For those who get the reduced power alert, all you have to do is replace the gas pedal. It is an electric one and that will fix the problem or get a cheap scan tool to delete the code. I've only run into that code twice since I bought the car with 114 000 miles and I just delete it. I'm at 198,000 now. It came on today and deleted it again.
This has been an intermittent problem for over a year. I'll be driving, and randomly, I will get a Check Engine light and the warnings "Service Traction control" and "Engine Power Reduced". Unlike other experiences that I have read about, when my car does this, it only reduces the engine power slightly (to about 2000 RPMs). The code from the car's computer is a P2127 - TPS/Pedal Throttle Positioning Sensor/Switch E Circuit Low. I have tried everything to try to fix this issue. I've replaced both the throttle body and the gas pedal assembly. I've also checked all wires and connectors and did not see any areas of concern.
I'm at a loss. I have no idea what else to do. GM, please put out a recall on this! Not acknowledging the problem only loses you customers and makes you look incredibly shady.
My car felt like the engine was losing power and I noticed in the IC a notice stating "Service Traction Control" followed by "Reduced Engine Power" came on. I made it home and was wondering if I should take it to a local shop or a Chevy dealer. I'm thinking about taking it to an auto parts shop first and have them run a diagnotics code on it to help me know what I'm dealing with. I just bought this car used for my wife who is learning how to drive. I've already had a complete brake job done and then had to replace the battery and starter. So I hope I don't have to spend a lot of money on this 10 year old car just to make it safe to drive.
On the way to the dealer. Could be fixed under a recall if it is the throttle body needing replaced, according to the Chevy dealer. Will update.
From what I have read it could be a throttle sensor, accelerator sensor, the electrical harness or a throttle body assembly. People have all of those things repaired trying to get to the correct part. Sounds like it maybe a problem for people to get the dealers to fix the correct part the first time.
my car is displaying Reduced Engine Power and Traction Control. Does anyone know if this is a recall? Came on from nowhere. It has my check engine light on and sometimes will shut down. Please advise.
- Val D.,
Dallas, US
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Engine losing power msg came on. Never had seen it before. When you press gas pedal there is no acceleration. I added STP injector cleaner and put more gas in the car. After doing this and letting car sit after I turned it off it seemed better so I thought it might have been trash or water in the tank as my gas tank was low.
The next day my husband and I went out in it and had the same issue. Stopped turned off car and let it set a few minutes and was better. Not sure what is going on but at this point as much as I like my car, I would not recommend an Impala or for that matter at Chevrolet to anyone nor do I plan to buy another one myself.
The first time I had this issue was in November. I had it fixed in January and now 3 weeks later it's going in again for the same issue. My car constantly feels like it's jerking or trying to stall out. Every once in awhile the reduce engine power light comes on and my car drops from 75mph right down to about 20mph. It's not a gradual decrease in speed either. It's like I've slammed on the brakes which has been very dangerous. I can't tell you how many accidents I've already been in because of this. About 3 weeks ago the dealership replaced the throttle body (GM paid for) and now today it's going back in again. I don't have the time to keep taking my car in every 3 weeks to have this repaired. I still owe too much to trade it in. It's so dangerous when this happens. I'm so afraid I will kill someone. Unfortunately this is my only vehicle and I need to get to work. I really wish GM would take more responsibility for this. Sad to say, it'll probably take a few deaths before they do. Yes, they're going to keep repairing mine but how many times is it going to take?
I get in my vehicle to go and pick up my mother for a Thanksgiving service at our church and when I put the key in the ignition the car started and immediately the engine light came on and read reduce engine speed. When I began to drive the car it drove only about 25 mph. I made it to my mother's house who only lives around the corner. I was terrified. I did not know what was wrong with my car. I made it back home thank God!
Back in December 2014, I went to drive home from work and my car went into reduced power, I couldn't drive over 40mph. My brother in law came over and read the engine code P238? Something like that. Well of course it was 2 possible things, which I did the cheaper one first , pedal sensor $72. That didn't work. Throttle body was the second solution. $200. Fortunately that did work. Unfortunately, I'm getting sick of putting money into what I thought was going to be a reliable car. I had a 2001 Chevy Venture for 11 years, and NEVER had any of these problems.
I bought Chevy Impala LS 2008 from auction with 71,000 miles on it and only after 2,000 miles ride while driving on the HWY service traction control start flashing and reducing engine power massage appear. I have to stop on the shoulder and use emergency flasher, after few minutes, problem was still there and speed max 40M/h on hwy. I don't know why this happen w/o any reason. I lost my trust in Chevy. I will ask a shop to estimate cost to fix, they say it might be throttle issue , but I will find out what it is soon.
Driving in normal conditions in town and power reduces, stabilizer traction control warning comes up. Creeps along at about 5 mph. I shut off car aired up tires and it stopped for awhile. Then it happened numerous times again over next two years. Others have same problem and repairs are costly and don't fix the problem.
Tried to drive from Havre MT to Great Falls and engine power reduced? Normal clear weather conditions. Traction control stabilizer message came on. Car would only drive about 5 mph, had to turn it off and on a few times and it finally sped up to 45 mph. I have heard Chevrolet knows of the problem but refuses to recall and the repairs are costly and ineffective. I have only driven car 12,450 miles on car since purchased. I am on fixed income and cannot spend money or repair fees.
Same problem with engine power reducing to 5 mph. I tried to move my car out of driveway and up a small hill. It was cold outside but car heated up for about 20 minutes before moving it. