Timing set going out again?

[Human]

Yesterday, the Check Engine light on my 2013 LaCrosse hybrid came on and was throwing the codes P0011 and P00016, which translate to "Camshaft position sensor over advanced or system performance bank 1" and "Crankshaft position correlation bank 1, sensor A", respectively. Reading up on these two codes, it sounds suspiciously like the timing chain may need to be replaced again. I replaced it about three or four years ago when the car had 84,000 miles on it, and now the car has 136,000. I've never had to replace the timing chain or belt on any car I've ever owned, except for this one, and now I'm looking at possibly having to do it again?!? I'm taking it to the mechanic this afternoon for a deeper diagnosis, and maybe it won't be that bad, as the Check Engine light wasn't on this morning.

It's ironic this is happening right now, as in the next few weeks, I'll be trading cars with my 90-year-old mom and taking her 2013 LaCrosse, which has just under 15,000 miles on it. My LaCrosse will effectively be going into retirement in the parking lot of Mom's retirement community, as she really doesn't drive anymore. My sister lives a mile away and She just hasn't come to fully accept that those days are effectively behind her. But if she does decide she needs to drive to the store or somewhere, I don't want her getting stranded.

 

[richardnewton]

How's the oil level?

 

[Human]

It looked okay when I checked it when I got home yesterday. The car is in the shop today for deeper diagnostics, plus an oil change and a state inspection, so hopefully it won't be another $2,800 bill.

 

[Human]

I got the car back from the shop today and he said the problem was indeed a very low oil level. The weird thing is it looked okay when I checked it Sunday night. I've encountered this issue before and thus can only conclude that that car has the most inaccurate dipstick ever. It's got to be on absolutely level ground to register anything remotely approaching reality. Oh well, the car is going into 'retirement' in a couple of weeks, when I take it to my mom and bring home her 2013 LaCrosse with 15,000 miles on it.

 

[richardnewton]

Doesn't the owners' manual have some procedure to check the oil?

I thought it was something like level ground, hot engine, 5 minutes after shutting off. Or some nonsense like that.

We check every fuel fill so at least get a consistent baseline lol