P3461Cylinder 8 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit/Open
- Generic OBD-II code · Powertrain
- Turns on the check-engine light
- Matters for the ITP
- How the car detects it
- In the J2012 scheme, P3461 marks lost continuity to an exhaust-side actuator of its own on cylinder 8. No manufacturer documents this code publicly. In the published sources, cylinder 8 is deactivated only by GM's newer V8s (DFM on the L84 and L87, a fixed 2-3-5-8 pattern on the LTA and LT2), and per NHTSA those engines feed both lifters of a cylinder from one solenoid, leaving no separate exhaust wiring to test. A GM patent application likewise uses one shared hydraulic valve and only staggers the exhaust valves ahead of the intake valves; only a separate exhaust actuator would fall under CARB's continuity check for output components. P3462 to P3464 are the other cylinder 8 exhaust codes, P3457 the intake-side open.
- What you may notice
- Check engine lamp on
- Cylinder deactivation no longer active
- Likely causes
- PossibleWire or plug to the cylinder 8 exhaust actuator broken
- PossibleExhaust actuator winding open
- RareControl module output defective
- Inspection (ITP)
- Matters for the ITP. While the check-engine light is on, the car fails the emissions check.
- Repair
- Medium · Often possible to do yourself.Typical cost: €60 – €900
- Related codes
Explanation from obdex (CC0), exactly as the app shows it. Guidance only; confirm with a workshop.