GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

SMU - Revised DTC P0135, P0141, P0155, or P0161 Heater Performance and Revised DTC P0140, P0160, P0134, P0154 HO2S Insufficient Activity

Subject:Revised DTC P0135, P0141, P0155, or P0161 Heater Performance and Revised DTC P0140, P0160, P0134, P0154 HO2S Insufficient Activity

Models:2004 Pontiac GTO
with 5.7L Engine (VIN G - RPO LS1)



This bulletin is being issued to revise DTC P0135, DTC P0141, DTC P0155 , or DTC P0161 Heater Performance and Step 2 of DTC P0140, P0160, P0134, P0154 HO2S Insufficient Activity in the Engine Controls sub-section of the Service Manual. Please replace the current information in the Service Manual with the following information.

The following information has been updated within SI. If you are using a paper version of this Service Manual, please make a reference to this bulletin on the affected page.

DTC P0135, P0141, P0155, or P0161 Heater Performance

Circuit Description

The heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) must reach operating temperature to provide an accurate voltage signal. A heating element inside the HO2S minimizes the time required for the sensor to reach operating temperature. Voltage is provided to the heater by the ignition 1 voltage circuit through a fuse. With the engine running, ground is provided to the heater by the HO2S heater low control circuit, through a low side driver within the powertrain control module (PCM). The PCM commands the heater ON or OFF to maintain a specific HO2S operating temperature range. The PCM determines the temperature by measuring the current flow through the heater. When the heater is in the ON state, the PCM will pulse the heater OFF for a duration of 50 ms, once per second. When the heater is in the OFF state, the PCM will pulse the heater ON for a duration of 50 ms, once per second. The PCM monitors the heater current with the engine running. The PCM also calculates the heater resistance on a cold start. Both diagnostics will only run once per ignition cycle. If the PCM detects that the heater current or the heater calculated resistance is not within the expected range, the DTCs will set.

DTC Descriptors

This diagnostic procedure supports the following DTCs:

    • DTC P0135 Heater Performance Bank 1 Sensor 1
    • DTC P0141 Heater Performance Bank 1 Sensor 2
    • DTC P0155 Heater Performance Bank 2 Sensor 1
    • DTC P0161 Heater Performance Bank 2 Sensor 2

Conditions for Running the DTC

 

Heater Current Test

    • DTCs P0101, P0102, P0103, P0106, P0107, P0108, P0112, P0113, P0116, P0117, P0118, P0121, P0122, P0123, P0125, P0128, P0200, P0300, P0443, P0496, P1111, P1112, P1114, P1115, P1121, or P1122 are not set.
    • The engine coolant temperature (ECT) is more than 50°C (122°F).
    • The ignition 1 voltage is between 10-18 volts.
    • The engine speed is between 500-3,000 RPM.
    • The engine is running for more than 120 seconds.
    • The mass air flow (MAF) is between 3-40 g/s.
    • The scan tool output controls are not active.
    • DTCs P0135, P0141, P0155, and P0161 run twice per ignition cycle when the above conditions are met.

Heater Resistance Test

    • The ignition is OFF for more than 10 hours.
    • The engine coolant temperature is between -30 and +45°C (-22 and +113°F) at engine start-up.
    • The engine coolant temperature minus the intake air temperature is less than 8°C (14°F) at engine start-up
    • The engine is started.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

The PCM detects that the affected HO2S Heater Current is more than 3.125 amps or less than 0.25 amps.

and

The PCM detects that the affected HO2S Heater Resistance is more than 3.125 ohms or less than 9.81 ohms.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

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

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

    • The control module turns OFF the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) after 3 consecutive ignition cycles that the diagnostic runs and does not fail.
    • A current DTC, Last Test Failed, clears when the diagnostic runs and passes.
    • A history DTC clears after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles, if no failures are reported by this or any other emission related diagnostic.
    • Clear the MIL and the DTC with a scan tool.

Test Description

The number below refers to the step number on the diagnostic table.

  1. With no fault present, the test lamp will blink once per second.

Step

Action

Value

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Engine Controls Schematics

Connector End View Reference: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Connector End Viewsor Engine Controls Connector End Views

1

Did you perform the Diagnostic System Check - Engine Controls?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Diagnostic System Check - Engine Controls

2

Important: Whenever the heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) heaters are commanded ON with a scan tool, they will continue to be pulsed ON once per second until the ignition is turned OFF for 30 seconds.

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Command the HO2S heaters ON with a scan tool.
  3. Wait 15 seconds to allow the HO2S heater current to stabilize.
  4. Observe the affected HO2S heater current parameter with a scan tool.

Is the HO2S heater current parameter within the specified range?

