GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

ETSOFF INDICATOR LAMP STAYS ILLUMINATED

SUBJECT: ETS OFF INDICATOR LAMP STAYS ILLUMINATED AND/OR A RPM SAG ON A HOT SOAK RESTART WITH THE A/C ON, SAE J1978 OBDII SCAN TOOL MAY NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE PCM (NEW FLASH PROM)

MODELS: 1996 BUICK SKYLARK 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM WITH 3100 V6 ENGINE (VIN M - RPO L82)

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE ETS (ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM) OFF LIGHT LOCATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STAYS ILLUMINATED AND/OR A RPM SAG ON A HOT SOAK (45 MINUTE) RESTART WITH THE A/C ON. ADDITIONALLY, SOME SERVICE TECHNICIANS MAY COMMENT THAT THEIR NON GM TECHLINE SAE J1978 OBDII SCAN TOOL WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) WHEN IN "CURRENT", "FREEZE FRAME", OR "TEST PARAMETERS AND RESULTS" MODE.

CAUSE:

FOR "ETS OFF" INDICATOR LAMP STAYING ILLUMINATED, THE DIAGNOSTIC CALIBRATION WAS SET UP SO THAT IF CERTAIN DTC (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES) WERE SET, THE PCM WOULD THEN DISABLE THE ETS. DISABLING THE ETS WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE THE "ETS OFF" INDICATOR LAMP. VEHICLES WHICH HAVE HAD RPM SAGS ON HOT RESTARTS WITH THE A/C ON WERE CAUSED BY ENGINE CONTROL ALGORITHM. A SOFTWARE/CALIBRATION ANOMALY PREVENTED THE NON G.M. TECHLINE SCAN TOOLS FROM COMMUNICATING WITH THE PCM.

CORRECTION:

A NEW FLASH PROM HAS BEEN RELEASED TO ADDRESS THE CONDITIONS MENTIONED ABOVE. THE CALIBRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM SERVICE TECHNOLOGY GROUP STARTING WITH THE # 5 CD RELEASE.

PARTS INFORMATION

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ORDER THE CALIBRATION NUMBER FROM GMSPO. THEY ARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE VEHICLES PCM VIA A TECHLINE TOOL DEVICE.

CALIBRATION NUMBER EMISSIONS

16238674 NATIONWIDE

16238684 UNLEADED EXPORT W/O OBDII

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR CODE: J6355 USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME.

FIGURES: 0 ATTACHMENTS: 0

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE 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. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

COPYRIGHT 1996. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.