GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Circuit Description

The vehicle stability enhancement system (VSES) is activated by the electronic brake control module (EBCM) calculating the desired yaw rate and comparing it to the actual yaw rate input. The desired yaw rate is calculated from measured steering wheel position, vehicle speed, and lateral acceleration. The difference between the desired yaw rate and actual yaw rate is the yaw rate error, which is a measurement of oversteer or understeer. If the yaw rate error becomes too large, the EBCM will attempt to correct the vehicles yaw motion by applying differential braking to the left or right front wheel.

The amount of differential braking applied to the left or right front wheel is based on both the yaw rate error and side slip rate error. The side slip rate error is a function of the lateral acceleration minus the product of the yaw rate and vehicle speed. The yaw rate error and side slip rate error are combined to produce the total delta velocity error. When the delta velocity error becomes too large and the VSES system activates, the drivers steering inputs combined with the differential braking will attempt to bring the delta velocity error toward zero.

The VSES activations generally occur during aggressive driving, in the turns or bumpy roads without much use of the accelerator pedal. When braking during VSES activation, the brake pedal will feel different than the antilock brake system (ABS) pedal pulsation. The brake pedal pulsates at a higher frequency during VSES activation.

DTC Descriptor

This diagnostic procedure supports the following DTC:

DTC C0196 Yaw Rate Circuit

This vehicle has DTCs which include DTC Symptoms. For more information on DTC Symptoms, refer to DTC Symptom Description .

DTC Symptom

DTC Symptom Descriptor

00

No Additional Information

09

Rate of Change Fault

1A

Bias Level Out Of Range

52

Compare Failure

Conditions for Running the DTC

C0196 00

    • The ignition is ON.
    • The ignition voltage is greater than 8 volts.
    • The vehicle is stopped or the vehicle speed is greater than 45 km/h (28 mph).

C0196 09 and 1A

    • The ignition is ON.
    • The ignition voltage is greater than 8 volts.

C0196 52

    • The ignition is ON.
    • The ignition voltage is greater than 8 volts.
    • The yaw rate isolation test runs with any of the following conditions:
       - The brake pedal is not pressed.
       - ABS is not active.
       - The vehicle speed is greater than 8 km/h (5 mph).
       - Lateral acceleration is less than 0.5 g.
       - VSES is not active on undriven axle and traction control system (TCS) is active.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

C0196 00

One of the following conditions exist:

    • The yaw rate sensor input voltage is less than 0.15 volt.
    • The yaw rate sensor input voltage is greater than 4.85 volts for 1 second.

C0196 09

The yaw rate input changes by more than 390 degrees/second per second.

C0196 1A

The yaw rate bias exceeds 7 degrees/second.

C0196 52

The yaw rate error is greater than 5 degrees/second more than 30 times in one drive cycle.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

    • The EBCM disables the VSES for the duration of the ignition cycle.
    • The driver information center (DIC) displays the Service Stabilitrak message.
    • The ABS/TCS remains functional.

Conditions for Clearing the DTC

    • The condition for the DTC is no longer present and the DTC is cleared with a scan tool.
    • The EBCM automatically clears the history DTC when a current DTC is not detected in 100 consecutive drive cycles.

Diagnostic Aids

    • Check the vehicle for proper steering alignment.
    • The Snapshot function on the scan tool can help find an intermittent DTC.

Test Description

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

  1. This step tests for the proper operation of the circuit in the low voltage range.

  2. This step tests for the proper operation of the circuit in the high voltage range. If the fuse in the jumper opens when you perform this test, the signal circuit is shorted to ground.

  3. This step tests for a short to voltage in the 5-volt reference circuit.

  4. This step tests the bias voltage of the yaw rate sensor.

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Antilock Brake System Schematics

Connector End View Reference: Antilock Brake System Connector End Views

1

Did you perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle

2

  1. Install a scan tool.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. With a scan tool, observe the Yaw Rate Sensor Input parameter in the Vehicle Stability Enhancement System (VSES) data list.

Does the scan tool display that the Yaw Rate Sensor Input parameter is within the specified range?

0.15-4.85 V

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 3

3

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor connector.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. With the scan tool, observe the Yaw Rate Sensor Input parameter.

Does the scan tool display that the Yaw Rate Sensor Input parameter is less than the specified value?

0.15 V

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 10

4

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Connect a 3-amp fused jumper wire between the 5-volt reference circuit of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor and the signal circuit of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. With the scan tool, observe the Yaw Rate Sensor Input parameter.

Does the scan tool display that the Yaw Rate Sensor Input parameter is greater than the specified value?

4.85 V

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 8

5

  1. Disconnect the fused jumper wire.
  2. Measure the voltage between the 5-volt reference circuit of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor and the low reference circuit of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor.

Does the voltage measure less the specified value?

5 V

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 7

6

Does the scan tool display that the Yaw Rate Sensor Input parameter is within the specified range?

2.3-2.7 V

Go to Diagnostic Aids

Go to Step 11

7

Test the 5-volt reference circuit of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor for a short to voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 13

8

Test the 5-volt reference circuit of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor for the following conditions:

    • An open
    • A short to ground
    • A high resistance

Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 9

9

Test the signal circuit of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor for the following conditions:

    • An open
    • A short to ground
    • A high resistance

Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 13

10

Test the signal circuit of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor for a short to voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 13

11

Test the low reference circuit of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor for a high resistance or an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 12

12

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 14

13

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the electronic brake control module (EBCM). Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 15

14

Replace the yaw rate/lateral accelerometer sensor. Refer to Vehicle Yaw Sensor with Vehicle Lateral Accelerometer Replacement .

Did you complete the repair?

--

Go to Step 16

--

15

Replace the EBCM. Refer to Control Module References for replacement, setup, and programming.

Did you complete the repair?

--

Go to Step 16

--

16

  1. Clear the DTCs using the scan tool.
  2. Operate the vehicle within the Conditions for Running the DTC as specified in the supporting text.

Does the DTC reset?

--

Go to Step 2

System OK