Accelerator Pedal or Lever Position Sensor Circuit - Shorted High Page 1 of 13

FAULT CODE 131

Accelerator Pedal or Lever Position Sensor Circuit -
Shorted High
Overview

CODE REASON EFFECT

Fault Code: 131 Accelerator Pedal or Lever Position Automotive: Severe derate
PID: P091 Sensor Circuit - Shorted High. High in power output of the
SPN: 91 voltage detected at accelerator pedal or engine. Limp home
FMI: 3/3 lever position circuit. capability only.
LAMP: Red
SRT: Marine: Severe derate in
engine speed. Limp home
capability only.

Accelerator Pedal or Lever Position Sensor Circuit

Circuit Description

The accelerator pedal or lever position sensor is attached to the accelerator pedal or lever.
The accelerator pedal or lever position sensor sends a signal to the electronic control
module (ECM) when the accelerator pedal or lever is depressed and released. The
accelerator pedal or lever position circuit contains three wires: Accelerator Pedal or Lever
Position +5 VDC Supply, Accelerator Pedal or Lever Position Return, and Accelerator
Pedal or Lever Position Signal.

Component Location

The accelerator pedal or lever position sensor is located on the accelerator pedal or lever.
Refer to the OEM manual.

Shop Talk

If troubleshooting an intermittent accelerator problem:

The accelerator pedal or lever position sensor signal voltage can be monitored with the
INSITE™ electronic service tool, while flexing the harness to locate the intermittent
connection.

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Possible causes of this fault include:

z Accelerator pedal or lever position signal circuit shorted to battery or +5 VDC supply
z Open accelerator pedal or lever return circuit in the harness or connections
z Accelerator supply shorted to battery
z Failed accelerator pedal or lever position sensor.

NOTE: The three wires in the accelerator position sensor circuit must be twisted together.

Cautions and Warnings

CAUTION
To reduce the possibility of damaging a new ECM, all other active fault
codes must be investigated prior to replacing the ECM.

CAUTION
To reduce the possibility of pin and harness damage, use the following
test leads when taking a measurement:
Part Number 3823996 - female Weather-Pack test lead
Part Number 3822758 - male Deutsch/AMP/Metri-Pack test lead.

Troubleshooting Steps

STEPS SPECIFICATIONS
STEP 1. Check the fault codes.
STEP 1A. Check for sensor Fault Code 387 active?
supply fault codes.
STEP 1B. Check for an active Fault Code 131 active?
fault code.
STEP 2. Check the accelerator pedal or
lever position sensor circuit.
STEP 2A. Inspect the accelerator Dirty or damaged pins?
pedal or lever position sensor and
connector pins.
STEP 2B. Check the accelerator 4.75 to 5.25 VDC?
pedal or lever position sensor
supply voltage and return circuit.
STEP 2C. Check the circuit Fault Code 132 active and Fault Code
response. 131 inactive?
STEP 2D. Check the fault codes Fault Code 132 is active?
and verify accelerator pedal or
lever condition.

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STEP 3. Check the ECM and OEM

harness.
STEP 3A. Inspect ECM and OEM Dirty or damaged pins?
harness connector pins.

STEP 3A-1. Check for an open

circuit in the OEM harness.
STEP 3A-2. Check for a pin-to-pin
short circuit in the OEM harness.
STEP 3B. Check for an inactive Fault Code 131 inactive?
fault code.
STEP 4. Clear the fault codes.
STEP 4A. Disable the fault code. Fault Code 131 inactive?
STEP 4B. Clear the inactive fault All fault codes cleared?
codes.

Guided Step 1 - Check the fault codes.

Guided Step 1A - Check for sensor supply fault codes.

Conditions

z Turn keyswitch ON.

z Connect INSITE™ electronic
service tool.

Action

Check for sensor supply fault codes.

z Use INSITE™ electronic service

tool to read the fault codes.

Fault Code 387 active? Fault Code 387 active?

YES NO
No Repair No Repair
Fault Code 387 Go to 1B

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Guided Step 1B - Check for an active fault code.

