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Engine

TGV (intake runner) codes P2004, P2005, P2009, P2012

The tumble generator valves in the intake manifold have small motors and position sensors on each bank. They set "runner stuck open" or "circuit low" codes, often after a long hot drive, with the check engine light on and the cruise light flashing but no loss of power.

CommonSeverity: MinorApplicability: Direct

Frequency basis: Six 2005 Legacy GT / Outback XT owners in one legacygt.com thread, plus a 2005 XT on Car Talk quoted $1,400 by a dealer. Usually a nuisance code rather than a drivability fault.

Symptoms

  • Check engine light with the cruise control light flashing; P2004/P2005 (runner stuck open bank 1/2) or P2009/P2012 (circuit low bank 1/2)
  • Often appears after 20+ minutes of hard highway driving; no power loss reported
  • Codes can set on both banks at once, which members consider implausible for a real mechanical stick

Causes found

  • Corroded or loose connectors at the TGV motors and position sensors (age)
  • Carbon and oil gumming the valve plates, sometimes from a clogged PCV system
  • A loose butterfly plate on the TGV shaft (reported on later cars)
  • Damage to the TGV sensor wiring during a turbo swap is a common follow-on

Check in this order

  • Clear the code once and see if it returns; a single occurrence is often stale
  • Unplug and reseat every TGV motor and sensor connector on both banks
  • Read the TGV position sensor voltages with a scan tool (about 0.4–0.5 V reported at rest)
  • Only then pull the manifold to clean or replace the TGV assemblies

What fixed it

  • Reseating the plugs cleared the codes for good on two cars
  • A dealer reprogram cleared it on one 2005 GT with no parts; get each occurrence on an invoice if the car is under any warranty
  • Cleaning the TGV plates like a throttle body, or replacing the motor/sensor rather than the whole assembly
  • Deleting the TGVs with a tune ends the codes but fails inspection in states that check the CEL

References on this site

OEM parts

  • 14120AA051Motor assembly, intake manifold (TGV actuator)
  • 14120AA060Motor assembly, intake manifold (TGV actuator)

Sources

Forum threads are owner reports, not factory findings. Counts are from the threads and complaint records read for this page; read the sources before buying parts.

  1. 1.
    CEL issues. P2004 P2005 P2012

    legacygt.com · Forum thread · 2007–2016, ~10 posters, six 2005 GT/XT owners

  2. 2.
    Intake runners

    cartalk.com · Forum thread · 2011, 2005 XT at 87k, $1,400 dealer quote

  3. 3.
    Code P2005 Intake manifold runner stuck open on bank 2

    subaruoutback.org · Forum thread