P1174 and P1175 are GM-specific DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes). They indicate fuel bank trim issues on bank 1 and bank 2 of your Buick LaCrosse.
Buick LaCrosse P1174 + P1175 Quick Info
| GM P1174 + P1175 Definition | Fuel Trim Cylinder Balance (Bank 1 or Bank 2) |
| Symptoms | Mild misfire, MIL light |
| Common Causes | Bad O2 sensors, spark plugs, or fuel injectors |
| Breakdown Risk? | Almost Never |
| Repair Cost (Parts) | Usually under $200 |
| Repair Difficulty | Difficult to diagnose |
Definition
P1174: Fuel Trim Cylinder Balance (Bank 1)
P1175: Fuel Trim Cylinder Balance (Bank 2)
Fuel Trim Cylinder Balance
P1174 stands for Fuel Trim Cylinder Balance (Bank 1). These codes are set by your LaCrosse’s engine control unit (ECU) when a difference in the fuel-air mixture between cylinders of Bank 1 or 2 is detected by their respective oxygen sensors.
P1175 means the same exact thing as P1174, just for the cylinder head containing your LaCrosse’s second cylinder.
Bank 1 or Bank 2
If your LaCrosse has more than one cylinder head (“V” type engine), you’ll need to determine which bank is bank one. Bank one is almost always the cylinder head a little bit closer to the car’s engine’s front (accessory side). A quick Google image search can help you verify where cylinder 1 is in your Buick LaCrosse’s model year and engine combo.
Inline engines only have one bank of cylinders, which means they’re not capable of getting P1175. So you don’t need to concern yourself with which side of the engine the code is on if your car has an inline engine.
Symptoms
In most cases, there will be no noticeable symptoms associated with P1174 or P1175 in the Buick LaCrosse other than an illuminated check engine light. However, reduced fuel efficiency and/or engine power reduction could be present.
P1174 + P1175 Causes: Buick LaCrosse
The following are the most common causes of GM P1174 and P1175:
- Faulty or contaminated oxygen sensors
- Fuel injectors that are leaking or clogged
- Incorrect or worn spark plugs, plug wires (if equipped), and coil packs
- Vacuum leaks
- Intake manifold leaks
- Defective or dirty mass airflow (MAF) sensor
- Dirty or failed exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve
Diagnosis
Diagnosing P1174 and P1175 can be challenging due to the scope of potential causes. Diagnosing your car will require a diagnostic scanner, an oscilloscope, and other specialized tools to troubleshoot the issue.
Replacing the upstream oxygen sensors or performing a tune-up are the most common fixes for P1174 and P1175 in the Buick LaCrosse.
Look at the Other Codes and TSB’s
If there are other codes stored in your LaCrosse’s memory, they can give valuable insight and help with diagnosing P1174 + P1175. For instance, look at the MAF sensor if there’s a MAF code. If there’s a misfire, pull the plug for the cylinder in question and inspect it.
Connect the scanner to your LaCrosse’s OBD-II port and retrieve all stored trouble codes, freeze frame data, and live data. This information can then be used to pinpoint the source of the problem.
You should also check for technical service bulletins (TSB) related to the specific make and model of the vehicle in question.
Perform a Visual Inspection
Perform a visual inspection of your Buick LaCrosse’s engine. Check the components and sensors. You should also check all wiring connections and wire harnesses for any signs of damage or corrosion. Once this has been done, you’ll need to move on to practical things you can do to clear the code (half a page down).
P1174 and P1175 Together
If your LaCrosse has P1174 and P1175 together, the O2 sensors are likely fine. It’s also not a spark plug issue since they shouldn’t simultaneously go bad on both sides of the engine.
When these codes are together, they’re most likely caused by a vacuum leak or a dirty MAF.
Common Buick LaCrosse P1174 + P1175 Fixes
The easiest way to fix these codes is to use a quality scanner to see what’s going on in your car’s engine. The video above shows how to do that.
Here are the most common quick fixes for these codes in the LaCrosse.
- Replacing the spark plugs
- Replacing the upstream O2 sensor(s)
- Cleaning the fuel injection system
- Cleaning the MAF Sensor