GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Table 1: Fuel Trim Cells
Table 2: DTC P0172 - Fuel Trim System Rich

Circuit Description

To provide the best possible combination of driveability, fuel economy, and emission control, a closed loop air/fuel metering system is used. While in closed loop, the PCM monitors the 1 HO2S 1 signals and adjusts fuel delivery based upon the HO2S signal voltages. A change made to fuel delivery will be indicated by the long and short term fuel trim values which can be monitored with a scan tool. Ideal fuel trim values are approximately 0 percent. If the HO2S signals are indicating 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 on bank 1, the PCM will set DTC P0172. The PCMs maximum authority to control long term fuel trim allows a range between -20 percent and +20 percent . The PCMs maximum authority to control short term fuel trim allows a range between -20 percent and +20 percent . The PCM monitors fuel trim under various operating conditions (fuel trim cells) before determining the status of the fuel trim diagnostic. The fuel trim cells are as follows:

Fuel Trim Cells

Cell

Purge ON

Purge OFF

Idle (Cell 0)

X

--

Decel (Cell 1)

--

--

Normal (Cell 2)

X

X

Accel (Cell 3)

X

X

High Flow (Cell 4)

X

--

L.T. Fuel Trim average less than -18 percent

S.T. Fuel Trim more than -2 percent

The vehicle may have to be operated in all of the above conditions before the PCM determines fuel trim status. The amount of fuel trim deviates from 0 percent in each cell and the amount that each cell is used 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

    • None of the following active DTCs are present:
       - Throttle position (TP) sensor
       - Evaporative emissions (EVAP) system
       - Misfire
       - Intake air temperature (IAT) sensor
       - Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor
       - Fuel injector circuit
       - EGR pintle position
       - Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor
       - Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor
       - Mass air flow (MAF) sensor
       - Vehicle speed sensor (VSS)
       - Camshaft position (CMP) sensor
       - Heated oxygen sensor (HO2S)
       - Electronic spark timing (EST)
    • The engine coolant temperature is between 20°C (68°F) and 110°C (230°F).
    • The intake air temperature is between -18°C (0°F) and 70°C (158°F).
    • The manifold absolute pressure is between 15 kPa and 85 kPa.
    • The throttle angle is steady and less than 90 percent .
    • The vehicle speed is less than 132 km/h (82 mph).
    • The engine speed is between 600 and 4000 RPM.
    • The BARO is more than 70 kPa.
    • The mass air flow is between 3 gm/s and 150 gm/s.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

    • The long term fuel trim is at or near the maximum authority of -20 percent .
    • Short term fuel trim is at or near the maximum authority of -20 percent .
    • All conditions have been met in the Fuel Trim Cells.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

    • The PCM will illuminate the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) during the second consecutive trip in which the diagnostic test has been run and failed.
    • The PCM will store conditions which were present when the DTC set as Freeze Frame/Failure Records data.

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

    • The PCM will turn OFF the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) during the third consecutive trip in which the diagnostic has run and passed.
    • The history DTC will clear after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles have occurred without a malfunction.
    • The DTC can be cleared by using a scan tool.

Diagnostic Aids

Check the following items:

    • The fuel system will go lean if the fuel pressure is too low. The PCM can compensate for some decrease. However, if the fuel pressure is too low, a DTC P0171 may be set. Refer to Fuel System Pressure Test (VIN K) or to Fuel System Pressure Test (VIN 1) .
    • 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) .
    • 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. Refer to Evaporative Emission Control System Diagnosis .
    • Disconnect the MAF sensor and see if rich condition is corrected. If so, replace the MAF sensor. Refer to Mass Airflow Sensor Replacement .
    • Fuel Pressure Regulator--Check for a leaking fuel pressure regulator diaphragm by checking vacuum line to regulator for the presence of fuel. If a problem is found, replace the fuel pressure regulator. Refer to Fuel Pressure Regulator Replacement .
    • An intermittent TP sensor output will cause the system to go rich due to a false indication of the engine accelerating. The Throttle Angle displayed on a scan tool should increase steadily from 0 percent to 100 percent when opening the throttle.
    • A faulty connection at the PCM--Inspect the harness connectors for backed out terminals, improper mating, broken locks, improperly formed or damaged terminals, and faulty terminal to wire connections. Use a corresponding mating terminal to test for proper terminal tension.
    • Inspect the wiring harness for damage. If the harness appears to be OK, observe the HO2S 1 display on the scan tool while moving connectors and wiring harnesses related to the engine harness. A change in the display will indicate the location of the malfunction.

