What Is the P1684 Code?
Symptoms
Causes
Seriousness
Can I Still Drive?
Diagnose
Difficulty of Inspecting
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There are many components within a Mazda engine that need continuous supplies of oil, from the rotary seals, which are possibly the biggest usage of oil, to the eccentric shaft bearings, thrust needle bearings, and rotor bearings. The powertrain control module (PCM) indicates the amount of oil necessary based on engine load, then tells a movable plunger how far to open the oil pump to give that amount of oil. If the PCM notices that there’s a discrepancy between the ideal position and the actual position, then it logs this code.
More About the P1684 Code
This is a car code that may be specific to certain car manufacturers. Specifically, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC models often state this code as “TCM Ignition Temperature Sensor,” while Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, and Fiat often state this code as “Battery Power To Module Disconnected.” The code “Metering Oil Pump Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction” is mostly seen in Mazda engines. This is one of the biggest reasons you should pay attention to the description of the code, not just the code name, as different manufacturers might use different codes to have different meanings.
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What Are the Symptoms of a P1684 Code?
The stored trouble code and the check engine light are the most common symptoms of this code. However, you may also notice issues that depend on whether the system is injecting too much oil or too little oil. The spark plug may foul with too much oil at low engine speeds, while the engine can stall out and fail with too little oil at high engine speeds. Your vehicle may also enter “limp mode,” where certain systems within the vehicle simply stop working.
What Are Some Causes of a P1684 Code?
The most common causes of this code are either problems with the wiring and connectors due to being damaged, burnt, shorted, disconnected, or corroded, or an open circuit somewhere within the engine connections that deliver the oil. In very rare cases, the PCM might have failed, and in even rarer cases, the oil-metering pump or stepper motor may have failed. Most likely, it is just a problem with the wiring.
How Serious Is the P1684 Code?
If your vehicle is not pumping enough oil into your engine, this code can be extremely serious. You may experience engine failure due to a lack of lubrication. When you notice this code within your engine, it’s important to talk to an expert, even if you personally haven’t noticed issues with the drivability. It could be that the issues aren’t obvious to you yet, but will only become so when the problem is more serious.
Can I Still Drive with a P1684 Code?
It depends on the actual problem. If the engine has stalled out for you at all when driving, contact your local repair shop to ask whether you need to get your vehicle towed to bring it in. Otherwise, you may be able to drive with this code to the nearest repair shop. Because this code’s symptoms can range from extremely serious to generally unimpactful, this answer will depend on your specific vehicle.
How Easy Is It to Diagnose a P1684 Code?
Usually, the diagnostic process handles some problem of wiring within your vehicle. It’s incredibly rare for the problem to be located outside of the wiring processes, which means you can be pretty certain that the wiring is the problem within your engine. If you’re looking to diagnose the P1684 code, then you’ll almost certainly be able to do it fairly quickly; it’s the inspection process that may be more difficult.
How Difficult Is It to Inspect a P1684 Code?
The inspection process is where most people will have to invest lots of time into fixing this problem. You’ll need to look at the manual to determine the location, function, color-coding, and routing of all wiring in the area, and you may even need to perform ground, resistance, and continuity checks on all wiring. This inspection process will take lots of time and need lots of knowledge, so most DIYers let an expert handle it.
Need Additional Help with Your P1684 Code?
The oil-metering pump is an important part of ensuring your vehicle works as intended, as the regular rotation requires a steady flow of oil to ensure that the vehicle doesn’t get stuck or start wearing itself down. If you’ve noticed this diagnostic code within your engine, you may want an expert to help you fix this problem.
If you’re looking for an expert, then you can start by using Kelley to find a repair shop in your area. No matter how much fixing your vehicle needs or exactly what problems you’re experiencing, a repair shop can diagnose it and fix the problem for you.
Additionally, it’s common to see more than one code within your engine. If you’re looking for more information surrounding these engine codes, then check out the KBB OBD-II database. This is a great starting point to learn more.
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