The short term fuel trim is used by the powertrain control module (PCM) in order to control the fuel injector pulse width. When the fuel metering control system is in closed loop operation, the PCM monitors the fuel trim oxygen sensor signal, in order to determine if the fuel system is operating rich or lean. If the PCM determines that no change in fuel delivery is needed in order to maintain the correct air/fuel ratio for a particular engine operating condition, a short term fuel trim scan tool data value of 0 percent is indicated. If the control module determines that the fuel system is operating rich, short term fuel trim will compensate for the rich condition by decreasing the fuel injector pulse width. When this happens, the scan tool will indicate a short term fuel trim value of less than 0 percent. If the PCM determines that the fuel system is operating lean, short term fuel trim will compensate for the lean condition by increasing the fuel injector pulse width. In this case the scan tool will indicate a short term fuel trim value of more than 0 percent.

When the PCM is in the power enrichment mode, the short term fuel trim value will indicate 0 percent. This prevents the fuel trim from compensating for the temporary rich command of the power enrichment mode.