Conditions

z Turn keyswitch ON.

z Connect INSITE™ electronic
service tool.

Action

Check for an active fault code.

z Use INSITE™ electronic service

tool to read the fault codes.

Fault Code 131 active? Fault Code 131 active?

YES NO
No Repair No Repair
Inactive or Intermittent Fault Code,
Go to 2A
Procedure 019-362.

Guided Step 2 - Check the accelerator pedal or lever

position sensor and circuit.

Guided Step 2A - Inspect the accelerator pedal or lever position sensor and
connector pins.

Conditions

z Turn keyswitch OFF.

z Disconnect the accelerator pedal
or lever position sensor from the
OEM harness.

Action

Inspect the OEM harness and sensor

connector pins for the following:

z Loose connector
z Corroded pins
z Bent or broken pins

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z Pushed back or expanded pins

z Moisture in or on the connector
z Missing or damaged connector
seals
z Dirt or debris in or on the
connector pin
z Connector shell broken
z Wire insulation damage
z Damaged locking tab connector.

For general inspection techniques, refer

to Component and Pin Inspection,
Procedure 019-361.

Dirty or damaged pins? Dirty or damaged pins?

YES NO
A defective connection has been detected No Repair
in the sensor or harness connector.

Clean the connector and pins.

Repair the damaged harness, connector,

or pins if possible.

Refer to Procedure 019-071.

Go to 4A Go to 2B

Guided Step 2B - Check the accelerator pedal or lever position sensor

supply voltage and return circuit.

Conditions

z Turn
keyswitch
OFF.
z Disconnect
the
accelerator
pedal
position
sensor from
the OEM
harness.
z Turn
keyswitch

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ON.

Action

Measure the
voltage from the
accelerator pedal
or lever position
sensor +5 VDC
SUPPLY pin to the
accelerator pedal
or lever position
sensor RETURN
pin at the sensor
connector of the
OEM harness.

Refer to the wiring

diagram for
connector pin
identification.

4.75 to 5.25 VDC? 4.75 to 5.25 VDC?

YES NO
No Repair No Repair
Go to 2C Go to 3A

Guided Step 2C - Check the circuit response.

Conditions

z Turn keyswitch OFF.

z Disconnect the accelerator pedal
or lever position sensor from the
OEM harness.
z Turn keyswitch ON.
z Connect INSITE™ electronic
service tool.

Action

Check for the appropriate ECM

response after 30 seconds.

z Use INSITE™ electronic service

tool to read the fault codes.

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Fault Code 132 active and Fault Code Fault Code 132 active and Fault Code
131 inactive? 131 inactive?
YES NO
No Repair No Repair
Go to 2D Go to 3A

Guided Step 2D - Check the fault codes and verify accelerator pedal or
lever condition.

Conditions

z Turn keyswitch OFF.

z Connect the accelerator pedal or
lever to the OEM harness.
z Turn keyswitch ON.
z Connect INSITE™ electronic
service tool.

Action

Check for the appropriate circuit

response after 30 seconds.

Use INSITE™ electronic service tool to

read the fault codes.

Fault Code 132 is active? Fault Code 132 is active?

YES NO
A defective accelerator pedal or lever has None. The removal and installation of the
been detected. Contact the appropriate connector corrected the failure.
OEM or dealership for repair instructions.

Replace the accelerator pedal or lever.

Refer to the OEM troubleshooting manual.

Go to 4A Go to 4A

Guided Step 3 - Check the ECM and OEM harness.

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Guided Step 3A - Inspect the ECM and OEM harness connector pins.

Conditions

z Turn keyswitch OFF.

z Disconnect the OEM harness from
the ECM.

Action

Inspect the OEM harness and ECM

connector pins for the following:

z Loose connector
z Corroded pins
z Bent or broken pins
z Pushed back or expanded pins
z Moisture in or on the connector
z Missing or damaged connector
seals
z Dirt or debris in or on the
connector pin
z Connector shell broken
z Wire insulation damage
z Damaged locking tab connector.

