Looking to finally get into Honda Fit ownership and came across a great deal on a 2015 with super high mileage (130,000 miles) that came in on a trade. It's a 3 year old car but am told that it currently has the check engine light on and P0341 code on it which is the Camshaft Position Sensor Range. I'm told the car starts and runs okay, needs a battery and a couple of other things.

Does anyone know what the issue might be with this code. Searched online, at some of the mechanic resources and couldn't find anything for this new of a Fit. I don't think most 2015's have this mileage either. Do you think it might be just the sensor, needs valve adjustment or maybe carbon build up?

Any thoughts is appreciated. Thanks.

 

My only word of caution is to make sure that the deal is so good that you could buy a whole new (used from junkyard) motor if needed.

I've seen so many reports of problems with 2015 models between the VTC actuator, carbon buildup, etc that I'd only buy one with a long warranty or if it were cheap enough that I could replace the entire engine.

If it has carbon build up or if the valve adjustments have never been done which caused camshaft wear, it probably makes more sense to replace the whole motor because of the cost of repair and miles on the current motor.

 

It's around $3500 all in for a loaded up EX model, so I think the price is fair for what it is. Used engines with under 10,000 miles are about $600 plus $200 shipping on eBay, so definitely factored that in. It has a water pump leak but I haven't looked at the car in person yet, is that anywhere near where this sensor is? There isn't many service manuals online for this car it seems.

Anything else I really need to know that's common to fail on these cars. I think it's a relatively early low production number EX model (in the 2000 range). I think I've seen only one other poster on these forums with as much mileage as this one on a 2015.

 

That is cheap for a 2015.

The camshaft position sensor will be in the head while the water pump bolts to the block. I don't believe the two would be related.

Water pump leaks don't seem to be that common. I wonder if it has a blown head gasket?

Do the used engines come with injectors? If it has carbon build up issues, it would be nice to have new injectors included.

Is it a CVT or manual?

BTW, I'm not an expert. Just trying to throw out some ideas until someone more knowledgeable chimes in.

 

To add to what Gafit said, that's quite a laundry list. If you know a good mechanic, they should be able to weedout all the problems when they swap the motor. Though 3500 is cheap for a loaded chasis... Idk. 2cents worth

 

So I am trying to read between the lines a bit here.
This is a dealership?
With what they are saying is a traded in High Mileage Honda Fit, that "needs a few things" and has a code and the check engine light on?

There are a lot of red flags here.

If it was at all simple or economical to fix...you'd think the selling dealership would make the investment into getting the check engine light and the code situation figured out and fixed.
And since evidently this seller also doesn't deem it worthy to invest into a battery and/or whatever a "few other things" happen to be?

This seems like a attempt to get rid of a problem by cloaking it in a low investment cost, vs the age of the vehicle.

Sure it's tempting...but being a 2015 and fully loaded won't mean much if it also becomes simply a neat looking $3,500 lawn ornament.

Assuming purchase is optional here, well I wouldn't do it without first finding out exactly what that code, and check engine light mean.

Hoping it is just sensor, just carbon build up, or just a valve adjustment seems overly optimistic.

The cynic in me believes the seller probably knows EXACTLY what is wrong. And if the answer to the seller is to NOT make the investment into fixing the problem, along with trying to camouflage the situation with a low cost purchase price?

Well....to quote a famous general..."It's A Trap!".

At the very least....I would say...expect that this great deal...would result in considerable further investment on your behalf beyond just the purchase price.

I wouldn't make the deal, even at that cost, without having it inspected independently and without some tangible idea of exactly what problem you would be buying actually is.

 

P0341 with high mileage (and unknown oil change history).....I'd expect the timing chain has stretched beyond its spec limit, or even jumped a tooth.

We see the same issues on the K engines, but I personally haven't had the pleasure of dealing with it on a DOHC L engine....yet..

 

Walk away. Just walk away.