My wife’s car recently had issues starting (the weather dropped to -11F) then after I jumped it - the car ran sluggish (wouldn’t rev above 2000) and threw a check engine light. I immediately drove home: replaced the battery, it started fine, runs fine, but it’s throwing a P0015.

After this error, because of the cold, I changed her oil to a 0w-30 and added sea foam (4oz) to the crankcase. I reset the error using a Bosch OBD2 reader. I swapped the exhaust/intake cam sensors and also cleaned off their heads. After about 10miles of driving, without any symptoms the P0015 error popped up again.

I’ve read through the multiple threads on P0015 and will be ordering new vanos solonoids and oil valves. As well as ordering the autofix 7910 code reader (it was said that’s needed to reset the vanos).

my question is: can she drive her car to work in the next 1-2 weeks while I wait for parts?

 

Not a good idea. I had a car engine experience what proved to be a variable intake cam timing failure. But before this was diagnosed -- I only suspected it -- after turning off the engine and upon restart the engine was fine. Drove it 30 miles home. All was well. Next day on the way to the local dealer and the engine started acting up. With no real drama made it to the dealer. But I would not have been a happy camper had that happened on my 30 mile work commute.

I'm just not a fan of sending any family member -- or myself -- out in a vehicle that is/was manifesting serious issues which could resurface and leave the family member stranded. There is also the concern of collateral damage should the condition worsen.