For general inspection techniques, refer

to Component Connector and Pin
Inspection, Procedure 019-361.

Dirty or damaged pins? Dirty or damaged pins?

YES NO
A defective connection has been detected No Repair
in the harness connector.

Clean the connector and pins.

Repair the damaged harness, connector,

or pins if possible.

Refer to Procedure 019-071.

Go to 4A Go to 3A-1

Guided Step 3A-1 - Check for an open circuit in the OEM harness.

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Conditions

z Turn
keyswitch
OFF.
z Disconnect
the OEM
harness from
the ECM.
z Disconnect
the
accelerator
pedal or
lever position
sensor from
the OEM
harness.

Action

Check for an open

circuit.

z Measure the
resistance
between the
OEM
harness
ECM
connector
accelerator
pedal or
lever
RETURN pin
and the OEM
harness
accelerator
pedal or
lever
RETURN
pin.

Refer to the wiring

diagram for
connector pin
identification.

For general
resistance
measurement
techniques, refer
to the Resistance

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Measurements
Using a Multimeter
and Wiring
Diagram,
Procedure 019-
360.

Less than 10 Less than 10 ohms?

ohms?
YES NO
No Repair An open RETURN circuit has been detected in the OEM harness.

Repair or replace the OEM harness.

Refer to Procedure 019-071.

Go to 3A-2 Go to 4A

Guided Step 3A-2 - Check for a pin-to-pin short circuit in the OEM harness.

Conditions

z Turn
keyswitch
OFF.
z Disconnect
the OEM
harness from
the ECM.
z Disconnect
the
accelerator
pedal or
lever position
sensor from
the OEM
harness.

Action

Check for a pin-to-

pin short.

z Measure the
resistance
between the
accelerator

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pedal or
lever
SIGNAL pin
in the OEM
harness
ECM
connector
and all other
pins in the
OEM
connector.

Refer to the wiring

diagram for
connector pin
identification.

For general
resistance
measurement
techniques, refer
to the Resistance
Measurements
Using a Multimeter
and Wiring
Diagram,
Procedure 019-
360.

Greater than 100k Greater than 100k ohms?

ohms?
YES NO
No Repair Repair or replace the OEM harness.

Refer to Procedure 019-071.

Go to 3B Go to 4A

Guided Step 3B - Check for an inactive fault code.

Conditions

z Connect all components.

z Turn keyswitch ON.
z Connect INSITE™ electronic
service tool.

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Action

Check for the appropriate circuit

response after 30 seconds.

z Use INSITE™ electronic service

tool to read the fault codes.

Fault Code 131 inactive? Fault Code 131 inactive?

YES NO
None. The removal and installation of the Call for pre-authorization.
connector corrected the failure.
Replace the ECM.

Refer to Procedure 019-031.

Go to 4A Go to 4A

Guided Step 4 - Clear the fault codes.

Guided Step 4A - Disable the fault code.

Conditions

z Connect all components.

z Connect INSITE™ electronic
service tool.

Action

Disable the fault code.

z Start the engine and let it idle for 1

minute.
z Use INSITE™ electronic service
tool to verify that the fault code is
inactive.

Fault Code 131 inactive? Fault Code 131 inactive?

YES NO
No Repair Return to the troubleshooting steps or
contact a local Cummins Authorized Repair

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Location if all steps have been completed

and checked a second time.

Go to 4B Go to 1A

Guided Step 4B - Clear the inactive fault codes.

Conditions

z Connect all components.

z Turn keyswitch ON.
z Connect INSITE™ electronic
service tool.

Action

Clear the inactive fault codes.

z Use INSITE™ electronic service

tool to erase the inactive fault
codes.

All fault codes cleared? All fault codes cleared?

YES NO
No Repair Troubleshoot any remaining active fault
codes.

Repair complete Appropriate troubleshooting steps

Last Modified: 28-Feb-2006

Copyright© 2006
Cummins, Inc.
All rights reserved

12:31:39 2007-07-20