GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

SUBJECT: ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD) SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS (RE-FLASH CALIBRATION)

MODELS: 1996-98 CHEVROLET CAMARO 1996-98 PONTIAC FIREBIRD WITH 3800 V6 ENGINE (VIN K - RPO L36) AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION (M49)

VIN BREAKPOINTS:

MODEL YEAR DATE ---------- ---- 1996 SOP - EOP 1997 SOP - EOP 1998 SOP - W2106594 (CHEVROLET) SOP - W2205449 (PONTIAC)

WHILE THE SUBJECT VEHICLE HAS BEEN CERTIFIED AS COMPLYING WITH THE APPLICABLE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) AND CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD (CARB) ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD) REQUIREMENTS, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AN OBD SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT THAT SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED WHENEVER PRACTICAL.

CONDITION:

THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT CODE P0500 DIAGNOSTIC HAS BEEN DISABLED.

CAUSE:

THE VEHICLES WERE RELEASED WITH SOFTWARE WHICH DID NOT ENABLE THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT DIAGNOSTIC TO DETECT AN OPEN CIRCUIT.

CORRECTION:

USE A TECH II TO VERIFY WHAT SOFTWARE IS PROGRAMMED INTO THE VEHICLE'S POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). IF THE IMPROVED SOFTWARE HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED, RE-PROGRAM/RE-FLASH WITH THE UPDATED SOFTWARE. REFER TO THE CALIBRATION TABLE FOR THE APPROPRIATE CALIBRATION CHANGE.

YEAR EMISSION TYPE TIRES/OPTIONS CALIBRATION

1996 USA NATIONWIDE QEA/QCB 09355444 UNLEADED EXPORT EUROPE QII + K29-Z49 09355454 UNLEADED EXPORT/CANADA QEA/QCB + K29/Z49 09355464

1997 USA NATIONWIDE 09364954 CANADA/UNLEADED EXPORT 09364964 UNLEADED EXPORT EUROPE QII 09364944

1998 USA NATIONWIDE/CANADA QEA/QCB 16268294 UNLEADED EXPORT QEA/QCB 16268304 UNLEADED EXPORT EUROPE QII 16268314

IMPORTANT: INFORM CUSTOMERS THAT THIS WORK IS BEING PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLES TO IMPROVE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM OPERATION AND DOES NOT AFFECT VEHICLE DURABILITY, RELIABILITY, OR PERFORMANCE.

CALIBRATION INFORMATION:

THE CALIBRATIONS LISTED ARE FLASH CALIBRATIONS AND NOT AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO. SERVICE FLASH CALIBRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE STARTING WITH THE 1998 #9 CD ROM.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION: J-6355 LABOR TIME: USE PUBLISHED LABOR TIME

IMPORTANT: THIS LABOR OPERATION IS COVERED UNDER EITHER THE FEDERAL OR CALIFORNIA EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM WARRANTY (WHICHEVER APPLIES) OR THE BUMPER- TO-BUMPER COVERAGE IN THE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY WITH THE BROADEST COVERAGE APPLIES.

FIGURES: 00 ATTACHMENTS: 00

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

COPYRIGHT 1998. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.