GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Circuit Description

To provide the best possible combination of driveability, fuel economy, and emission control, a closed loop air and fuel metering system is used. While in closed loop, the PCM monitors the HO2S 1 signal and adjusts fuel delivery based upon the HO2S signal voltage. A change in the fuel delivery will be indicated by changes in the long and short term fuel trim values. The fuel trim values can be monitored with a scan tool. Ideal fuel trim values are approximately 0 percent. If the HO2S signals indicate a lean condition, the PCM will add fuel, resulting in fuel trim values of more than 0 percent. If a rich condition is detected, the fuel trim values will be less than 0 percent, indicating that the PCM is reducing the amount of fuel delivered. If an excessively rich condition is detected, the PCM will set DTC P01712.

The PCM's maximum authority to control long term fuel trim allows a range between -23 percent and +16 percent. The PCM's maximum authority to control short term fuel trim allows a range between -11 percent and +20 percent. The PCM monitors fuel trim under various operating conditions -- or fuel trim cells -- before determining the status of the fuel trim diagnostic. The fuel trim cells used to determine the fuel trim are as follows:

    • Idle, purge commanded: Cell 10.
    • Deceleration, purge commanded: Cell 1.
    • Normal driving, purge commanded: Cell 2.
    • Deceleration, no purge commanded: Cell 5.
    • Normal driving, no purge commanded: Cell 6.
    • Idle, no purge commanded: Cell 9.

The vehicle may have to be operated in all of the above conditions before the PCM determines fuel trim status. The amount that fuel trim deviates from 0 percent in each cell, and the amount that each cell is weighted directly affects whether or not the vehicle must be operated in all of the cells described above to complete the diagnostic.

Conditions for Running the DTC

    • There are no active DTCs of any of the following types present:
      • Fuel trim
      • Fuel injector circuit
      • Ignition control circuit
      • Misfire
      • Idle speed
      • Evaporative emission (EVAP)
      • Heated oxygen sensor (HO2S)
      • Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)
      • Secondary air injection system (AIR)
      • Vehicle speed sensor (VSS)
      • Throttle position (TP) sensor
      • Intake air temperature (IAT) sensor
      • Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor
      • Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor
      • Cranshaft postion (CKP) sensor
      • Camshaft position (CMP) sensor
      • Mass air flow (MAF) sensor
    • The ECT is between 20°-110°C (68°-230°F).
    • The IAT is between -18°C and +70°C (0°-158°F).
    • The BARO is more than 70 kPa (10.15 psi).
    • The MAP is between 15-85 kPa (2.175-12.327 psi).
    • The throttle angle is less than 50 percent.
    • The vehicle speed is less than 133.57 km/h (83.0 mph).
    • The MAF is between 3-150 g/s.
    • The engine speed is between 600-4000 RPM.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

    • The long term fuel trim is at or near the maximum authority of -23 percent.
    • The short term fuel trim is at or near the maximum authority of -11 percent.
    • All of the necessary conditions have been met in fuel trim cells 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and/or 10.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

    • The PCM illuminates the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on the second consecutive ignition cycle that the diagnostic runs and fails.
    • The PCM records the operating conditions at the time the diagnostic fails. The first time the diagnostic fails, the PCM stores this information in the Failure Records. If the diagnostic reports a failure on the second consecutive ignition cycle, the PCM records the operating conditions at the time of the failure. The PCM writes the conditions to the Freeze Frame and updates the Failure Records.

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

    • The PCM turns the MIL OFF after 3 consecutive drive trips during which the diagnostic runs and passes.
    • A last test failed, or the current DTC, clears when the diagnostic runs and passes.
    • A History DTC clears after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles, if no other emission related diagnostic failures are reported.
    • Use a scan tool in order to clear the MIL diagnostic trouble code.
    • Interrupting the PCM battery voltage may or may not clear DTCs. This practice is not recommended. Refer to Powertrain Control Module Description , Clearing Diagnostic Trouble Codes.

Diagnostic Aids

Notice: Use the connector test adapter kit J 35616-A for any test that requires probing the following items:

   • The PCM harness connectors
   • The electrical center fuse/relay cavities
   • The component terminals
   • The component harness connector
Using this kit will prevent damage caused by the improper probing of connector terminals.

Check the following components and conditions:

    • The fuel pressure -- The system may become rich if the pressure is too high. The PCM can compensate for some increase. However, if the fuel pressure is too high, a DTC P0172 may set. Refer to Fuel System Pressure Test
    • The fuel injectors -- Refer to Fuel Injector Solenoid Coil Test - Engine Coolant Temperature Between 10-35 Degrees C (50-95 Degrees F) or Fuel Injector Solenoid Coil Test - Engine Coolant Temperature Outside 10-35 Degrees C (50-95 Degrees F) .
    • The EVAP canister -- Check the EVAP canister for fuel saturation. If the canister is full of fuel, visually and physically check the EVAP and fuel system components for damage.
    • The mass air flow sensor -- Disconnect the MAF sensor and see if the rich condition is corrected. If so, replace the MAF sensor. Refer to Mass Airflow Sensor Replacement .
    • The fuel pressure regulator: -- Check for a leaking fuel pressure regulator diaphragm by checking the vacuum line to the regulator for the presence of fuel. If a problem is found, replace the fuel pressure regulator. Refer to Fuel Pressure Regulator Replacement .
    • The TP sensor -- An intermittent TP sensor output will cause the system to become rich due to a false indication of the engine accelerating. The Throttle Angle displayed on a scan tool should increase steadily from 0-100 percent when opening the throttle. If this does not occur, check the TP sensor for loose mounting screws. If the TP mounting screws are OK, replace the TP sensor. Refer to Throttle Position Sensor Replacement .

