P3482 is the functional check for cylinder 11: the actuator circuit is electrically fine, but the cylinder does not actually go dormant or wake up when told to. No manufacturer documents this code publicly; J2012 reserves the codes for cylinders 9 to 12 for engines with more than eight cylinders. Bentley's Bentayga and Continental W12 can run on six of twelve cylinders, yet the published description has the valves keep working, so a valve-switching failure cannot arise there. Engines that do close valves rely on oil pressure acting on switching lifters, as NHTSA's review of GM's lifter design lays out in detail; contaminated or low oil and worn locking pins are the usual reasons for a missed switch. The electrical counterparts on cylinder 11 are P3481, P3483 and P3484.
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 11 is numbered according to the manufacturer: check your engine's manual before working on it.
Symptoms
- Check engine lamp on
- Misfire on cylinder 11 (P0311)
- Noticeable shudder when switching modes
Most likely causes
- Contaminated or insufficient oil for switching cylinder 11
- Worn or sticking locking pins at cylinder 11
- Oil screen to the cylinder 11 actuator clogged
- Actuator seal leaking pressure
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: hard
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P3482 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 3: Generic or manufacturer code, depending on the range
- 4: Emissions
- 82: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P3482?
Drive little and gently. If you hear timing chain noise or the oil light comes on, shut off the engine.
What causes code P3482?
The most common causes are: contaminated or insufficient oil for switching cylinder 11; worn or sticking locking pins at cylinder 11; oil screen to the cylinder 11 actuator clogged.
Related codes
- P3481Cylinder 11 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit/Open
- P3483Cylinder 11 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Low
- P3484Cylinder 11 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit High
- P3486Cylinder 11 Exhaust Valve Control Performance
- P0311Cylinder 11 Misfire Detected
- P3400Cylinder Deactivation System Bank 1
Sources
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- static.nhtsa.gov: INRD PE25001 11969
- en.wikipedia.org: Bentley Bentayga
- mobilityengineeringtech.com: 41966 sae ma 01159
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.