Fuel Trim

The powertrain control module (PCM) controls the air/fuel metering system in order to provide the best possible combination of driveability, fuel economy and emission control. The PCM monitors the heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) signal voltage while in Closed Loop (CL) and regulates the fuel delivery by adjusting the pulse width of the injectors based on this signal. The ideal fuel trim (FT) values are around 0 percent for both short and long term FT. A positive FT value indicates the PCM is adding fuel in order to compensate for a lean condition by increasing the pulse width. A negative FT value indicates that the PCM is reducing the amount of fuel in order to compensate for a rich condition by decreasing the pulse width. A change made to the fuel delivery changes the long and short term FT values. The short term FT values change rapidly in response to the HO2S signal voltage. These changes fine tune the engine fueling. The long term FT makes course adjustments to fueling in order to re-center and restore control to short term FT. A scan tool can be used to monitor the short and long term FT values. The long term FT diagnostic is based on an average of several of the long term speed load learn cells. The PCM selects the cells based on the engine speed and engine load. If the PCM detects an excessively lean or rich condition, the PCM will set a FT diagnostic trouble code (DTC).