Important Information - PIP 3056
Subject: 97-05 Vehicles with 4.8 5.3 5.7 and 6.0 Gen III V8 Engines and Misfires on One Bank - kw CEL diagnostics driveability DTC P0171 P0172 P0174 P0175 P0300 P0301 P0302 P0303 P0304 P0305 P0306 P0307 P0308 #PIP3056 - (07/12/2004)
Models: (00-05 Cadillac Escalade - C6 and K6) and (02-05 Chevrolet Avalanche - C1, C2 K1 and K2) and (99-05 Chevrolet Silverado - C1, C2 K1 and K2) and (00-05 Chevrolet Suburban - C1, C2, K1 and K2) and (00-05 Chevrolet Tahoe - C1 and K1) and (99-05 GMC Sierra C1, C2 K1 and K2) and (00-05 GMC Yukon - C1, C2, K1 and K2) and (03-05 Chevrolet Express G1, G2, G3, H1, H2 ) and (03-05 GMC Savana G1, G2, G3, H1, H2 ) and (04-05 Buick Rainier S1, T1 ) and (03-05 Chevrolet Trail Blazer EXT S1, T1 ) and (03-05 GMC Envoy XL XUV S1, T1 ) and (03-05 Hummer H2) and (04-05 Cadillac CTS-V DB) and (98-02 Chevrolet Camaro FB) and (97-04 Chevrolet Corvette YB) and (98-02 Pontiac Firebird FB) and (04-05 Pontiac GTO VB)
The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the described symptoms.
Condition/Concern:
Check Engine Light with a P0300 due to 2 - 4 cylinders misfiring on the same bank of the engine. DTCs P0171, P0172, P0174 or P0175 may also set for the misfiring bank.
Recommendation/Instructions:
If the published misfire diagnostic does not isolate the cause, perform the following suggestions as necessary:
- Perform a fuel injector balance test for all 8 cylinders. If a fuel injector concern exists, it is possible to misfuel an entire bank of the engine, causing multiple cylinders on the same bank to misfire even though the root cause is a single fuel injector.
- Inspect O2 sensor connections on the misfiring bank for corrosion or water intrusion. If water intrusion is found on the right bank, it may be due to the AC Evaporator Condensation dripping onto the O2 sensor harness. If this condition is found, reposition and shield the harness to prevent a repeat concern and repair the connections.
- Check for excessive exhaust backpressure using the restricted exhaust diagnosis.
- Swap the Position 1 O2 sensors side to side to see if the misfires move to the other bank of the engine. If so, replace the O2 sensor.
Please follow this diagnosis process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.
NOTE: GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition.
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Powertrain Controls Diagnosis
Circuit Description
In order to provide the best possible combination of driveability, fuel economy, and emission control, the vehicle uses a closed loop air and fuel metering system. While in closed loop, the VCM monitors the oxygen sensor signal voltage. The VCM adjusts the fuel delivery based on a signal voltage. The long and short term fuel values, which a scan tool can monitor, indicates a change made to the fuel delivery. Ideal fuel trim values are around 0% (128 counts); if the oxygen sensor signal indicates a lean condition, the VCM adds fuel. This results in fuel trim values above 0%. If the oxygen sensor detects a rich condition, the fuel trim values will read below 0%. This indicates that the VCM is reducing the amount of fuel delivered. The VCM sets this DTC when an excessively rich condition is detected.
Conditions for Running the DTC
- No active O2 sensor DTCs
- No active TP sensor DTCs
- No active MAP sensor DTCs
- No active EGR DTCs
- No active EVAP system DTCs
- No active ECT sensor DTCs
- No active MAF sensor DTCs
- No active IAT sensor DTCs
- No active VS sensor DTCs
- No active misfire DTCs
- Throttle position less than 70%
- Engine speed is between 575 and 4,000 RPM
- The BARO greater than 70 kPa
- The ECT is between 75 and 114°C (167-237°F)
- The MAP is between 22 and 85 kPa.
- The IAT is between 8 and 76°C (46-169°F)
- The MAF is between 3 and 85 g/s
- The vehicle speed less than 85 MPH
Conditions for Setting the DTC
The average of the short term fuel trim values over a period of 120 seconds indicates that a rich condition is present.
Action Taken When the DTC Sets
Important: To complete a trip cycle for the fuel trim diagnostic, the fuel trim diagnostic test must enable and run according to the above enable criteria and the conditions for setting. A trip is not considered complete until the fuel trim diagnostic has run by the VCM.
When the current DTC initially sets, a software flag indicating an emissions related fault sets for 3 trips. The flag will clear provided rich condition is no longer present. However, if the VCM detects the conditions for setting the current DTC during a trip while the flag is still set, the VCM turns ON the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp). The MIL remains ON for all of the subsequent trips until the DTC has been cleared by service or the rich condition has not been detected and the conditions for checking the fuel trim have been met for 3 consecutive trips.
Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC
- The Control Module turns OFF the MIL after 3 consecutive drive trips when the test has Run and Passed.
- A history DTC will clear if no fault conditions have been detected for 40 warm-up cycles (coolant temperature has risen 22°C (40°F) from the start-up coolant temperature and the Engine Coolant Temperature is more than 70°C (158°F) during the same ignition cycle).
- Use the scan tool Clear Information function.
Diagnostic Aids
If using the diagnostic tables does not isolate the problem, try monitoring the LT fuel trim and fuel trim cell while operating the vehicle under various loads. This may isolate the condition which caused the setting of the current DTC.
A condition that causes the DTC P0300 Engine Misfire Detected may also set the current DTC; conversely an extremely rich condition which sets the current DTC can cause a misfire at idle and the DTC P0300 to set. If the cause of the current DTC cannot be determined and the DTC P0300 is also set, refer to DTC P0300 Engine Misfire Detected. See: P0300
Typical Fuel Trim Values
The Fuel Trim Values table indicates the typical fuel adjustment values as displayed on a scan tool. Negative values (Rich condition) indicate that the injector pulse width is being decreased in order to lean out the fuel mixture. Positive values (Lean condition) indicate that the injector pulse width is being increased in order to richen the fuel mixture.
Test Description
The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.
2. A more negative value indicates the VCM is leaning the fuel mixture (Rich condition), and a more positive value indicates the VCM is richening the fuel mixture (Lean condition).
5. This step checks the fuel system for problems.
