How To Test: P0112 OBD II Trouble Code (GM 3.8L)

TEST 2: Checking The Condition Of The IAT Sensor's 2 Wires

If you've reached this point, you've verified that the temperature the PCM is registering (via your scan tool's Live Data mode) is 300 °F.

The next step, is to check the physical condition of the IAT sensor's 2 wires. What you'll be looking for is to see if the wires are shorted together and/or if the insulation has peeled off.

You don't have to check the entire length of the wiring between the PCM and IAT sensor connector, just the length nearest to the IAT sensor's connector (about 6 inches away from IAT sensor's connector).

OK, this is what you need to do:

1. 1

   Remove the hard plastic protector that's over the wires.
   
   You need to expose the IAT sensor's wires starting from the connector to about 6 inches away (from the connector).

2. 2

   Check for dry-rot and/or insulation peeling off the 2 IAT sensor wires.
   
   The most likely place you'll find this condition (dry-rot and/or insulation peeling off) is right near the IAT sensor's connector.

3. 3

   Have a helper wiggle the 2 IAT sensor wires while you observe the IAT sensor's PID (on your scan tool).
   
   What you're looking for is to see if wiggling the wires has any effect on the temperature reported on your scan tool.

Let's interpret your test results:

CASE 1: The wires have dry-rot and/or insulation peeling off. This condition is the most likely cause of code P0112. You need to repair or replace these wires.

CASE 2: Wiggling the 2 IAT sensor wires caused a change in the temperature reading. This test result tells you that the wires do have a problem.

You need to carefully inspect the connector and the 2 wires and replace and/or repair what is damaged or shorted.

To give you some more specifics: Gently wiggling the IAT sensor connector's 2 wires should have no effect on the IAT sensor reading displayed on the scan tool, unless the connector is bad or one of the wires has an ‘open’. Since wiggling the connector did have an effect, you now know that replacing the IAT sensor connector or repairing the problem in the wires will solve the IAT sensor and P0112 Code problem.

CASE 3: The wires DO NOT HAVE dry-rot and ARE NOT shorted together and wiggling the IAT sensor connector's wires DID NOT cause the temperature to change. This tells you that the IAT sensor connector and its wires are OK.

In most cases, this test result also tells you that the IAT sensor is the one that's malfunctioned and needs to be replaced. Before you do, I suggest one more test.

And this is to test to make sure that the PCM is not fried. This is a very simple test and it requires that you disconnect the IAT sensor from its connector and then checking, with your scan tool in Live Data mode, that the intake air temperature (IAT) sensor's PID is now reading -30 °F (minus 30 °F).

For this test, go to: TEST 3: Disconnecting the IAT Sensor From Its Connector.

TEST 3: Disconnecting The IAT Sensor From Its Connector

Although it doesn't happen everyday, PCMs do go bad and falsely accuse the IAT sensor of malfunctioning.

Or, you could have a hidden electrical short somewhere in the IAT sensor's wiring, between the PCM and IAT sensor, that could fool the PCM into thinking the IAT sensor is bad. Thankfully there's a very simple way to test both of these possibilities.

This is accomplished by checking the PCM's response to unplugging the IAT sensor from its connector. If the PCM now records an extreme cold temperature of -30 °, you now know that both the wiring and the PCM are OK.

OK, here's what you'll need to do:

1. 1

   With your scan tool connected to your vehicle, and the key in the ON position, scroll down to the IAT sensor PID and observe the current value displayed.

2. 2

   Have a helper disconnect the IAT sensor from its connector (while you observe the IAT sensor's PID on your scan tool).

3. 3

   Your scan tool should now read -30 °F for the intake air temperature (IAT) sensor reading.

   1. You'll also see DTC P0113.

Let's examine your test results:

CASE 1: The scan tool registered -30 °F - This test result tells you that the wiring between the PCM and IAT sensor connector is OK and that the PCM is not fried.

You have now confirmed 3 very important things:

1. That the PCM is seeing an extreme cold temperature around 300 °F (TEST 1).
2. That there are no shorts in the sensor's wiring or in its connector (TEST 2).
3. That the PCM is OK (TEST 3).

Therefore, you can confidently conclude that the IAT sensor is bad and needs to be replaced.

CASE 2: The scan tool DID NOT register -30 °F. Make sure that you're testing the correct wires, that your connections are OK, and repeat the test.

Then this tells you that you have a problem in the wiring between the IAT sensor and the PCM or that the PCM is fried (although a bad PCM is rare).

Although testing the wiring between the PCM and the IAT sensor is beyond the scope of this tutorial, you now have eliminated the IAT sensor as the source of the P0112.

More 3.8L V6 GM Tutorials

If this tutorial was helpful/informative, you can find a complete list of tutorials here: 3.8L GM Index Of Articles.

Here's a sample of the tutorials you'll find there:

• P0113 Intake Air Temperature Circuit High Input (GM 3.8L).
• How To Test Trouble Code P0420 (GM 3.8L).
• How Can I Tell If My Automatic Transmission Needs An Overhaul?
• How To Diagnose Misfire Codes P0300-P0306 (GM 3.8L).
• How To Do A Cylinder Balance Test (GM 3.8L V6).
• How To Test The 3.8L GM Crank Sensor With A Multimeter.
• GM 3.8L Ignition Coil Pack Tests (at: easyautodiagnostics.com).
• GM 3.8L Ignition Control Module and Crank (3X, 18X) Sensor Test (at: easyautodiagnostics.com).