Gen 2 Actuator ringing or P0011 cam timing? Red Triangle + Brake/VSC

Recently bought a 2006 Gen 2 at about 190k miles. Pre-purchase inspection found only ordinary wear: front brakes, tires, P0136 (downstream oxygen sensor circuit: Bank 1, Sensor 2). Had the front brakes done shortly after.

Since then: I've noticed a short, high-pitched ringing/whirring at startup and intermittently during low-speed braking and pulling away. Brakes feel completely normal - pedal's never stiff, stops fine. Sounds like an old telephone ring or a metal chain. (Found the video below as the closest example. Mine's less severe and without the knocking, but the higher-pitched part is almost dead-on).

Today while driving the Brake System warning light (circle with !), VSC, and Red Triangle (!) all lit together - no ABS light (the check engine was already on from the P0136 and I'm aware of the TPMS). Image below.

On the next restart only the Red Triangle remained, while the Brake System and VSC lights were gone and haven't returned since - though the car's only done brief low-speed parking-lot moves for towing since so far, not a real drive.

A scan showed P0011 (intake cam timing over-advanced, Bank 1) as well as the known P0136. Codes were cleared at the time of the scan, so I don't know whether the brake ECU had any stored C-codes before they were cleared. The ringing continued after clearing.

My questions:

Does the actual ringing/whirring/high-pitched buzzing sound itself fit normal Gen 2 actuator operation, or does that particular sound suggest early actuator/booster failure? Does it need to be replaced?

Could P0011 explain the Red Triangle remaining after the restart, while the temporary Brake System Warning and VSC lights point to a separate intermittent brake-system problem?

What would be the most useful next diagnostic step now that the original codes were cleared?

Thank you very much!!!

IMG_1925 by actuator_actuating posted Jun 11, 2026 at 7:27 PM

- YouTube by actuator_actuating posted Jun 11, 2026 at 7:27 PM