GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Diagnostic Instructions

    • Perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle prior to using this diagnostic procedure.
    • Review Strategy Based Diagnosis for an overview of the diagnostic approach.
    •  Diagnostic Procedure Instructions provides an overview of each diagnostic category.

DTC Descriptors

DTC P1380: Misfire Detected--Rough Road Data Not Available

DTC P1381: Misfire Detected--No Communication With Brake Control Module

System Description

The engine control module (ECM) detects engine misfire by detecting variations in crankshaft deceleration between firing strokes. For accurate detection of engine misfire, the ECM must distinguish between crankshaft deceleration caused by actual misfire and deceleration caused by rough road conditions. The antilock brake system (ABS) can detect if the vehicle is on a rough road based on wheel acceleration/deceleration data supplied by the wheel speed sensor. If the ABS detects rough road above a predetermined threshold, this information is sent to the ECM. The ECM uses the rough road information when calculating engine misfire. If the ABS is malfunctioning and cannot detect rough roads, the misfire diagnostic will continue to run. However, if an engine misfire DTC sets, this DTC also sets indicating that rough road data was not available or there was no communication with the brake control module during the misfire calculation due to an ABS malfunction.

Conditions for Running the DTC

P1380

    • The vehicle speed is greater than 0 km/h (0 mph).
    • DTC P1380 runs continuously when the above conditions are met.

P1381

DTC P1381 runs continuously.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

P1380

    • The ABS controller sends a message to the ECM indicating that a failure has occurred in the ABS module.
    • Engine misfire is detected and DTC P0300 set.

P1381

    • An ABS malfunction exists, preventing the ECM from receiving rough road detection data.
    • Engine misfire is detected and DTC P0300 set.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

DTC P1380 and P1381 are Type C DTCs.

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

DTC P1380 and P1381 are Type C DTCs.

Reference Information

DTC Type Reference

Powertrain Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Type Definitions

Circuit/System Verification

  1. Monitor the ABS DTCs on the scan tool.
  2. If any ABS DTCs are set, diagnose those first. Refer to Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) List - Vehicle .
    If there are no ABS DTCs set, refer to Symptoms - Antilock Brake System .
  3. Engine running, observe the DTC information with a scan tool. DTCs P1380 or P1381 should not set.
  4. Operate the vehicle within the Conditions for Running the DTC. You may also operate the vehicle within the conditions that you observed from the Freeze Frame/Failure Records data.

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the diagnostic procedure.