FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
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P0172

DTC P0172 SYSTEM TOO RICH (BANK 1)

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION

DTC Detection Conditions:




The fuel trim is related to the feedback compensation value, not to the basic injection time. The fuel trim consists of both the short-term and long-term fuel trims.

The short-term fuel trim is fuel compensation that is used to constantly maintain the air-fuel ratio at stoichio-metric levels. The signal from the front Heated Oxygen (HO2) sensor indicates whether the air-fuel ratio is rich or lean compared to the stoichiometric ratio. This triggers a reduction in the fuel injection volume if the air-fuel ratio is rich and an increase in the fuel injection volume if it is lean.

Factors such as individual engine differences, wear over time and changes in operating environment cause short-term fuel trim to vary from the central value. The long-term fuel trim, which controls overall fuel compensation, compensates for long-term deviations in the fuel trim from the central value caused by the short-term fuel trim compensation.

If both the short-term and long-term fuel trims are lean or rich beyond predetermined values, it is interpreted as a malfunction, and the ECM illuminates the MIL and sets a DTC.

HINT:
- When DTC P0171 is set, the actual air-fuel ratio is on the lean side. When DTC P0172 is set, the actual air-fuel ratio is on the rich side.
- If the vehicle runs out of fuel, the air-fuel ratio is lean and DTC P0171 may be set. The MIL is then illuminated.
- When the total of the short-term and long-term fuel trim values is within the malfunction threshold (and the engine coolant temperature is more than 75°C [167°F]), the system is functioning normally.

MONITOR DESCRIPTION




Monitor Strategy:




Typical Enabling Conditions:




Typical Malfunction Thresholds:




Under closed-loop fuel control, fuel injection volumes that deviate from those estimated by the ECM cause changes in the long-term fuel trim compensation value. The long-term fuel trim is adjusted when there are persistent deviations in the short-term fuel trim values. Deviations from the ECM's estimated fuel injection volumes also affect the average fuel trim learning value, which is a combination of the average short-term fuel trim (fuel feedback compensation value) and the average long-term fuel trim (learning value of the air-fuel ratio). If the average fuel trim learning value exceeds the malfunction thresholds, the ECM interprets this a fault in the fuel system and sets a DTC.

Example:
The average fuel trim leaning value is more than +35% or less than -35%, the ECM interprets this as a fuel system malfunction.

Wiring Diagram:






INSPECTION PROCEDURE

HINT: Hand-held tester only:
Malfunctioning areas can be identified by performing the A/F CONTROL function provided in the ACTIVE TEST. The A/F CONTROL function can help to determine whether the Heated Oxygen (HO2) sensors and other potential trouble areas are malfunctioning.

The following instructions describe how to conduct the A/F CONTROL operation using a hand-held tester.
1. Connect a hand-held tester to the DLC3.
2. Start the engine and turn the tester ON.
3. Warm up the engine at an engine speed of 2,500 rpm for approximately 90 seconds.
4. On the tester, select the following menu items: DIAGNOSIS / ENHANCED OBD II / ACTIVE TEST / A/F CONTROL.
5. Perform the A/F CONTROL operation with the engine in an idling condition (press the RIGHT or LEFT button to change the fuel injection volume).
6. Monitor the voltage outputs of the HO2 sensors (O2S B1S1 and OS2 B1S2) displayed on the tester.






HINT:
- The A/F CONTROL operation lowers the fuel injection volume by 12.5% or increases the injection volume by 25%.
- Each sensor reacts in accordance with increases and decreases in the fuel injection volume.

NOTE: The front HO2 sensor has an output delay of a few seconds and the rear HO2 sensor has a maximum output delay of approximately 20 seconds.




- Following A/F CONTROL procedure enables technicians to check and graph the voltage outputs of both the front and rear HO2 sensors.
- To display the graph, select the following menu items on the tester: DIAGNOSIS / ENHANCED OBD II / ACTIVE TEST/ A/F CONTROL / USER DATA / AFS B1S2 and OS2 B1B2, and press the YES button and then the ENTER button followed by the F4 button.

NOTE: If the vehicle is short of fuel, the air-fuel ratio becomes lean and HO2 sensor DTCs are recorded, and the ECM illuminates the MIL.

HINT:
- If other DTCs relating to different systems that have terminal E2 as the ground terminal are output simultaneously, terminal E2 may have an open circuit.
- Read freeze frame data using a hand-held tester or OBD II scan tool. Freeze frame data record the engine condition when malfunctions are detected. When troubleshooting, freeze frame data can help determine if the vehicle was moving or stationary, if the engine was warmed up or not, if the air-fuel ratio was lean or rich, and other data, from the time the malfunction occurred.
- A high HO2 sensor (sensor 1) voltage (0.55 V or more) could be caused by a rich air fuel mixture. Check for conditions that would cause the engine to run rich.
- A low HO2 sensor (sensor 1) voltage (0.4 V or less) could be caused by a lean air fuel mixture. Check for conditions that would cause the engine to run lean.

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Step 4 (Contd.) - 7:




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Step 15 - 16:




Hand-held tester

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OBD II scan tool (excluding the hand-held tester)

CHECK FOR INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS

HINT: Hand-held tester only:
Inspect the vehicle's ECM using check mode. Intermittent problems are easier to detect with a hand-held tester when the ECM is in check mode. In check mode, the ECM uses 1 trip detection logic, which is more sensitive to malfunctions than normal mode (default), which uses 2 trip detection logic.

a. Clear DTC.
b. Switch the ECM from normal mode to check mode using a hand-held tester.
c. Perform a simulation test.
d. Check and wiggle the harness(es), connector(s) and terminal(s).