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 P3401: Cylinder 1 Deactivation Solenoid Control Circuit

DTC P3417: Cylinder 3 Deactivation Solenoid Control Circuit

DTC P3433: Cylinder 5 Deactivation Solenoid Control Circuit

Diagnostic Fault Information

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open/High Resistance

Short to Voltage

Signal Performance

Ignition Circuit to Deactivation Solenoids

P0102, P0480, P0481, P0645, P3401, P3417, P3433

P0102, P0480, P0481, P0645, P3401, P3417, P3433

P0690

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Deactivation Solenoid Control Circuits

P3401, P3417, P3433

P3401, P3417, P3433

P0690, P3401, P3417, P3433

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Typical Scan Tool Data

Cylinder Deactivation System Command

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open

Short to Voltage

Operating Conditions: Vehicle traveling at 40 MPH, under a light load and steady throttle input.

Normal Range: V3 mode

Cylinder Deactivation System Command

V6 mode

V6 mode

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Cylinder 1, 3, 5 Deactivation Solenoid Command

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open

Short to Voltage

Operating Conditions: Vehicle traveling at 40 MPH, under a light load and steady throttle input

Normal Range: ON

Cylinder 1, 3, 5 Deactivation Solenoid Command

OFF

OFF

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Circuit/System Description

Each of the 3 valve lifter oil manifold (VLOM) solenoid windings, are connected in parallel to a fused ignition circuit, supplied by the powertrain relay, in the underhood fuse block. The control circuit for each solenoid is connected to an individual low side driver, internal to the engine control module (ECM). Each low side driver has its own fault detection circuit, which monitors the solenoid control circuit for an incorrect voltage level. If an incorrect voltage level, such as an open/high resistance, or short to ground is detected, the low side driver will turn OFF, and the fault detection circuit will communicate the condition to the central processor internal to the ECM. These DTCs will set when the ECM detects an incorrect voltage level on the ignition circuit, the solenoids, or a solenoid control circuit, after the ignition switch is turned ON. If a VLOM solenoid control circuit DTC is set, the ECM will command V6 mode, turn ON the malfunction indicator light (MIL), and turn OFF the fuel injector for that cylinder, resulting in an engine misfire.

Conditions for Running the DTC

    • The engine speed is between 450-6,400 RPM.
    • The ignition voltage is between 9-18 volts.
    • DTCs P3401, P3417, and P3433 run continuously when the above conditions are met.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

    • The ECM detects that the commanded state of the low side driver and the actual voltage level of the control circuit do not match.
    • The condition is present for 20 out of 25 sample counts.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

    • DTCs P3401, P3417 and P3433 are Type B DTCs.
    • The engine will return to V6 mode.
    • The fuel injector will turn OFF for the cylinder that has a cylinder deactivation DTC set.

Conditions for Clearing the DTC

DTCs P3401, P3417 and P3433 are Type B DTCs.

Diagnostic Aids

The valve lifter oil manifold (VLOM) solenoids are assigned to the following engine cylinders:

    • Solenoid #1 = Cylinder #1
    • Solenoid #2 = Cylinder #3
    • Solenoid #3 = Cylinder #5

Important: This test procedure requires that the vehicle battery has passed a load test and is completely charged. Refer to Battery Inspection/Test .

  1. Ignition ON, engine OFF, measure and record the ignition voltage at the fuse for the valve lifter oil manifold (VLOM) assembly.
  2. Remove the fuse for the VLOM assembly from the underhood fuse block.
  3. If the fuse is open, then a short to ground condition exists in the circuit.
  4. Connect a DMM in series with a 15A fused jumper wire and a non-fused jumper wire across the exposed fuse terminals in the underhood fuse block.
  5. Select the 10A range and zero out the DMM display.
  6. Command each VLOM solenoid ON, with a scan tool.
  7. Record the amperage reading display on the DMM for each solenoid.
  8. Calculate the resistance for each solenoid circuit; divide the previously recorded voltage by the amperage for each VLOM solenoid circuit. The total resistance for each solenoid circuit should be within 11-22 ohms.
  9. If the total circuit resistance exceeds 22 ohms, then an open/high resistance condition exists in the VLOM solenoid circuit.

