GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Circuit Description

The Throttle Actuator Motor is a TAC controlled DC motor located on the throttle body. The motor drives the throttle plates. To decrease idle speed, the TAC commands the throttle closed reducing air flow into the engine and the idle speed decreases. To increase idle speed, the TAC commands the throttle plates open allowing more air to bypass the throttle plates. If the Actual idle RPM does not match the Desired idle RPM within a calibrated time, this DTC will set .

Conditions for Running the DTC

    • DTCs P0102, P0103, P0107, P0108, P0112, P0113, P0171, P0172, P0174, P0175, P1120, P1220, and P1221 not set
    • Engine running for at least 60 seconds
    • Engine coolant temperature more than 60°C (140°F)
    • IAT more than -10°C (14°F)
    • Baro more than 65 kPa
    • System voltage between 9.0 and 17.0 volts
    • Vehicle speed less than 1 mph
    • APP Indicated Angle 0 percent

Conditions for Setting the DTC

    • Idle speed below desired RPM
    • Conditions met for 5 seconds
    • The Actual idle speed is 75 RPM lower than the Desired idle speed.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

    • The PCM will illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on the second consecutive drive trip that the diagnostic runs and fails.
    • The PCM will record operating conditions at the time the diagnostic fails. The first time the diagnostic fails, this information will be stored in Failure Records. If the diagnostic reports a failure on the second consecutive drive trip, the operating conditions at the time of failure will be written to Freeze Frame and the Failure record will be updated.

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

    • The PCM will turn the MIL OFF after three consecutive drive trips that the diagnostic runs and does not fail.
    • A last test failed (Current DTC) will clear when the diagnostic runs and does not fail.
    • A History DTC will clear after forty consecutive warm-up cycles, if no failures are reported by this or any other emission related diagnostic.
    • PCM battery voltage is interrupted.
    • Using a Scan tool.

Diagnostic Aids

Using Freeze Frame and/or Failure Records data may aid in locating an intermittent condition. If the DTC cannot be duplicated, the information included in the Freeze Frame and/or Failure Records data can be useful in determining how many miles since the DTC set. The Fail Counter and Pass Counter can also be used to determine how many ignition cycles the diagnostic reported a pass and/or a fail. Operate vehicle within the same freeze frame conditions (RPM, load, vehicle speed, temperature etc.) that were noted. This will isolate when the DTC failed. For intermittents, refer to Symptoms .

Test Description

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

  1. This test determines whether or not the engine can achieve the commanded RPM, and if not, whether the RPM is too high or too low.

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

  1. Start the engine.
  2. Command the engine speed up to 1500 RPM, down to 500 RPM, up to 1500 RPM, and then EXIT using the scan tool.

Does the engine speed correspond, within 75 RPM, with each command?

--

Go to Diagnostic Aids

Go to Step 3

3

Is the engine RPM greater than 75 RPM above Desired RPM?

--

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 5

4

Check for the following conditions:

    • Vacuum leaks
    • A faulty PCV valve.

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step 6

--

5

Check for the following conditions:

    • Excessive deposits in the throttle body.
    • Parasitic load on the engine (ie: transmission problem etc.).

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step 6

--

6

  1. Select the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) option and the Clear DTC Information option using the scan tool.
  2. Idle the engine at the normal operating temperature.
  3. Select the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) option and the Specific DTC option, then enter the DTC number using the scan tool.
  4. Operate the vehicle within the conditions for setting this DTC as specified in the supporting text, if applicable.

Does the scan tool indicate that this test ran and passed?

--

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 2

7

Select the Capture Info option and the Review Info option using the scan tool.

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

--

Go to the applicable DTC table

System OK