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.
DTC P0171: General Description
The powertrain control module (PCM) detects the oxygen content in the exhaust gas from the air/fuel ratio (A/F) sensor (sensor 1) signal voltage, and it uses fuel feedback control to maintain the optimal air/fuel ratio. The air/fuel ratio coefficient for correcting the amount of injected fuel is the short term fuel trim. The PCM varies short term fuel trim continuously to keep the air/fuel ratio close to the stoichiometric ratio for all driving conditions. Long term fuel trim is computed from short term fuel trim and is used to regulate long term deviation from the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio, which occurs when fuel metering components deteriorate with age or system failures occur. In addition, long term fuel trim is stored in the PCM memory and is used to determine when fuel metering components malfunction. When long term fuel trim is higher than normal, which is about 1 (0 %), the amount of injected fuel must be increased, and when lower than normal, it must be decreased. If long term fuel trim is normal (too lean) or more, the PCM detects a malfunction in the fuel metering components and stores a DTC.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
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