P3402–P3490 Cylinder 1 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance
The part responds, but not the way the ECU expects under these conditions - a wear or plausibility problem rather than a dead circuit.
Can you drive it? This class of fault can cause real mechanical damage if you keep driving on it. A persistent misfire also destroys the catalytic converter, which is the expensive part.
Which code is which
Same fault, different cylinder or bank — diagnosed the same way. Several set together usually means one shared cause.
| Code | Definition | Severity |
|---|---|---|
P3402 | Cylinder 1 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3410 | Cylinder 2 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3418 | Cylinder 3 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3426 | Cylinder 4 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3434 | Cylinder 5 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3442 | Cylinder 6 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3450 | Cylinder 7 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3458 | Cylinder 8 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3466 | Cylinder 9 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Investigate soon |
P3474 | Cylinder 10 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3482 | Cylinder 11 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
P3490 | Cylinder 12 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance | Do not keep driving |
The definition
P3402: Cylinder 1 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance.
P3402 is a manufacturer-specific powertrain code (the engine or gearbox). Its meaning is set by the carmaker rather than by the SAE standard, so a generic OBD-II reader will often show it as an unknown code or misread it.
What to check first
Cheapest and fastest checks first:
- Read the freeze-frame data stored with the fault - engine speed, load and temperature at the moment it logged tell you whether this happens cold, hot or under load.
- Check the connector at the part for corrosion, and that it is fully seated.
- Clear the code and see whether it returns, and under what conditions.
Reading the code is the easy part
A code names the circuit that complained. What tells you why is watching the sensor behind it while the engine runs — and that is where a code reader stops and a diagnostic tool starts.
VAGPULSE reads every module in a VW, Audi, Skoda or SEAT — not just the engine — shows the live measuring blocks behind this fault, gives you the freeze-frame conditions it was logged under, and clears it once you have fixed it. It also does what a generic OBD reader cannot on a VAG: service resets, coding, adaptations, and Stage 1–3 flashing with your original file saved first.
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Common questions
What does P3402 mean?
P3402 means Cylinder 1 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit Performance. The part responds, but not the way the ECU expects under these conditions - a wear or plausibility problem rather than a dead circuit.
Can I drive with P3402?
This class of fault can cause real mechanical damage if you keep driving on it. A persistent misfire also destroys the catalytic converter, which is the expensive part.