GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

A problem may or may not turn ON the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or store a DTC. DO NOT use the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) charts for intermittent problems. The fault must be present to locate the problem.

Most intermittent problems are caused by faulty electrical connections or wiring. Perform a careful visual and physical inspection for the following conditions:

    •  Poor mating of the connector halves or a terminal not fully seated in the connector.
    •  Improperly formed or damaged terminal.
    •  All connector terminals in the problem circuit should be carefully checked for proper contact tension.
    •  Poor terminal to wire connection. This requires removing the terminal from the connector body to check.

Road test the vehicle with a DMM connected to a suspected circuit. An abnormal voltage when malfunction occurs is a good indication that there is a fault in the circuit being monitored.

Use a scan tool to help detect intermittent conditions. The scan tool has several features that can be used to locate an intermittent condition. Use the following features to find intermittent faults:

    •  The Snapshot feature can be triggered to capture and store engine parameters within the scan tool when the malfunction occurs. This stored information then can be reviewed by the service technician to see what caused the malfunction.
    •  Using a Scan Tools Freeze Frame data or Failure Records data can also aid in locating an intermittent condition. Review and record the information in the Freeze Frame or Failure Record associated with the intermittent DTC being diagnosed. The vehicle can be driven within the conditions that were present when the DTC originally set.

Loss of diagnostic code memory. To test, disconnect the MAP sensor and idle engine until the MIL Service Engine Soon comes ON. DTC P0107 should be stored and kept in memory when the ignition is turned OFF. If not the powertrain control module (PCM) is faulty. When this test is completed, make sure that you clear the DTC P0107 from memory.

An intermittent MIL Service Engine Soon with no stored DTC may be caused by the following:

    •  Ignition coil shorted to ground and arcing at ignition wires or plugs.
    •  MIL Service Engine Soon wire to PCM shorted to ground.
    •  Poor PCM grounds, refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Inspect for improper installation of electrical options such as lights, cellular phones, etc. Route ignition control (IC) module wiring away from secondary ignition wires and ignition coils . Inspect all wires from the PCM to the ignition control module for poor connections.

Test for an open diode across the A/C compressor clutch and test for other open diodes. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.