuel use) was actually caused by oil sludge restricting flow to critical engine components. Regular maintenance is key, even with my recent oil change, years of buildup had taken its toll. The timing chain and variable timing systems in these engines really need clean oil to function properly. Will definitely be sticking to a stricter maintenance schedule going forward. Much cheaper than replacing VANOS components or dealing with major engine work.