Reviewing the Failure Records vehicle mileage since the diagnostic test last failed may help determine how often the condition occurs that caused the DTC to set . This may assist in diagnosing the condition.

If the problem is intermittent, refer to Intermittent Conditions .

Test Description

The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.

  1. DTCs other than P0172 may indicate that a condition is present that may be causing a rich condition. If this is the case, repairing the condition that caused the other DTC will most likely correct DTC P0172.

  2. If the DTC P0172 test passes while the Fail Records conditions are being duplicated, the rich condition is intermittent. Refer to Diagnostic Aids for additional information on diagnosing intermittent conditions.

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

1

Did you perform the Powertrain On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Powertrain On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check

2

Are any DTCs set other than P0172?

--

Go to the applicable DTC table.

Go to Step 3

3

  1. Start and run the vehicle in closed loop.
  2. Observe Long Term FT and Short Term FT on the scan tool.

Are the displayed values more negative than the specified value?

-10%

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 4

4

  1. Review the Failure Records data.
  2. Clear the DTCs.
  3. Operate the vehicle under the same conditions indicated in the Failure Records.( as closely as possible). The vehicle must also be operating within the conditions required for the diagnostic to run. Refer to Conditions for Running the DTC.

Does the scan tool indicate that this test ran and passed?

--

Go to Diagnostic Aids

Go to Step 5

5

Visually and physically inspect the air filter element and replace it if necessary.

Was a problem found and corrected?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 6

6

Visually and physically inspect the air intake duct for being collapsed or restricted.

Was a problem found and corrected?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 7

7

Inspect the throttle body, duct work and the MAF sensor for damage or for the presence of foreign objects which may alter the airflow sample through the MAF sensor.

Was a problem found and corrected?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 8

8

Start the engine and note the idle quality.

Is a the idle low or unsteady?

--

Go to Step 9

Go to Step 11

9

With the engine idling, observe IAC Position on the scan tool.

Is IAC Position less than the specified value?

100 counts

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 10

10

Physically inspect the throttle body bore, throttle plate, and IAC passages for carbon deposits and foreign objects.

Was a problem found and corrected?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 11

11

  1. Check the idle air control system. Refer to Idle Air Control (IAC) System Diagnosis .
  2. If a problem is found, repair as necessary.

Was a problem found?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 12

12

  1. Disconnect the vacuum hose from the fuel pressure regulator and inspect the hose for the presence of fuel.
  2. If fuel is present in the vacuum hose, replace the fuel pressure regulator. Refer to Fuel Pressure Regulator Replacement .

Was a problem found and corrected?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 13

13

Monitor the TP Angle display on the scan tool while slowly depressing the accelerator pedal.

Does the TP Angle display increase steadily and evenly from minimum value at closed throttle to maximum value at wide-open throttle?

0-100%

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 19

14

  1. Disconnect the MAF sensor electrical connector.
  2. Operate the vehicle in closed loop while monitoring Long Term FT and Short Term FT on the scan tool.

Did both values change to near the specified value?

0%

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 15

15

Perform the Fuel System Pressure Test. Refer to Fuel System Pressure Test .

Was problem found and corrected?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 16

16

Perform the Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) Control System service bay test. Refer to DTC P0440 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System .

Was a problem found and corrected?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 17

17

Check the fuel injector operation. Refer to Fuel Injector Balance Test with Tech 2 .

Was a problem found and corrected?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 18

18

  1. Remove and visually/physically inspect the HO2S 1 for silicon contamination. This will be indicated by abnormal discoloration on the portion of the HO2S that is exposed to the exhaust stream.
  2. If contamination is evident on the HO2S, replace the contaminated sensor. Refer to Heated Oxygen Sensor Replacement .

Was a problem found and corrected?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Diagnostic Aids.

19

  1. Check the TP sensor mounting screws and tighten or replace them as necessary.
  2. If the sensor mounting is OK, replace the TP sensor. Refer to Throttle Position Sensor Replacement .

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step 21

--

20

Replace the MAF sensor. Refer to Mass Airflow Sensor Replacement .

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step 21

--

21

  1. Review and record the Failure Records data.
  2. Clear the DTCs with the scan tool.
  3. Turn the key to the OFF position and wait 15 seconds.
  4. Operate the vehicle under the same conditions indicated in the Failure Records (as closely as possible). The vehicle must also be operating within the conditions that are required for the diagnostic to run. Refer to Conditions for Running the DTC.

Does the scan tool indicate that this test ran and passed?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 2

22

Review the Captured Information using the scan tool.

Are there any DTCs that have not been diagnosed?

--

Go to the applicable DTC table

System OK