It's downright dangerous as this 2016 Malibu owner can attest: I can be in the freeway and full speed traffic and suddenly my car loses power almost causing me to be hit from behind. Codes say p2138 and I changed the gas pedal. The following models fall under this category: Similar concerns were investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration a few years ago, after some drivers of the popular Ford F-150 pickup truck reported the vehicle would suddenly experience reduced engine power while moving at highway speeds. Some of the most common causes include: Also, an automatic transmission thats slipping can lead to an increase in engine RPMs without an increase in vehicle speed. Don't spray cleaner directly into the ETC body. If the car is at a high altitude with thin air, it may also experience power loss from an overheated cooling system. However, you still can perform some checks on your own, if necessary. There a many possible reasons why your car might exhibit a hesitation and/or lack of acceleration. The car will enter limp mode and turn on the decreased engine power light if this sensor cant interact with the computer systems in order to control engine revving. PIP4578B: Mentions that Reduced Engine Power Mode may be triggered if an idle relearn procedure is not performed after servicing the throttle body. "acceptedAnswer": { "text": "The fuel injectors may not be able to supply the cylinders with adequate gasoline if your battery is not operating properly. Pay attention to what it does. You can use a scan tool to download trouble codes stored in the electronic control module (ECM) of your car. It is best to tow your vehicle to the nearest repair facility, as driving at extremely low speeds can be dangerous. Other Possible Causes of Engine Power Is Reduced Alert on Chevy Malibu. Instead of wasting time and money trying to fix the problem yourself, in many cases, its more effective to have a professional tackle the job for you. If the motor in your automobile isnt generating as much power as it should, you probably have an electrical issue. It will be possible to get more specific information about any transmission defects by running a scan on the vehicle. Video: Fixing a 2007 Chevy 2500 HD with a "Reduced engine power" message. After an issue is discovered, the PCM triggers the notification to light. "text": "Among the main causes are Issues leading to poor fuel pressure or volumes such as a faulty fuel pump and even a restricted fuel filter excess back pressure due to a catalytic converter or a limited exhaust. Get exclusive CarParts.com deals and coupons straight to your inbox! Car Throttle Actuator Control system: Most of the time, a warning is set off by a problem with Throttle Actuator Control (TAC) system. Noise during operation is a sign of a bad throttle control assembly.Also, look inside the throttle body as the valve moves. How do you reset the reduced engine power light? The fuel filters job is to keep dirt and debris out of the fuel system, eventually needing cleaning or changing. The transmission being locked in third or second gear. To download trouble codes related to the traction control system (TCS), you will need a scan tool that can connect with the anti-lock brake system (ABS) controller. Keep in mind that codes arent a complete diagnosisbut they will tell you where to begin your analysis. Alleged Engine Power Reduced Defect in Chevy Malibu Vehicles Prompts Class Action Lawsuit. Depending on your particular vehicle model and the fault detected by the computer, a Reduced Engine Power message may appear along with a particular trouble code in the ECM's memory: On drive-by-wire systems, pay special attention to DTCs that point to the throttle actuator. The problem code P1516 appears, and the Check Engine light comes on. Once the car is fixed and the codes are cleared, the reduced power warning will go away. What if You Cant Fix Reduced Power Mode Yourself? now 2022 and still having this problem is going to cost me losts of money to fix. I'm the MotorVerso.com AI Car Expert. In some cases, youll find a TSB that documents the correct repair procedure for your vehicle. In some instances, you might get lucky, and a simple procedure, such as cleaning the throttle body, will get your vehicle out of Reduced Power Mode. The throttle position sensor is nearby, close to the butterfly valve, and needs to be functional to allow unobstructed airflow. Always keep an eye on the engine temperature. The low engine power light may illuminate for a number of causes, all of which should raise suspicion. Never stick your fingers inside the throttle body when the ignition key is in the ignition. As a driver, you may notice one or more of the following driveability issues: Engine speed reduced between 1200 and 1600 RPM. If it comes "alive", the