GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Important Preliminary Checks Before Starting

Before using this section, perform the Powertrain On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check and verify all of the following items:

    •  The PCM and MIL (Service Engine Soon) are operating correctly.
    •  There are no DTCs stored.
    •  Ensure that the engine coolant temperature is not above 130°C (266°F). This condition will cause the PCM to operate in Engine Metal Overtemp. While in Engine Metal Overtemp, the PCM will turn fuel off to four cylinders at a time to keep engine temperatures from reaching damaging levels. Engine Metal Overtemp will be perceived as a lack of power, miss, or rough idle. If the vehicle is operating in Engine Metal Overtemp, refer to Engine Overheating in Engine Cooling for diagnosis.
    •  Scan tool data is within normal operating range, Refer to Engine Scan Tool Data Definitions .
    •  Verify the customer complaint and locate the correct symptom in the table of contents. Perform the procedure included in the symptom chart.

Important Preliminary Checks Before Starting

Before using this section, perform the Powertrain On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check and verify all of the following items:

    •  The PCM and MIL (Service Engine Soon) are operating correctly.
    •  There are no DTCs stored.
    •  Ensure that the engine coolant temperature is not above 130°C (266°F). This condition will cause the PCM to operate in Engine Metal Overtemp. While in Engine Metal Overtemp, the PCM will turn fuel off to four cylinders at a time to keep engine temperatures from reaching damaging levels. Engine Metal Overtemp will be perceived as a lack of power, miss, or rough idle. If the vehicle is operating in Engine Metal Overtemp, refer to Engine Overheating in Engine Cooling for diagnosis.
    •  Scan tool data is within normal operating range, Refer to Engine Scan Tool Data Definitions .
    •  Verify the customer complaint and locate the correct symptom in the table of contents. Perform the procedure included in the symptom chart.

Intermittents

A problem may or may not turn ON the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or store a DTC. DO NOT use the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) charts for intermittent problems. The fault must be present to locate the problem.

Most intermittent problems are caused by faulty electrical connections or wiring. Perform a careful visual/physical check for the following conditions:

    •  Poor mating of the connector halves or a terminal not fully seated in the connector (backed out)
    •  Improperly formed or damaged terminal
    •  All connector terminals in the problem circuit should be carefully checked for proper contact tension
    •  Poor terminal to wire connection
         To properly inspect connection, remove the terminal from the connector body.

Road test the vehicle with the DMM connected to a suspected circuit. An abnormal voltage when malfunction occurs is a good indication that there is a fault in the circuit being monitored.

Use the scan tool to help detect intermittent conditions. The scan tool has several features that can be used to locate an intermittent condition. Use the following features to find intermittent faults:

    •  The Snapshot feature can be triggered to capture and store engine parameters within the scan tool when the malfunction occurs. This stored information then can be reviewed by the service technician to see what caused the malfunction.
    •  Using a Scan Tools Freeze Frame data or Failure Records data can also aid in locating an intermittent condition. Review and record the information in the freeze frame or failure record associated with the intermittent DTC being diagnosed. The vehicle can be driven within the conditions that were present when the DTC originally set

Loss of diagnostic code memory. To check, disconnect the MAP sensor and idle engine until the MIL (Service Engine Soon) comes ON. DTC P0107 should be stored and kept in memory when ignition is turned OFF. If not the PCM is faulty. When this test is completed, make sure that you clear the DTC P0107 from memory.

An intermittent MIL (Service Engine Soon) with no stored DTC may be caused by the following:

    •  Ignition coil shorted to ground and arcing at ignition wires or plugs
    •  MIL (Service Engine Soon) wire to PCM shorted to ground
    •  Poor PCM grounds
         Refer to Powertrain Control Power and Ground Check .

Inspect for improper installation of electrical options such as lights, cellular phones etc. Route ignition control (IC) Module wiring away from secondary ignition wires and ignition coils. Inspect all wires from the PCM to the ignition control module for poor connections.

Inspect for open diode across A/C compressor clutch and inspect for other open diodes

The following Symptom tables are located in this section:

    •  Hard Start
    •  Surges/Chuggles
    •  Lack of Power, Sluggishness, or Sponginess
    •  Detonation/Spark Knock
    •  Rough, Unstable, or Incorrect Idle and Stalling
    •  Poor Fuel Economy
    •  Excessive Exhaust Emissions or Odors
    •  Dieseling, Run-On
    •  Backfire
    •  Cuts Out, Misses
    •  Hesitation, Sag, Stumble
    •  Restricted Exhaust System Check