GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Circuit Description

The Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) sensors are mounted on the accelerator pedal/TAC module assembly. There are three individual Accelerator Pedal Position sensors within one housing. Three separate signal, ground and reference circuits are used which are contained within the Throttle Actuator Control (TAC) Module. The APP sensor signal voltage increases as the Accelerator pedal is depressed. The signal circuits pull to ground within the TAC module.

Conditions for Running the DTC

    • DTCs P0606, P1517, P1518, P1281, P1286 are not set.
    • The ignition switch is in the crank or run position.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

    • APP sensor 1 disagrees with APP sensor 3 by more 10.5% or APP sensor 1 signal is shorted to APP sensor 3 signal.
    • All of the above conditions met for less than 1 second.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

    • The PCM will not illuminate the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).
    • The PCM will store conditions which were present when the DTC set as Failure Records data only. This information will not be stored as Freeze Frame data.

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

    • A History DTC will clear after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles have occurred without a malfunction.
    • The DTC can be cleared by using the scan tool Clear Info function.

Diagnostic Aids

Important: Remove any debris from the connector surfaces before servicing a component. Inspect the connector gaskets when diagnosing/replacing a component. Ensure that the gaskets are installed correctly. The gaskets prevent water contaminate intrusion.

    • Corrosion may cause an intermittent fault.
    • For an intermittent, refer to Symptoms .
    • If a repair is completed and the DTC was cleared using a scan tool on the same ignition cycle, the default action will not clear until an ignition cycle has occurred.
    • When the TAC module detects a problem within the ETC System the PCM receives a message across serial data and more than one ETC System related DTC may set. This is due to the many redundant tests run continuously on this system. Locating and repairing one individual problem may correct more than one DTC. Keep this in mind when reviewing captured DTC info.

Test Description

The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the Diagnostic Table.

  1. When the TAC module detects a problem within the ETC System the PCM receives a message across serial data and more than one ETC System related DTC may set. This is due to the many redundant tests run continuously on this system. Locating and repairing one individual problem may correct more than one DTC. Keep this in mind when reviewing captured DTC info.

DTC P1272 - Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) Sensor 1, 3 Correlation Error

Step

Action

Value(s)

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 other DTCs set?

--

Diagnose these DTCs first

Go to Step 3

3

Replace the TAC Module. Refer to Accelerator Pedal Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 4

--

4

  1. Use the scan tool in order to record Fail Records and clear the DTCs.
  2. Operate the vehicle within the Fail Records conditions.

Does the DTC reset?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Step 5

5

Does the scan tool indicate any DTCs set that you have not diagnosed?

--

Go to the applicable DTC table

System OK