ETC motor can cut off one of your fingers if trapped between the valve blade and the throttle body barrel. Only first and third gear available while in Drive. Getting surprised with the engine power reduced message on a Chevrolet Malibu without warning can be scary. This issue is related to the throttle position sensor, and can be caused by faulty wiring to the TPS, bad connection at the TPS, or a failed TPS. Most of the Malibu cars affected have a 1.5-liter turbocharged four . Welcome to Motor Verso. A faulty throttle position sensor is the most frequent cause of diminished power in your Chevy Silverado. Follow the steps in your vehicle repair manual to do a throttle body relearn procedure, if necessary. Example: "Bad Brakes", "Toyota Recall", etc. Though a bit rarer, TAC (Throttle Actuator Controls) might also trigger warnings for Equinox engine power reduced. Customers have allegedly overpaid for their cars due to the supposed defects that cause the powertrain problems, then owners must spend their own money to replace components that allegedly go bad again. Maybe you've experienced this problem. Even though its not the end of the world, you should probably just stop contacting a service provider before continuing your journey. Reduced Engine Power. October 24, 2019 A Chevy Malibu that allegedly suffered reduced engine power caused the owner to file a class action lawsuit that alleges all 2016-2018 Malibu cars have problems with. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. September 11, 2019. Installing a new catalytic converter will solve the problem of a reduced engine. Most individuals dont have this tool, which is simply a specialized diagnostics scanner and is relatively inexpensive. The complaints are organized into groups with data published by vehicle, vehicle component, and specific problem. What a Reduced Engine Power Light Means, 2. Faulty engine grounds are sometimes to blame for many apparently faulty parts or wires that connect the many sensors and actuators to the electronic control module (ECM). If your vehicle has no unrepaired recalls, you will see the message: "0 Unrepaired recalls associated with this VIN". A slipping clutch or low transmission fluid could both set off a problem code. 2008-2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid, 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado Two-Mode Hybrid, 2009-2011 Cadillac Escalade Two-Mode Hybrid, 2008-2011 GMC Canyon, Savana, Sierra, Sierra Denali, Yukon, Yukon Denali, Yukon XL, Yukon XL Denali, 2008-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, 2008-2011 Chevrolet Avalanche, Colorado, Express, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe. Its important to note that the codes below are the generic definitions, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Your cars electronic control unit, or ECU, uses various sensors and monitors to determine how best to transmit energy. The issue is a a defective headlamp driver module which is responsible for distributing power to the lights. Both throttle position (TP) sensors have gone bad, A TP sensor and the MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor have failing at the same time, Dirty electronic throttle body barrel or valve. The engine power reduced Chevy Impala must not be disregarded. As air enters the engine, this sensor also assists with transmission shifting. Engine Knocking Sound: What Does it Mean? The computer uses this sensor to determine how much to open the valve and release a corresponding amount of air into the engine based on the location of the accelerator pedal as you press the gas pedal. GM also hasn't announced any plans to recall Chevy Malibu units affected by the Engine Power Reduced issue. GMs definition of each code may vary. Q) What symptoms show that the engine power has reduced? A fault in this system usually results in the vehicle going into limp-home or fail-safe mode. The right volume of air cannot be produced when this valve malfunctions. Is your Chevy or other GM vehicle displaying this warning on the instrument cluster? Here are some of the issues that are best-known for causing the warning to illuminate: One of the most common triggers is a problem with the electronic throttle actuator control (TAC) system. Check the connections on both ends of the wires to verify good connections. We use cookies to analyze & improve your experience, & to personalize content and ads. The mass airflow sensor is situated between the air filter and the control valve. Its not easy to turn off your Chevy Impala reduced engine power warning light; youll need to do a detailed evaluation before choosing the best solution. Reduced Engine Power 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 8.6 pretty bad Typical Repair Cost: No data Average Mileage: 96,900 miles Total Complaints: 7 complaints Most Common Solutions: not sure (6 reports). Brake System Warning Light: What Does It Mean? Photo courtesy of Saitobesho on Wikimedia. The PCM triggers the mode to protect the engine from further damage. A clogged catalytic converter can make the engine run less quickly. Suddenly, you sense that there is less power. Chevrolet is recalling 177,276 of its 2018 Malibu sedans because a software problem could disable the fuel injectors. Since it flashes on at varying times and for numerous different causes, it frequently baffles drivers. handy, you can flip to the section about the driver information center (or instrument cluster). 