Dtc: P0102

[Century7667]

The '96 came up lame this week. My wife reported the CEL, so I pulled out the old lapper with the Ease Diagnostics on it, and pulled:

Pre-existing
Module: 10
DTC: P0102
Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Circuit Low

While I was fooling around, the CEL went off, and the engine started to idle really badly as the RPM started to fluctuatey and the DTC was no longer pre-existing!

Anyone deal with this particular error?

Thanks,
Ken T.

['84 6000]

Last maf problem I had was the '87 Celeb. It would run like crap, throw the light, and run kind of ok, then when the light went out same thing. Try cleaning the maf and see what happens.

[Century7667]

Did some late night reading with the shop manual. There's nothing to loose by cleaning, especially since the MAF is relatively expensive (almost $200 new).

This same car has the oil leak at the rear of the engine...guessing distributor plug. I'm wondering if I can check that out and maybe get the cross-over coolant host that's down there as well....it's original equipment.

Ken T.

[Century7667]

I hate leaving a thread hanging, so here's what happened. I got the DTC P0102, but took a closer look as to why. GM factory manuals say that the code is a result of low sensor output measured in a frequency. Basically, I think if the frequency drops below 1,200 hz, the code will set. Dug out my 12 year old Toshiba laptop (Win98SE P166 processor, 96 MB RAM for you geeks out there) loaded with Ease Diagnostics v. 3.5. It's one of the programs that Dave Allen uses. You can monitor many functions with it, more than you care to know...even on OBD-I systems. I was looking at the MAF readings, and to my surprise, it was something like 2,600 hz. What's going on? How did the DTC get set? There are other causes, PCM, other sensors, but there's a handy histogram feature that gives a real time graph. I flipped that on, and wiggled the connector...

http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx92/Century7667p/maf1.jpg

Intermittent connection at the sensor! Wiggled the wired, and the MAF output completely disappeared;wiggled it again, and it returned. I did some voltage checks on the harness connector as suggested by GM, and it was good. Looks like the MAF was bad; maybe a bad solder joint. I replaced the sensor, and cleared the DTC manually with the laptop. Road tested it, and so far so good!

Ken T.

[SCREECH]

Awesome wrap-up to the thread, Ken. Thanks for posting that! I hate it when ppl leave a thread hanging too - often it's ppl with 2 or 3 posts to their account that come on, ask for help, and then we never hear if they solved their problem or not. The Ease software is one I had read up on a while back and decided that, once I start a bit of cash flow from buying, fixing and reselling a few vehicles, I would like to pick up that system. It looks to be one of the best methods for diagnostics for any vehicle from the '80s to today. And your example showed just how beneficial using such tools can be. True, you ended up having to put a new sensor in in the end, but you could do so KNOWING that it was the problem, not hoping it was. Kudos!

[Century7667]

Awesome wrap-up to the thread, Ken. Thanks for posting that! I hate it when ppl leave a thread hanging too - often it's ppl with 2 or 3 posts to their account that come on, ask for help, and then we never hear if they solved their problem or not. The Ease software is one I had read up on a while back and decided that, once I start a bit of cash flow from buying, fixing and reselling a few vehicles, I would like to pick up that system. It looks to be one of the best methods for diagnostics for any vehicle from the '80s to today. And your example showed just how beneficial using such tools can be. True, you ended up having to put a new sensor in in the end, but you could do so KNOWING that it was the problem, not hoping it was. Kudos!

Exactly! The software takes it a bit further than just pulling a a DTC. For a while I thought it was the connector, but I'd never have gotten that for except for the histogram. The software isn't cheap, but I estimate two jobs will pay the labor.

I do really hate the hanging thread. I'm resolving to finish all mine in the future.

Ken T.

[SCREECH]

The software isn't cheap, but I estimate two jobs will pay the labor.
The newest version, 10, for all domestic cars, is like $1800 on their website. I haven't shopped around for it to see if it can be had cheaper elsewhere, as I'm nowhere near ready to buy yet. But that's basically the ballpark I guess I can expect to spend when I'm ready. I would like to have the complete package, even with the European stuff, but that's approaching three-large. You can certainly see how worthwhile it is, with an example like this, though.

[Century7667]

You can get separate modules for around $300. So, I got all the OBD-I GM for $300 when I bought the '95. I paid the same in '02 for the OBD-II (GM '96-'01). I think I got the ABS stuff for the '01 S10, can't remember.

Ken T.

[SCREECH]

You can get separate modules for around $300.
GOOD TO KNOW! I'll check their site out a little more thoroughly. That would be awesome if I could get at least the GM modules sooner rather than later! :)

[Century7667]

GOOD TO KNOW! I'll check their site out a little more thoroughly. That would be awesome if I could get at least the GM modules sooner rather than later! :)

Yep. You have to call them for the pricing. If I recall correctly, they are not too far from you neck of the woods, Pennsylvania some place.

Ken T.

[SCREECH]

I just got an email back from them today - I emailed them as soon as I saw your post about the different modules being available individually. They said that you can buy individual modules for $100 for just ECM access, $150 with ABS/body modules, etc. Those prices are for each vehicle line...so there's one for OBD-2 Buick car, one for OBD-2 Chevrolet car, one for ....you get the picture. He said that if you wanted just all the GM stuff, '82-'10 for all lines, all vehicles, it'd be over $4000, while the domestic professional tool is $1797 and it includes all domestic manufacturers, all lines. With all the different cars I deal with, never knowing what else I may need, I think I know what I'll be saving up for... ;)

[Century7667]

I just got an email back from them today - I emailed them as soon as I saw your post about the different modules being available individually. They said that you can buy individual modules for $100 for just ECM access, $150 with ABS/body modules, etc. Those prices are for each vehicle line...so there's one for OBD-2 Buick car, one for OBD-2 Chevrolet car, one for ....you get the picture. He said that if you wanted just all the GM stuff, '82-'10 for all lines, all vehicles, it'd be over $4000, while the domestic professional tool is $1797 and it includes all domestic manufacturers, all lines. With all the different cars I deal with, never knowing what else I may need, I think I know what I'll be saving up for... ;)

They've been dividing it up over the years... With version 7, I was able to get all OBD-I GMs for $300, but after after '95, they divided between the car and truck lines ($300 each), and ABS was extra.

I guess that was both good and bad news. The required internet activation was added too, I wasn't so keen on that as I don't want a forced upgrade.

Ken T.