P197A Alvis Silver Diagnostic Trouble Code

P197A Alvis Silver code definition:
P197A is a kind of OBD-II Diagnostic P-Powertrain Diagnostic Trouble Code for Alvis Silver.

P197A Alvis Silver is described as Fuel System Too Rich, which basically means bank 1's oxygen sensor has detected a rich condition of fuel. This means there's not enough oxygen in the exhaust from too much fuel being delivered into the air and gas mixture for combusion. As you drive and when specific conditions are slowly met, the vapors will gradually purge from the charcoal canister and will get burned within your engine.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a P197A Alvis Silver diagnostic trouble code may include:

Fuel pressure too low
Rich or lean exhaust
Diminished fuel efficiency
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated

Possible Causes :

Faulty IMRC actuator relay (if equipped)
A large air leak at or near the number one oxygen sensor would also cause a lean mixture.
Faulty IMRC actuator/sensor

Common Misdiagnoses

Exhaust Gas Recirculation System Valve 1 Problem
BBV Sensor Circuit Low Voltage Problem
Transmission Engaged At High Throttle Angle Problem
Cruise Inhibit Control Circuit Problem
TFP Valve Position Switch-Drive Without Drive Ratio Problem

Repair Processes :

If you find a related TSB, the information will often help in diagnosing the code in question as TSBs are crested from many thousands of repairs. With the valve disconnected, the red voltmeter lead should be attached to the IMRC valve power wire and the black voltmeter lead connected to ground. Oxygen sensors signal the engine management computer the amount of oxygen present in the exhaust, which is used in determining and controlling the fuel ratio.

Process Tips

Diagnostic trouble code P197A Alvis Silver is not difficult to diagnose and repair. Thus, it always pays to have a qualified technician to look after your vehicle should this error code arise.

Diagnosing this code requires the engine to be in good running shape, without unmetered air entering the engine. If other codes that relates to misfiring condition, lean running or air entering the engine is present, then you must first fix those error codes before P197A Alvis Silver.

Fortunately, P197A Alvis Silver is a fairly common OBD code, meaning that it applies to all makes and models of vehicles made after 1996.