P3469 is set when the circuit driving a separate exhaust valve actuator on cylinder 9 is open. No manufacturer documents this code publicly; J2012 reserves the codes for cylinders 9 to 12 for engines with more than eight cylinders. A distinct exhaust actuator only exists where intake and exhaust valves are switched independently; a GM patent at least shows that the exhaust valves can follow their own timing, being deactivated before the intake valves and reactivated before them too. GM's own production system uses one solenoid per cylinder for both valves, and the publicly described ten- and twelve-cylinder systems (Audi R8 V10, Bentley W12) keep the valves moving altogether. So an open circuit here can only concern an engine that carries such hardware. P3471 and P3472 report shorts, P3470 a functional fault, P3465 the intake side.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?Drive little and gently. If you hear timing chain noise or the oil light comes on, shut off the engine.
Cylinder 9 is numbered according to the manufacturer: check your engine's manual before working on it.
Symptoms
- Check engine lamp on
- Cylinder shut-off blocked
Most likely causes
- Open or chafed wire to the cylinder 9 exhaust actuator
- Exhaust actuator coil of cylinder 9 open
- Connector at the exhaust actuator loose or corroded
- Engine control module output failed
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: medium
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P3469 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 3: Generic or manufacturer code, depending on the range
- 4: Emissions
- 69: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P3469?
Drive little and gently. If you hear timing chain noise or the oil light comes on, shut off the engine.
What causes code P3469?
The most common causes are: open or chafed wire to the cylinder 9 exhaust actuator; exhaust actuator coil of cylinder 9 open; connector at the exhaust actuator loose or corroded.
Related codes
- P3470Cylinder 9 Exhaust Valve Control Performance
- P3471Cylinder 9 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit Low
- P3472Cylinder 9 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit High
- P3465Cylinder 9 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit/Open
- P3400Cylinder Deactivation System Bank 1
- P3497Cylinder Deactivation System Bank 2
Sources
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- patents.google.com: en
- static.nhtsa.gov: INRD PE25001 11969
- media.audiusa.com: 404
Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.