0.25-3.125 A

Go to Step 3

Go to Step 6

3

Observe the Freeze Frame/Failure Records for this DTC.

Did the DTC fail with an engine run time of less than 10 seconds?

--

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 5

4

  1. Operate the vehicle within the conditions for running the Heater Resistance Test.
  2. Start the engine.

Did the DTC fail this ignition?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to Intermittent Conditions

5

  1. Observe the Freeze Frame/Failure Records for this DTC.
  2. Turn OFF the ignition for 30 seconds.
  3. Start the engine.
  4. Operate the vehicle within the Conditions for Running the Heater Current Test. You may also operate the vehicle within the conditions that you observed from the Freeze Frame/Failure Records.

Did the DTC fail this ignition?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to Intermittent Conditions

6

Inspect the fuse of the affected HO2S.

Is the fuse open?

--

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 8

7

Test the ignition 1 voltage circuit for a short to ground. Refer to Testing for Short to Ground and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 10

8

  1. Disconnect the affected HO2S.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. Probe the ignition 1 voltage circuit of the HO2S harness connector on the engine harness side with a test lamp that is connected to a good ground. Refer to Trouble Shooting with a test Lamp in Wiring Systems.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

--

Go to Step 9

Go to Step 19

9

Important: The test lamp may blink prior to commanding the heaters ON. This is because the heaters were commanded ON in a previous step. To command the heaters OFF, turn OFF the ignition for 30 seconds.

  1. Connect a test lamp between the ignition 1 voltage circuit of the HO2S harness connector on the engine harness side and the HO2S heater low control circuit of the HO2S harness connector on the engine harness side.
  2. Command the HO2S heaters ON with a scan tool.

Does the test lamp blink once per second?

--

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 12

10

Important: Perform the following test on all HO2 sensors which are supplied voltage by the suspect circuit.

Test the ignition 1 voltage circuit on the sensor side of the HO2S connector for a short to ground. Refer toTesting for Short to Ground and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Is any sensor shorted to ground?

--

Go to Step 20

Go to Intermittent Conditions

11

Measure the resistance of the following circuits with a DMM:

    • The HO2S heater low control circuit
    • The ignition 1 voltage circuit

Refer to Circuit Testing in Wiring Systems.

Is the resistance of either circuit more than the specified value?

3 ohms

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 16

12

Is the test lamp on steady?

--

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 14

13

Test the HO2S heater low control circuit for a short to ground. Refer to Circuit Testing in Wiring Systems and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 17

14

Test the HO2S heater low control circuit for a short to voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing in Wiring Systems and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 15

15

Test the HO2S heater low control circuit for an open. Refer to Circuit Testing in Wiring Systems and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 17

16

Test for shorted terminals and for poor connections at the HO2S. Refer to Testing for Intermittents and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 20

17

Test for shorted terminals and for poor connections at the powertrain control module (PCM). Refer to testing for Intermittents and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 21

18

Repair the circuit with high resistance. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

--

Go to Step 22

--

19

Repair the open in the ignition 1 voltage circuit. Refer to. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

--

Go to Step 22

--

20

Replace the affected HO2S. Refer to

    •  Heated Oxygen Sensor Bank 1 Sensor 1
    • Heated Oxygen Sensor Bank 1 Sensor 2
    • Heated Oxygen Sensor Bank 2 Sensor 1
    • Heated Oxygen Sensor Bank 2 Sensor 2

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 22

--

21

Replace the PCM. Refer to Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Replacement.

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 22

--

22

  1. Replace the fuse if necessary.
  2. Clear the DTCs with a scan tool.
  3. Turn OFF the ignition for 30 seconds.
  4. Start the engine.
  5. Operate the vehicle within the Conditions for Running the DTC. You may also operate the vehicle within the conditions that you observed from the Freeze Frame/Failure Records.

Did the DTC fail this ignition?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Step 23

23

Observe the Capture Info with a scan tool.

Are there any DTCs that have not been diagnosed?

--

Go to Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) List

System OK

DTC P0140, P0160, P0134, P0154 HO2S Insufficient Activity

2

Important: 

   • Before you proceed with this DTC, inspect the HO2S for being secure. A loose sensor can cause this DTC to set.
   • If the HO2S heater current is not between 0.25-3.125 Amps, refer to DTC P0135, P0141, P0155, or P0161.

  1. Install a scan tool.
  2. Idle the engine at the normal operating temperature.
  3. Operate the engine above 1,200 RPM for 2 minutes.
  4. Use a scan tool in order to observe the HO2S voltage.

Does the scan tool indicate the HO2S voltage varies outside the specified range?

350-550 mV

Go to Step 3

Go to Step 4