Ok, I had a friend help me put my high output 160 amp custom alternator on my "05 Xa, and when pushing forward with a large screw driver to get tension to tighten it he snapped off a thing that looks like a sensor right behind the alt on the engine. it is a cylinder that sticks out with a plug on the end, the plug is snapped off at the base of the metal. my CEL is always on now, and I was told that this is the variable valve timing sensor, is this correct?

If it is I want to get it replaced, so I can get fuel efficiency back, and I need to know where to buy it!

 

only toyota.And clear the cods after you replace it.

 

 

alright, thats what I get for letting my friend who said he knew what he was doing work on my car. in what ways can this adversely affect my car?

 

it deals with your engine timing...

 

It has been broken for a while now, I haven't noticed any real issues with the car, it seems to run rough occasionally though. Can this cause any long term damage to my car?

 

it could seriously ruin ur cylinder heads. Unproper mixture and you will have massive carbon buildup. If the timing chain is all you really need and your engine is running without vvti you might get better mpg but intern less power.

updates! does it run rough? smooth? better mpg?