5. Use the shop rag to remove varnish and carbon deposits from inside the throttle walls, around and under the throttle valve. But just in case its not, the reduced engine power light alerts you to any problems. Many Reduced Engine Power (REP) warning lights are related to faults in the ETC system. Your function may be limited to: Some Ford F-150 models were reported with reduced engine power issues. Electronic Throttle Actuator (Throttle Body) Problems, Check for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), OBD-II Codes Commonly Associated With the TAC System, Look Up Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), Examples of TSBs Related to Reduced Engine Power Mode. In this article, well explain the meaning of GMs Engine Power is Reduced warning, as well as the resulting Reduced Engine Power Mode. I have a 2016 chevy tahoe ltz thats been having this issue since 2018. it occurs about once or twice a year. When diagnosing the ETC throttle as it operates, listen for any noises during idle as you or an assistant depress the accelerator pedal. Then, the device calculates the appropriate throttle response from a pair of throttle position (TP) sensors. Your car may experience a problem due to an electrical short, a loose ground wire, or a loose clamp. Some GM models have suffered from the REP problem because of a fault affecting the throttle assembly. Using a mix of detergent and water, you may quickly check your pipeline for leaks. For turbochargers to function properly, there is a need for oil, therefore keep the oil filter clean. Reduced engine power can be caused by a clogged catalytic converter. Throttle Body I hope that I can make your troubleshooting quicker and as easy as possible. Should it happen, this is probably the most straightforward and obvious problem. GM works to quickly identify affected vehicles and notify owners. Powertrain acceleration is controlled by the electronic throttle control and the accelerator pedal position sensor. GM Service Update number: N212316020. "@type": "Answer", Before labor, the majority of replacement throttle bodies can run you between $100 and $200. The light will not always be present in the car that does have this warning system, nor is it present in all of them. The majority of contemporary cars include at least two oxygen sensors, one before and one after the catalytic converter, while some can have as many as eight. Like the throttle body, you can clean the mass airflow sensor of any dirt that can build up due to a misaligned or obstructed air filter. So, what does engine power reduced Chevy Impala mean? 7. OBD trouble code P2135. Most late-model vehicles contain dozens of computers (also known as modules) that communicate with one another over a data network. Thanks for creating this article. very frustrating i couldnt get this repaired while still under warranty. Diagnostic codes like P1516 have multiple meanings, and there are various codes for common problems and manufacturer-specific faults. Automotive Subject Matter Expert at CarParts.com. This will make it easier to detect loose, corroded or damaged connections that might be affecting sensors, actuators or system circuits. Your car's computer can throw your engine into Reduced Engine Power (REP, limp-in mode) when detecting one or more potential faults. The TSB applies to 2002-2005 Midsize GM SUVs. the dealership said the only way they could diagnose and repair is i would have to bring the truck in while the problem is occurring. Throttle Actuator Position Sensor (TAPS) Inspection The condition of connectors and wiring can be determined through a comprehensive visual check. When you press the accelerator and dont feel the expected response, there can be an issue with the fuel system. What are the possible causes? It was a well understood problem by that time with throttle position codes to put me on the right track. By consulting your owners manual or using our instructions on how to check and add transmission fluid, you can check the fluid yourself. Check any of these components with the help of your vehicle repair manual. 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