Cummins fault code16981 · Engine Throttle Valve 1 Position 1
Engine Throttle Valve 1 Position 1 - Abnormal Rate of Change
16981 Cummins fault code as shown in INSITE / CaltermSPN51 · Engine Intake Throttle Actuator Position Sensor CircuitFMI10 Abnormal rate of changeOBD codenone (J1939 only)LampNo lampCummins textEngine Throttle Valve 1 Position 1 - Abnormal Rate of ChangeFailure modeAbnormal Rate of ChangeWhat Cummins code 16981 means
The value of Engine Throttle Valve 1 Position 1 is changing faster or slower than is physically plausible, so the ECM treats the reading as suspect. Often a loose connector, a failing sensor, or a mechanical problem the sensor is faithfully reporting.
No dash lamp is attached to this code in the Cummins fault table. It is logged in the ECM and shows up in Cummins INSITE (or any J1939 tool reading DM1 / DM2), but on its own it does not light a lamp.
On a generic J1939 scan tool, or on the dash of a Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt, International or Volvo chassis, the same fault is shown as SPN 51 FMI 10 rather than as Cummins code 16981. Cummins INSITE and Calterm show the Cummins number, the SPN / FMI pair and the lamp together.
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Find your ECFG →Other Cummins codes on SPN 51 Engine Intake Throttle Actuator Position Sensor Circuit
14 other fault codes share this SPN; each one is a different failure mode (FMI) of the same component.
Related Cummins fault codes
J1939 failure mode identifiers (FMI)
FMI 10 is highlighted. The FMI is the second half of every J1939 fault and tells you how the component failed; the SPN tells you which component.
| FMI | Meaning (SAE J1939-73) |
|---|---|
| 0 | Data valid but above normal operational range - most severe level |
| 1 | Data valid but below normal operational range - most severe level |
| 2 | Data erratic, intermittent or incorrect |
| 3 | Voltage above normal, or shorted to high source |
| 4 | Voltage below normal, or shorted to low source |
| 5 | Current below normal or open circuit |
| 6 | Current above normal or grounded circuit |
| 7 | Mechanical system not responding or out of adjustment |
| 8 | Abnormal frequency, pulse width or period |
| 9 | Abnormal update rate |
| 10 | Abnormal rate of change |
| 11 | Root cause not known |
| 12 | Bad intelligent device or component |
| 13 | Out of calibration |
| 14 | Special instructions |
| 15 | Data valid but above normal operating range - least severe level |
| 16 | Data valid but above normal operating range - moderately severe level |
| 17 | Data valid but below normal operating range - least severe level |
| 18 | Data valid but below normal operating range - moderately severe level |
| 19 | Received network data in error |
| 20 | Data drifted high |
| 21 | Data drifted low |
| 22 | Reserved for SAE assignment |
| 23 | Reserved for SAE assignment |
| 24 | Reserved for SAE assignment |
| 25 | Reserved for SAE assignment |
| 26 | Reserved for SAE assignment |
| 27 | Reserved for SAE assignment |
| 28 | Reserved for SAE assignment |
| 29 | Reserved for SAE assignment |
| 30 | Reserved for SAE assignment |
| 31 | Condition exists |
Questions about code 16981
What does Cummins fault code 16981 mean?
Cummins 16981 is "Engine Throttle Valve 1 Position 1 - Abnormal Rate of Change". It maps to SPN 51 FMI 10. The value of Engine Throttle Valve 1 Position 1 is changing faster or slower than is physically plausible, so the ECM treats the reading as suspect. Often a loose connector, a failing sensor, or a mechanical problem the sensor is faithfully reporting.
Which lamp does fault code 16981 turn on?
No lamp: No dash lamp is attached to this code in the Cummins fault table. It is logged in the ECM and shows up in Cummins INSITE (or any J1939 tool reading DM1 / DM2), but on its own it does not light a lamp.
How do I clear or permanently delete Cummins code 16981?
An active code goes inactive on its own once the condition is gone; the inactive record stays in the ECM fault history until it is cleared with Cummins INSITE (or a J1939 tool that supports the DM3 / DM11 clear). If the code keeps coming back because the part is gone, disconnected or not worth repairing, the lasting fix is to disable fault 16981 in the calibration: upload your .xcal to the ECFG Superstore file service, custom DTC delete from $150 (up to 30 codes), full DPF / EGR / SCR delete $500, and flash the returned file with Calterm or INSITE.
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