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.
System Description
The determination of how much fuel to deliver to the engine is the calculation of injector pulse width. Basic injection duration (injector pulse width) is determined by:
- Engine load (MAF sensor)
- Engine Speed (SGT)
- Short fuel trim correction factor
- Long fuel trim correction factor
Fuel trim is monitored to meet the OBD-II requirements
- Short fuel trim (FT)
Short FT is a temporary correction to fuel delivery which changes with every cycle of the front Heated Oxygen Sensor. Under normal conditions, it fluctuates rapidly around its ideal value of 0 % correction and is set to 0 % during open loop operation.
Short FT is a parameter of the OBD-II serial data stream and can be displayed by a scan tool. The normal range of short FT is +/- P25 %, but under normal operating conditions it rarely goes beyond +/- P10 %. Short FT responds to changes in front HO2S output. If basic injection duration results in a lean air/fuel ratio, Short FT responds with positive corrections (+1 % to + 25 %) to add fuel and enrich the mixture. If basic injection is too rich, Short FT responds with negative corrections (-1 % to -25 %) to subtract fuel and lean the mixture.
- Long Fuel Trim
Long FT is a data parameter on the OBD-II data streams. It is a more permanent correction to fuel delivery because it is part of the basic injection duration calculation. Long FT changes slowly, in response to Short FT. It's normal range is +/- P25 %, positive values indicating rich correction and negative values indicating lean correction.
Unlike Short FT which affects injection duration calculation in closed loop only, the Long FT correction factor affects the basic injection duration calculation in open and closed loop. Because Long FT is stored in a non-volatile RAM and is not erased when the ignition is switched OFF, the fuel system is able to correct for variances in engine and fuel conditions even during warm-up and wide open throttle conditions.
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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.
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