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 P2237: Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S) Pumping Current Control Circuit Sensor 1

DTC P2238: Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S) Pumping Current Control Circuit Low Voltage Sensor 1

DTC P2239: Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S) Pumping Current Control Circuit High Voltage Sensor 1

Diagnostic Fault Information

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open/High Resistance

Short to Voltage

Signal Performance

HO2S 1 Input

P2195, P2237, P2238

P2237, P2238

P2196, P2237, P2239, P2253

P2237, P2238, P2A00

Low Reference

P0171, P2196, P2237, P2239, P2252

P2237, P2238

P2196, P2237, P2238, P2239, P2253

P2237, P2238

Typical Scan Tool Data

HO2S 1

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open

Short to Voltage

Operating Conditions: Engine operating in Closed Loop

Parameter Normal Range: Fluctuates between 3.2-3.4 volts/1.0 Lambda

HO2S 1 Input

1.232 Lambda/4.99 volts*

0.999 Lambda/3.3-3.4 volts

0.999 Lambda/0.00 volts**

Low Reference

1.232 Lambda/4.99 volts*

0.999 Lambda/2.9-3.2 volts

0.999 Lambda/0.00 volts**

*Actual circuit voltage is not the same as scan tool displayed voltage

**Actual circuit voltage is not the same as scan tool displayed voltage. Once DTC sets displayed voltage may default to fixed 3.30 volts.

Circuit Description

The heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) 1 is a wide band or wide range design. As with all oxygen sensors, the wide band HO2S measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust system, but provides more information than the typical switching style HO2S. The wide band sensor consists of an oxygen sensing cell, an oxygen pumping cell, and a heater. The exhaust gas sample passes through a diffusion gap between the sensing cell and the pumping cell. The powertrain control module (PCM) supplies a voltage to the HO2S and uses this voltage as a reference to the amount of oxygen in the exhaust system. An electronic circuit within the PCM controls the pump current through the oxygen pumping cell in order to maintain a constant voltage in the oxygen sensing cell. The PCM monitors the voltage variation in the sensing cell and attempts to keep the voltage constant by increasing or decreasing the amount of current flow, or oxygen ion flow, to the pumping cell. By measuring the amount of current required to maintain the voltage in the sensing cell, the PCM can determine the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust. The HO2S input signal is displayed as a voltage within the range of 1-5 volts, with a steady value of 3.2-3.3 volts equal to the air fuel ratio of 14.7:1. If the HO2S 1 input voltage is lower than the specified reference voltage, the PCM determines that the air/fuel ratio is richer than the theoretical air/fuel ratio and reduces the fuel. If the input voltage from the HO2S 1 is higher than the specified reference voltage, the PCM determines that the air/fuel ratio is leaner and increases the fuel. By repeating these operations, the PCM can adjust the air/fuel ratio in order to be closer to the theoretical air/fuel ratio. Control of the fuel delivery system as just described is known as Closed Loop operation.

The HO2S utilizes the following circuits:

    • A signal circuit
    • A low reference circuit
    • An ignition 1 voltage circuit
    • A heater control circuit

Air Fuel Mixture

Exhaust O2 Content

HO2S 1 Output

Fuel System Response

Lean Mixture

High Oxygen

More Than 3.4 V

Rich Command

Rich Mixture

Low Oxygen

Less Than 3.2 V

Lean Command

Conditions for Running the DTC

    • DTCs P0031, P0032, P0037, P0038, P0100, P0101, P0102, P0103, P0110, P0112, P0113, P0115, P0117, P0118, P0120, P0121, P0122, P0123, P0125, P0171, P0172, P0220, P0222, P0223, P0300-P0304, P0335, P0339, P0340, P0341, P0441, P0443, P0455, P0456, P0500, P2135 are not set.
    • The battery voltage is greater than 10.5 volts.
    • The engine coolant temperature (ECT) is greater than 20°C (68°F).
    • The engine has been running for greater than 20 seconds.
    • The DTCs run once per drive cycle when the above conditions have been met.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

P2237

    • The HO2S 1 input voltage is less than 0.5 volts for greater than 5 seconds.
        OR
    • The HO2S 1 input voltage is greater than 4.5 volts for greater than 5 seconds.

P2238

    • The HO2S 1 input voltage is less than 0.5 volts for greater than 5 seconds.
        OR
    • The difference between the HO2S 1 input voltage and the HO2S 1 low reference voltage is less than 0.1 volts for greater than 5 seconds.

P2239

The HO2S 1 input voltage is greater than 4.5 volts for greater than 5 seconds.

Action Taken when the DTC Sets

DTCs  P2237, P2238, and P2239 are Type B DTCs.

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

DTCs  P2237, P2238, and P2239 are Type B DTCs.

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

Circuit/System Verification

  1. Engine running at normal operating temperature, observe the scan tool HO2S 1 voltage parameter. The reading should fluctuate between 3.2-3.4 volts.
  2. 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. Ignition OFF, disconnect the harness connector at the HO2S 1.
  2. Ignition ON, test for 3.4-3.6 volts between the HO2S 1 input circuit terminal 3 and ground.
  3. If less than the specified range, test the HO2S 1 input circuit for an open/high resistance or a short to ground. If the circuit tests normal, replace the PCM.
    If greater than the specified range, test the HO2S 1 input circuit for a short to voltage. If the circuit tests normal, replace the PCM.
  4. If all the circuits test normal, replace the HO2S 1.

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the diagnostic procedure.

    •  Heated Oxygen Sensor 1 Replacement
    •  Control Module References for control module replacement, setup, and programming