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2000 GMC Sonoma ZR2 P0101, P0131, P0143, P0151, P0155 - Cold Start Miss and Fluctuating Codes

Model: 2000 Sonoma Fault Code: P0101 Posted: 2014-11-19 19:09

I own a 2000 GMC Sonoma ZR2 with 4x4, automatic transmission, and a 4.3L V6 engine. After a complete engine and transmission rebuild, the vehicle initially ran well except for a noticeable miss when cold. It would idle decently but struggle to reach 45 mph—taking nearly a mile to gain momentum, even at full throttle. Once warmed up, it performed normally. I replaced the temperature sensor with no improvement. The issue seemed to resolve after letting the vehicle sit and run for about five minutes before driving. On Friday, while commuting home from work, the engine suddenly began running poorly—stumbling severely during acceleration. Upon arrival, I scanned the system and found five pending codes: P0101 (Mass Airflow Sensor Range/Performance), P0131 (O2 Sensor Bank 1 Sensor 1 Low Signal), P0143 (O2 Sensor Bank 1 Sensor 2 Slow Response), P0151 (O2 Sensor Bank 2 Sensor 1 Low Signal), and P0155 (O2 Sensor Bank 2 Sensor 2 No Signal). I let the vehicle sit overnight and scanned again—this time, all codes were cleared. The Check Engine Light was off, and the engine ran significantly better. Despite this intermittent behavior, I'm unsure where to begin troubleshooting. The symptoms suggest a cold-start issue with potential sensor or wiring problems. Any guidance on diagnosing these specific OBD2 codes in a 2000 Sonoma ZR2 would be greatly appreciated.

Related fault codes
P0101P0131P0143P0151
Comments (2)
Anonymous 2014-11-20 08:04

Begin by inspecting and cleaning the Mass Airflow (MAF) sensor and its wiring harness. Corrosion or contamination in the MAF can cause erratic idle and poor cold-start performance, especially in older V6 engines like the 4.3L in a 2000 Sonoma.

Anonymous 2014-11-20 18:52

I drove to work today without major issues—about 20 miles round trip. The problem only occurred during initial acceleration, lasting roughly 200 yards before stabilizing. I cleaned the MAF sensor while at work, but there was no noticeable improvement. While monitoring with my OBD2 scanner, readings remained consistent with yesterday's data: - Idle: B1S1: 0.305–0.800V, B2S1: 0.430–0.455V, B1S3: 0.230–0.245V - Throttle input: B1S1: 0.035–0.900V, B2S1: 0.430–0.460V, B1S3: 0.035–0.360V I’ve now developed a P0155 code and plan to replace the O2 sensor at Bank 2 Sensor 2 this weekend. I’m also scheduled to remove the transmission for rear main seal repair. I'm confused about the downstream O2 sensor readings—specifically B2S1 showing lean signals. Since my catalytic converter is completely removed, shouldn’t the downstream sensors read richer? This discrepancy may point to a deeper issue like faulty wiring or sensor misalignment.