Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Circuit/System Description
The intake flow rationality diagnostic provides the within-range rationality check for the mass air flow (MAF), manifold absolute pressure (MAP), and the throttle position (TP) sensors. This is an explicit model-based diagnostic containing 4 separate models for the intake system.
- The throttle model describes the flow through the throttle body and is used to estimate the MAF through the throttle body as a function of barometric pressure (BARO), TP, intake air temperature (IAT), and estimated MAP. The information from this model is displayed on the scan tool as the MAF Performance Test parameter.
- The first intake manifold model describes the intake manifold and is used to estimate MAP as a function of the MAF into the manifold from the throttle body and the MAF out of the manifold caused by engine pumping. The flow into the manifold from the throttle uses the MAF estimate calculated from the above throttle model. The information from this model is displayed on the scan tool as the MAP Performance Test 1 parameter.
- The second intake manifold model is identical to the first intake manifold model except that the MAF sensor measurement is used instead of the throttle model estimate for the throttle air input. The information from this model is displayed on the scan tool as the MAP Performance Test 2 parameter.
- The fourth model is created from the combination and additional calculations of the throttle model and the first intake manifold model. The information from this model is displayed on the scan tool as the TP Performance Test parameter.
The estimates of MAF and MAP obtained from this system of models and calculations are then compared to the actual measured values from the MAF, MAP, and the TP sensors and to each other to determine the appropriate DTC to fail. The following table illustrates the possible failure combinations and the resulting DTC or DTCs.
| MAF Performance Test | MAP Performance Test 1 | MAP Performance Test 2 | TP Performance Test | DTCs Passed | DTCs Failed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | OK | OK | P0101, P0106, P0121, P1101 | None |
| OK | OK | Fault | OK | P0101, P0106, P0121, P1101 | None |
| Fault | OK | Fault | OK | P0106, P0121, P1101 | P0101 |
| OK | Fault | Fault | OK | P0101, P0121, P1101 | P0106 |
| Fault | Fault | Fault | OK | P0121, P1101 | P0101, P0106 |
| - | - | OK | Fault | P0101, P0106, P1101 | P0121 |
| OK | OK | Fault | Fault | P0101, P0106, P0121, P1101 | None |
| Fault | OK | Fault | Fault | P0101, P0106, P0121 | P1101 |
| - | Fault | Fault | Fault | P0101, P0106, P0121 | P1101 |
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.