P0661 Intake Manifold Tuning Valve Control Circuit Low Bank 1
OBD-II Trouble Code Technical Description
Intake Manifold Tuning Valve Control Circuit Low Bank 1
What does that mean?
This is a generic powertrain diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and typically applies to OBD-II vehicles. Vehicle makes may include but aren't limited to Saturn, Land Rover, Porsche, Vauxhall, Dodge, Chrysler, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Chevy, Honda, Acura, Isuzu, Ford, etc.
The ECM (Engine control module) is responsible for monitoring monitoring and adjusting numerous sensors and systems involved in the operation of your vehicle. Not to mention detect faults within said systems and circuits. One of the systems that your ECM is responsible for monitoring and correlating with desired values is, the Intake Manifold Tuning Valve.
I have heard these called many names but a "flapper" valve comes up often in the repair world. The intake manifold tuning valve has multiple possible purposes to aid in your engine's performance and drivability. One is to regulate pressures between intake plenums. The other may be to redirect intake air to a separate set of intake runners (or combination) to change to flow and possibly the performance of your engine. The valve itself, from my experience anyway, is made mostly of plastic so you can imagine some possible malfunctions in combination with notoriously high temperatures in the engine compartment.
P0661 is the trouble code identified as "Intake Manifold Tuning Valve Control Circuit Low Bank 1" and this indicates that the ECM has detected too low of electrical reading from the valve on bank #1. On multiple bank engines (e.g. V6, V8) bank #1 is the side of the engine that contains cylinder #1.
This code can be triggered by either a mechanical or electrical fault with the intake manifold tuning valve. If you are located in an area susceptible to extreme cold weather, it can cause the valve to malfunction and not rotate fluently according to the ECM's desires.
A GM intake manifold tuning valve:
What is the severity of this DTC?
Depending on the actual problem related to your case, this may range from nothing to worry about to something fairly severe and potentially damaging to your engine's internals. It would be a good idea to error on the side of caution when dealing with mechanical parts such as the intake manifold tuning valve. The potential for unwanted parts to enter the engine's combustion chamber is there so keep that in mind if you were thinking of putting this off until another day.
What are some of the symptoms of the code?
Symptoms of a P0661 diagnostic code may include:
Poor engine performance Loud clicking noise coming from engine bay Decreased fuel economy Possible misfire on startup Reduced engine power Power range altered Cold start issuesWhat are some of the common causes of the code?
Causes for this P0661 engine code may include:
Defective intake manifold (runner) tuning valve Broken valve parts Stuck valve Extreme cold Wiring issue (e.g. chafed, cracked, corroded, etc.) Broken electrical connector ECM issue Valve contaminationWhat are some P0661 diagnostic and troubleshooting steps?
The first step in the troubleshooting process for any malfunction is to research the Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) for known issues with the specific vehicle.
Advanced diagnostic steps become very vehicle specific and may require the appropriate advanced equipment and knowledge to perform accurately. We include basic steps below but refer to a vehicle year/make/model/powertrain specific repair guide for specific steps for your vehicle.
Basic Step #1
Whenever a DTC (Diagnostic trouble code) is activated by the ECM, as a DIYer it's a good idea to clear all the codes to see if it comes back on immediately. If not, take the vehicle f
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