P2075 – Intake manifold air control actuator position sensor/switch – circuit malfunction
| Code | Fault Location | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|
| P2075 | Intake manifold air control actuator position sensor/switch - circuit malfunction (Buy Part On Amazon) | Wiring, intake manifold air control actuator position sensor/switch |
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Table of Contents
- What Does Code P2075 Mean?
- Where is the P2075 sensor located?
- What are the common causes of code P2075?
- Get Help with P2075
What Does Code P2075 Mean?
P2075 is a generic code trouble code defined as Intake Manifold Tuning Valve Position Sensor/Switch Circuit Bank 1. This code is triggered when the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) fails to receive a plausible signal from the said sensor.
The Intake Manifold Tuning Valve (IMTV) is a PCM-controlled component that operates a variable-intake-geometry mechanism. Its job is to increase how much air the engine gets through the rev range and achieve a better air-fuel mixture. This improves torque delivery and throttle response, especially at low engine speeds, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
There are two typical cases where this technology is used in modern vehicles. One is cars with naturally aspirated gasoline engines, where the variable geometry mechanism changes the length of the intake runners depending on the engine speed. With them being longer, the engine will breathe more efficiently at low revs, as the incoming air pickups charge as it goes around. But on the downside, such a configuration will choke the engine at higher speeds when shorter runners are desired. With that in mind, car makers have developed intake manifolds with dual intake paths – one longer and the other shorter. A path the incoming air will take is controlled by a flap inside the manifold, which routes it depending on the engine’s speed.
Another common application of this technology is in diesel engines with 4-valves per cylinder. Here, each intake valve has its own separate inlet port, with one of them having a flap, which opens and closes depending on the engine speed. At low revs, the flap is in a closed position, and all intake air enters through one valve only. This causes it to swirl inside the cylinder and mix better with the fuel once it’s injected. Hence the name – swirl flaps. On the other hand, when the engine revs are high and more air is needed, the flap opens to increase the flow.
Because the flap mechanism is either fully closed or fully opened, there is no need to precisely control its position. Instead, when needed, the PCM sends a 100-percent-duty signal – which you can imagine as pressing the full throttle – to the IMTV valve to open the flaps. Once the fully-opened position is reached, a dedicated switch within the valve is triggered, informing the PCM about the successfully performed operation, which then eases off the power to the IMTV valve.
Where is the P2075 sensor located?
Most engines that implement intake tuning mechanisms have individual flaps for each cylinder, with one common shaft on which they are mounted. This shaft is rotated in one way or another by a valve, which usually sits at the side of the intake manifold. The picture below shows how this looks in a Chevrolet Cruze with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine, which is known to suffer from P2075 trouble codes.
In addition, Opel Vectra C and Saab 9-3 with 1.9 CDTi Diesel engines have a valve that operates the swirl flaps mounted as shown in this photo.
What are the common causes of code P2075?
Based on the description, the P2075 trouble code is most likely to be caused by electrical issues, which, in general, include the following:
Faulty sensor
As said, the IMTV valve position Sensor is, in most cases, a switch that gets triggered once the valve and a corresponding mechanism are fully opened and can get worn out or break apart over time.
Wiring issues
Like any other electrical component, the IMTV valve and its position sensor are connected to the car’s PCM with a wiring harness. Predictably, the wires can get physically damaged, which may obstruct signals or generate a short circuit. A similar could happen if the wiring connector is corroded or loose or some of its pins are bent or pushed out.
Malfunctioning IMTV valve
In most cases, the position sensor is integrated into the IMTV valve, which, for any reason, can develop an internal electrical fault. Should it happen, this will prevent the communication between the sensor and the PCM, triggering the P2075 code.
Seized swirl flaps
In vehicles with diesel engines, soot buildups inside the intake manifold – which are mostly caused by the EGR system – could prevent the swirl flaps from opening and closing freely. Instead, their movement may be erratic and harsh, which physically damages the position sensor and causes it to wear out prematurely.
Faulty PCM
Lastly, if everything else proves to be operating correctly, there is always a possibility the PCM causes the issue. This, however, is not likely and should be double-checked, or, more preferably, confirmed by an expert, before replacing it.
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