Reference Information

Schematic Reference

Engine Controls Schematics

Connector End View Reference

Component Connector End Views

Description and Operation

Cylinder Deactivation (Active Fuel Management) System Description

Electrical Information Reference

    •  Circuit Testing
    •  Connector Repairs
    •  Wiring Repairs

Scan Tool Reference

Control Module References for scan tool information

Special Tools

EN-46999 Active Fuel Management Tester

Circuit/System Verification

  1. Engine running, command the affected cylinder deactivation solenoid ON and OFF while observing the following cylinder deactivation control circuit status parameters:
  2. • Cylinder 1, 3, or 5 solenoid control Ckt. Short Gnd Test Status
    • Cylinder 1, 3, or 5 solenoid control Ckt. Open Test Status
    • Cylinder 1, 3, or 5 solenoid control Ckt. Short Volts Test Status
    • Each parameter should toggle between OK and Not Run or Not Run and OK
  3. 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.

Circuit/System Testing

Important: Perform the Circuit/System Verification first.

  1. Ignition OFF, remove the fuel pump fuse.
  2. Perform the Fuel Pressure Relief Procedure. Refer to Fuel Pressure Relief .
  3. Disconnect the engine harness to fuel injector harness connector X102.
  4. Ignition ON, verify that a test lamp illuminates between the ignition 1 voltage circuit X102 terminal M and ground.
  5. If the test lamp does not illuminate, test the ignition circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance.
    If the circuit tests normal and the ignition circuit fuse is open, remove the upper intake manifold and inspect the remainder of the harness.
  6. Connect a test lamp between the appropriate VLOM solenoid control circuit X102 terminal and the ignition circuit terminal M, on the engine harness side.
  7. If the test lamp illuminates, test the control circuit for a short to ground.
    If the circuit tests normal, remove the upper intake manifold and inspect the remainder of the harness.
  8. Remove the test lamp.
  9. Command the affected cylinder deactivation solenoid ON. Verify that the affected cylinder deactivation solenoid Ckt. Short Volts Test Status parameter is OK.
  10. If not the specified value, test the control circuit for a short to voltage.
    If the circuit tests normal, remove the upper intake manifold and inspect the remainder of the harness.
  11. Install a 3A fused jumper wire between the affected control circuit terminal and the ignition circuit X102 terminal M. Command the affected cylinder deactivation solenoid ON. Verify with a scan tool that the affected cylinder deactivation solenoid Ckt. Short Volts Test Status parameter is displaying Fault.
  12. If not the specified value, test the control circuit for an open/high resistance.
    If the circuit tests normal, remove the upper intake manifold and inspect the remainder of the harness.
  13. If all circuits test normal, test or replace the VLOM assembly.

Component Testing

Static Test

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the valve lifter oil manifold (VLOM) harness connector at the VLOM assembly.
  2. Connect the cable that is labeled resistance from the displacement on demand (DoD) tester to the VLOM connector.
  3. Connect the power leads from the DoD tester to B+ and ground. Test for 11-18 ohms of resistance on each VLOM solenoid.
  4. If the resistance is not within the specified range for each solenoid, replace the VLOM assembly.
  5. Test for infinite resistance between each VLOM circuit terminal and the VLOM housing.
  6. If less than infinite resistance, replace the VLOM assembly.

Dynamic Test

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the valve lifter oil manifold (VLOM) harness connector at the VLOM assembly.
  2. Connect the cable that is labeled power from the displacement on demand DoD tester to the VLOM connector.
  3. Connect the power leads from the DoD tester to B+ and ground.
  4. Command each VLOM solenoid ON and OFF using the DoD tester. You should be able to hear each solenoid turn ON and OFF.
  5. If the function does not perform as specified, replace the VLOM assembly.

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the diagnostic procedure.

    •  Valve Lifter Oil Manifold Removal
    •  Control Module References for ECM replacement, setup, and programming

Repair Verification

  1. Install any components or connectors that have been removed or replaced during diagnosis.
  2. Perform any adjustment, programming, or setup procedures that are required when a component or module is removed or replaced.
  3. Clear the DTCs.
  4. Turn OFF the ignition for 60 seconds.