DTC P0178: Fuel Composition Sensor: Description

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 11 other vehicles, including the 2002 GMC Yukon XL, 2002 GMC Yukon, 2002 GMC Sierra, 2002 GMC Cab & Chassis Sierra, and 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Alcohol content and fuel temperature information is supplied to the powertrain control module (PCM) from the fuel composition sensor (FCS). The FCS has an ignition 1 circuit, a signal circuit, and a ground circuit. The FCS uses a microprocessor inside the sensor to measure the ethanol percentage and fuel temperature, and changes output signals accordingly. The signal circuit carries both the ethanol percentage, and the fuel temperature within the same signal. The signal is both variable frequency and variable pulse width. The frequency signal indicates the ethanol percentage, and the pulse width indicates fuel temperature. The PCM provides an internal pull up to 5 volts on the signal circuit, and the FCS pulls the 5 volts to ground in pulses. The normal range of operating frequency is between 50-150 Hz. The normal pulse width ranges between 1-5 milliseconds. If the PCM detects a signal less than 45 Hz DTC P0178 will set.