GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Circuit Description

The powertrain control module (PCM) controls a closed loop air/fuel metering system in order to provide the best possible combination of driveability, fuel economy, and emission control. The PCM monitors the heated oxygen sensor signal voltage and adjusts the fuel delivery based on the signal voltage while in closed loop. A change made to the fuel delivery changes the Long and Short Term Fuel Trim values. The Short Term Fuel Trim values change rapidly in response to the heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) signal voltages. These changes fine tune the engine fueling. The Long Term Fuel Trim values change in response to trends in Short Term Fuel Trim. The Long Term Fuel Trim makes coarse adjustments to fueling in order to re-center and restore control to Short Term Fuel Trim. You can use a scan tool in order to monitor the Short and Long Term Fuel Trim. The ideal fuel trim values are around 0 percent. A positive Fuel Trim value indicates that the PCM is adding fuel in order to compensate for a lean condition. A negative Fuel Trim value indicates that the PCM is reducing the amount of fuel in order to compensate for a rich condition. If the PCM detects an excessively Rich or Lean condition, the PCM sets a DTC. The long term fuel trim diagnostic parameter is an average of several of the long term speed load learn cells which the PCM selects based on the engine speed and the engine load.

Conditions for Running the DTC

    •  No TP sensor, MAP sensor, MAF sensor, HO2S, KS sensor, Idle speed, Injector, Misfire, EGR Flow, CMP sensor DTCs are set.
    • EGR Flow test is inactive.
    •  Engine coolant temperature between 20°C (68°F) and 115°C (239°F).
    •  Barometric pressure more than 75 kPa.
    •  Mass air flow between 3-60 grams per second.
    •  Manifold absolute pressure between 15-85 kPa.
    •  Intake air temperature between -20°C (-4°F) and 100°C (212°F).
    •  Engine speed between 500-4000 RPM.
    •  Throttle angle less than 65 percent.
    •  Vehicle speed less than 131 km/h (82 mph).

Conditions for Setting the DTC

The PCM in not able to correct for a rich condition in cylinder bank 2.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

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

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

    •  The PCM will turn the MIL OFF during the third consecutive trip in which the diagnostic has been 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 the scan tool Clear DTC Information function.

Diagnostic Aids

If the condition is intermittent, refer to Intermittent Conditions in Symptoms.

Test Description

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

  1. Freeze frame data will aid in locating a hard to find malfunction. For example, if the fault only occurs at high speed, this would be determined by monitoring the fuel trim cells. The freeze frame will also indicate how many miles ago the condition was present.

  2. If DTC P0172 is also set indicates both banks are operating rich. Inspect items that would cause both banks to operate rich.

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

Important: If there are any other DTCs set, diagnose those DTCs first.

  1. Operate the engine until the engine coolant temperature reaches 85°C (185°F) and the loop status indicates Closed.
  2. View the Long Term FT bank 2 and the Short Term FT bank 2 displays on the scan tool.

Is either value more negative than their specified value?

-98% LT

-95% ST

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 3

3

  1. Review and record the scan tool Freeze Frame data.
  2. Clear this DTC.
  3. Operate vehicle within the Freeze Frame conditions.
  4. With the scan tool, monitor the Specific DTC Information for DTC P0175 until the test runs.

Does the scan tool indicate that DTC P0175 failed last test?

--

Go to Step 4

Go to Diagnostic Aids

4

Is DTC P0172 also set?

--

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 6

5

  1. Visually/physically inspect for the following items:
  2. • Collapsed air intake duct
    • Air filter element for being restricted
    • MAF sensor for being installed in the proper direction and for foreign objects blocking inlet screen.
    • For fuel in pressure regulator vacuum hose.
    • For excessive fuel in the crankcase, change oil as necessary. Refer to Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement in Engine Mechanical.
  3. If a condition is found, repair as necessary.

Did you find and correct a condition?

--

Go to Step 7

Go to Fuel System Pressure Test

6

  1. Inspect the injectors for leaking (bank 2) or a fuel pressure regulator leaking fuel into the vacuum hose, refer to Fuel System Pressure Test .
  2. If the condition is found, repair as necessary.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 7

7

Important: Inspect the sensor for contamination. If the sensor is contaminated, determine the cause of contamination before replacing the sensor. Inspect the following:

   • Fuel contamination. Refer to Alcohol/Contaminants-in-Fuel Diagnosis .
   • Engine oil or coolant consumption. Refer to Oil Consumption Diagnosis in Engine Mechanical or Loss of Coolant in Engine Cooling.
   • Use of improper RTV sealant.

Replace the HO2S bank 2 sensor 1. Refer to Heated Oxygen Sensor Replacement - Bank 2 .

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step 8

--

8

  1. Review and record the scan tool Freeze Frame data.
  2. Clear the DTCs.
  3. Operate the vehicle within the parameters listed in the Conditions for Running the DTC.
  4. With the scan tool, monitor the Specific DTC Information for DTC P0175 until the test runs.

Does the scan tool indicate that DTC P0175 passed?

--

System OK

Go to Step 2