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

Test Description

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

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

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

DTC P0172 - Fuel Trim System Rich

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

1

Was the Powertrain On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check performed?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Powertrain On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check

2

Are any DTCs other than P0172 set?

--

Go to Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) List/Type

Go to Step 3

3

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

Are the displayed values more negative than the specified value?

-10 percent

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 4

4

  1. Review and record the scan tool Failure Records data.
  2. Clear DTC P0172 and operate the vehicle to duplicate the Failure Records conditions.
  3. Monitor the scan tool Specific DTC info for DTC P0172 while operating the vehicle to duplicate the Failure Records conditions.
  4. Continue operating the vehicle until the DTC P0172 test runs and note the test result.

Does the scan tool indicate DTC P0172 failed this ignition?

--

Go to Step 5

Go to Diagnostic Aids

5

Visually and physically inspect the air filter element and replace the filter if necessary. Refer to Air Cleaner Element Replacement .

Did the air filter require replacement?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 6

6

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

Did your inspection reveal a condition requiring repair?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 7

7

  1. Inspect the throttle body inlet screen for damage or for the presence of foreign objects which may alter the airflow sample through the MAF sensor.
  2. If a problem is found, repair as necessary.
  3. Refer to Throttle Body Air Inlet Screen Replacement .

Was a problem found?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 8

8

Start the engine and note the idle quality.

Is the idle low or unsteady?

--

Go to Step 9

Go to Step 11

9

With the engine idling, observe the Idle Air Control display on the scan tool.

Is the value less than the specified value? (Value is displayed in counts).

100

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 10

10

  1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
  2. Physically inspect the throttle body bore, throttle plate, and IAC passages for choking and foreign objects.
  3. If a problem is found, repair as necessary.
  4. Refer to Fuel System Cleaning .

Was a problem found?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 11

11

  1. Check the idle air control system. Refer to the 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 .

Did the fuel pressure regulator require replacement?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 13

13

  1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
  2. 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 the minimum value at closed throttle to the maximum value at wide open throttle?

0-100 percent

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 19

14

  1. Perform the Fuel System Pressure Test. Refer to Fuel System Pressure Test (VIN K) or Fuel System Pressure Test (VIN 1) .
  2. If a problem is found, repair as necessary.

Was problem found?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 15

15

  1. Perform the Evaporative Emissions Control (EVAP) System Check. Refer to Evaporative Emission Control System Diagnosis .
  2. If a problem is found, repair as necessary.

Was a problem found?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 16

16

  1. Check the fuel injector operation. 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) .
  2. If a problem is found, repair as necessary.

Was a problem found?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 17

17

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

Do both values change to approximately the specified value?

0 percent

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 18

18

  1. Remove and visually/physically inspect the HO2S 1 for silicon contamination. Contamination is 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?

--

Go to Step 21

Go to Diagnostic Aids

19

Replace the TP sensor. Refer to Throttle Position Sensor Replacement .

Is 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 scan tool Failure Records data.
  2. Clear the DTC P0172 and operate the vehicle to duplicate the Failure Records conditions.
  3. Monitor the scan tool Specific DTC info for DTC P0172 while operating the vehicle to duplicate the Failure Records conditions.
  4. Continue operating the vehicle until the DTC P0172 test runs and note the test result.

Does the scan tool indicate DTC P0172 failed this ignition?

--

Go to Step 2

System OK