GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Holden 🢒 2009 🢒 Sportwagon 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Controls and Fuel - 2.8L, 3.0L, 3.2L, or 3.6L 🢒 DTC P0638, P2100, P2101, or P2119

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 P0638: Commanded versus Actual Throttle Position Correlation

DTC P2100: Throttle Control Motor Malfunction

DTC P2101: Throttle Control Position Range/Performance

DTC P2119: Closed Throttle Position Range/Performance

Circuit/System Description

The engine control module (ECM) controls the throttle valve by applying a varying voltage to the control circuits of the throttle actuator control (TAC) motor. The ECM monitors the duty cycle that is required to actuate the throttle valve. The ECM monitors the throttle position (TP) sensors 1 and 2 to determine the actual throttle valve position.

Conditions for Running the DTCs

P0638 and P2101

    • The ignition is ON or the engine is operating.
    • The ignition 1 voltage is greater than 7 volts.
    • DTCs P0638 and P2101 run continuously once the above conditions are met for greater than 5 second.

P2100

    • Before the ECM can report DTC P2100 failed, DTC P2101 must run and pass.
    • The ignition is ON or the engine is operating.
    • DTC P2100 runs continuously once the above conditions are met.

P2119

    • DTC P0111, P0112, P0113, P0116, P0117, P0118, P0119, P0700, P2122, P2123, P2127, P2128, or P2138 is not set.
    • The ignition is ON.
    • The vehicle speed is 0 km/h (0 mph).
    • The engine speed is less than 40 RPM.
    • The engine coolant temperature (ECT) is between 5-100°C (41-212°F).
    • The intake air temperature (IAT) is 5-143°C (41-290°F).
    • The ignition voltage is greater than 10 volts.
    • The accelerator pedal position (APP) is less than 15 percent.
    • DTC P2119 runs once per ignition cycle when the above conditions are met for less than 1 second.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

DTC P0638

    • The ECM detects that the commanded duty cycle for the range test high is greater than 80 percent.
        OR
    • The ECM detects that the commanded duty cycle for the range test low is greater than 80 percent.
    • Either condition exists for greater than 1 second, or a cumulative of 10 seconds.

DTC P2100

    • The ECM detects the output circuit for the TAC motor is open, shorted to ground, or shorted to a voltage.
    • The condition exists fro greater than 1 second, or a cumulative of 10 seconds.

DTC P2101

    • The ECM detects a 4-50 percent difference between the commanded and the actual throttle plate position, dependant upon the rate of commanded throttle movement.
    • The condition exists fro greater than 1 second, or a cumulative of 10 seconds.

DTC P2119

    • The ECM determines that the throttle valve did not return to the rest position within 1 second.
    • The condition exists for greater than 1 second, or a cumulative of 10 seconds.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

DTCs P0638, P2100, P2101 and P2119 are type A DTCs.

Conditions for Clearing the DTC

DTCs P0638, P2100, P2101 and P2119 are type A DTCs.

Diagnostic Aids

Inspect for a condition in which the throttle valve may have been held open. For example, dirt may have formed in the throttle bore causing the throttle valve not to close.

Reference Information

Schematic Reference

Engine Controls Schematics

Connector End View Reference

Component Connector End Views

Electrical Information Reference

    •  Circuit Testing
    •  Connector Repairs
    •  Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections
    •  Wiring Repairs

DTC Type Reference

Powertrain Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Type Definitions

Scan Tool Reference

Control Module References for scan tool information

Special Tools

J 34730-405 Injector Test Lamp

Circuit/System Verification
  1. Ignition ON, observe the DTC information with a scan tool. Verify DTC P0121, P0122, P0123, P0221, P0222, or P0223 is not set.
    2. ⇒If a DTC is set, refer to DTC P0121, P0122, P0123, P0221, P0222, or P0223 for further diagnosis.
  2. Observe the scan tool TP sensor voltage parameters. Verify that TP sensor 1 voltage is between 3.24-3.54 V, and TP sensor 2 voltage is between 1.36-1.86 V.
    3. ⇒If either TP sensor voltage is not within the specified range, refer to DTC P0121, P0122, P0123, P0221, P0222, or P0223 for further diagnosis.
  3. Rapidly depress the accelerator pedal from the rest position to the wide open throttle position (WOT) and release the pedal. Repeat the procedure several times. DTCs P0638, P2100, P2101, or P2119 should not set.
    4. ⇒If DTC P0121, P0122, P0123, P0221, P0222, or P0223 set while performing this procedure, refer to DTC P0121, P0122, P0123, P0221, P0222, or P0223 for further diagnosis.
  4. Slowly depress the accelerator pedal to WOT and then slowly return the pedal to closed throttle. Repeat the procedure several times. DTC P0638, P2100, P2101, or P2119 should not set.
    5. ⇒If a DTC P0121, P0122, P0123, P0221, P0222, or P0223 set while performing this procedure, refer to DTC P0121, P0122, P0123, P0221, P0222, or P0223 for further diagnosis.
  5. Operate the vehicle within the Conditions for Running the DTC to verify the DTC does not reset. You may also operate the vehicle within the conditions that you observed from the Freeze Frame/Failure Records data.

Circuit/System Testing
  1. Inspect the throttle body for the following conditions:
    2. • A throttle blade that is not in the rest position.
    • A throttle valve that is binding open or closed.
    • A throttle valve that opens or closes without spring pressure.
    ⇒If a condition is found, replace the throttle body.

    Note: Disconnecting the throttle body harness connector causes additional DTCs to set.

  2. Ignition OFF, disconnect the harness connector of the throttle body.
  3. Ignition ON, test for 4.0-4.2 V between the TAC motor control 1 circuit terminal B and ground.
    4. ⇒If voltage is less than the specified range, test the motor control 1 circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, replace the ECM.
    ⇒If voltage is greater than the specified range, test each of the motor control circuits for a short to voltage. If the circuits tests normal, replace the ECM.
  4. Connect a test lamp between the TAC motor control 2 circuit terminal A and B+. The test lamp should NOT illuminate.
    5. ⇒If the test lamp illuminates, test the control circuit for a short to ground. If the circuit tests normal, replace the ECM.
  5. Test for greater than 3.5 V between TAC motor control 1 circuit terminal B and TAC motor control 2 circuit terminal A.
    6. ⇒If the voltage is less than the specified value, test the motor control 2 circuit for an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, replace the ECM.
  6. Ignition OFF, connect the J 34730-405 Injector Test Lamp between the TAC motor control 1 circuit terminal B and TAC motor control 2 circuit terminal A of the throttle body harness connector. Observe the injector test lamp while turning the ignition ON for 5 seconds and then OFF. Verify the injector test lamp illuminates brightly and then turns OFF.
    7. ⇒If the injector test lamp does not illuminate, replace the ECM.
  7. If all circuits test normal, replace the throttle body.

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification .

    •  Throttle Body Assembly Replacement
    •  Engine Control Module Replacement for engine control module replacement, setup, and programming