P0620

Diagnostic Chart:

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
The PCM Output (L) terminal to the alternator determines when the alternator will be turned off. It is on under all normal vehicle operating conditions except during low RPM conditions. The alternator is turned off during low RPM conditions to remove excess load from the engine.

The alternator Telltale lamp will illuminate any time the ignition is on and engine is not running. The Telltale will go out after the engine is running and the alternator is putting out the desired amperage.

CONDITIONS FOR RUNNING THE DTC
^ The engine is running.
^ The Voltage telltale is on.

CONDITIONS FOR SETTING THE DTC
^ (L) terminal voltage is low while the PCM is commanding the generator on.
^ The above condition is present for more than 30 seconds.

ACTION TAKEN WHEN THE DTC SETS
^ The PCM will not illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL).
^ The PCM will store conditions which were present when the DTC set as Failure Records data only. This information will not be stored as Freeze Frame data.

CONDITIONS FOR CLEARING THE MIL/DTC
^ A History DTC will clear after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles have occurred without a malfunction.
^ The DTC can be cleared by using a scan tool.

DIAGNOSTIC AIDS
Inspect for the following conditions.

IMPORTANT: Remove any debris from the connector surfaces before servicing a component. Inspect the connector gaskets when diagnosing or replacing a component. Ensure that the gaskets are installed correctly. The gaskets prevent contaminate intrusion.

^ Poor terminal connection.
Inspect the harness connectors for backed out terminals, improper mating, broken locks, improperly formed or damaged terminals, and faulty terminal to wire connection. Use a corresponding mating terminal to test for proper tension. Refer to Diagrams for diagnosis and repair.
^ Damaged harness.
Inspect the wiring harness for damage. If the harness inspection does not reveal a problem, observe the display on the scan tool while moving connectors and wiring harnesses related to the sensor. A change in the scan tool display may indicate the location of the fault. Refer to Diagrams for diagnosis and repair. Inspect the PCM and the engine grounds for clean and secure connections.

If the DTC is determined to be intermittent, reviewing the Failure Records can be useful in determining when the DTC was last set.

TEST DESCRIPTION
The number(s) below refer to the step number(s) on the diagnostic table:
6. This vehicle is equipped with a PCM which utilizes and Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM). When the PCM is replaced, the new PCM must be programmed.

Refer to Starting and Charging for a wiring diagram.