Important Preliminary Checks Before Starting
Perform
Powertrain On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check
before using the Symptom Tables, and verify
all of the following are true:
| • | The PCM and MIL (Service Engine Soon) are operating correctly. |
| • | There are no DTCs stored. |
| • | Ensure that the engine coolant temperature is not above 130°C
(266°F). This condition causes the PCM to operate in Engine Coolant Over
temperature Fuel Disabled Mode. While in Engine Coolant Over temperature
Fuel Disabled Mode, the PCM turns the fuel off to three cylinders
at a time in order to keep engine temperatures from reaching damaging
levels. The system perceives Engine Coolant Over temperature as a
lack of power, miss, or rough idle. If the vehicle is operating in
Engine Coolant Over temperature Fuel Disabled Mode, refer to
DTC P1483 Engine Cooling System Performance
or
Thermostat Diagnosis
in Engine Cooling. |
| • | Verify the customer concern, and locate the correct symptom in
the table of contents. Check the items indicated under that symptom. |
Visual/Physical Check
Several of the symptom procedures ask for a Careful Visual/Physical
Check. This step is extremely important it can lead to correcting a problem
without further checks and can save valuable time. This check includes:
| • | Vacuum hoses for splits, kinks, and proper connections, as shown
on the Vehicle Emission Control Information label Check thoroughly for any
type of leak or restriction. Refer to
Emission Hose Routing Diagram
. |
| • | The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor installation. The arrows on the
plastic portion of the sensor must point toward the engine. |
| • | The air intake ducts for being collapsed or for having damaged
areas. |
| • | Air leaks at throttle body mounting area, Mass Air Flow (MAF)
sensor, and the intake manifold sealing surfaces. |
| • | The ignition wires for cracking, hardness, proper routing and
carbon tracking. |
Intermittent
Important: Check for improper installation of electrical components if an intermittent
condition exists. Inspect for aftermarket theft deterrent devices, lights
and cellular phones. Ensure that no aftermarket equipment is connected
to the Class II circuit. If you can not locate an intermittent
condition, a cellular phone signal communication may cause the condition.
Important : The problem may or may not turn on the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
or store a DTC. DO NOT use the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) tables for intermittent
problems. The fault must be present in order to locate the problem.
Faulty electrical connections or wiring cause most intermittent problems.
Perform a careful visual/physical check for the following conditions:
Road test the vehicle with a J 39200
Digital Multimeter (DMM) connected to the suspected circuit.
An abnormal voltage when the malfunction occurs is a good indication that
there is a malfunction in the circuit being monitored.
Use a scan tool in order to help detect intermittent conditions. The
GM Techline equipment (Scan Tool) has several features that you can use to
locate an intermittent condition. Use the following features to find
intermittent faults:
| • | You can trigger the Snapshot feature in order to capture and
store engine parameters within the scan tool when the malfunction occurs.
You can then review this stored information in order to see what
caused the malfunction. |
| • | Using a Scan Tools Freeze Frame buffer or Failure Records buffer
can also aid in locating an intermittent condition. Review and capture the
information in the Freeze Frame and/or Failure record associated
with the intermittent DTC being diagnosed. Drive the vehicle in the
conditions that were present when the DTC originally set. |
Important : If the intermittent condition exists as a start and then stall, check
for DTCs relating to the theft deterrent system. Check for improper installation
of electrical options such as lights, cellular phones etc.
Any of the following may cause an intermittent Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (MIL) with no stored DTC:
| • | The ignition coils for being shorted to ground, arcing at the
ignition wires or the spark plugs. |
| • | The Ignition Control (IC) wires for being routed to close to
the secondary ignition wires, coils, or the generator Ensure that all of
the circuits from the PCM to the ignition coils have good connections. |
| • | An open diode across the A/C compressor clutch and other open
diodes. |
Use the following tables when diagnosing a symptom complaint.
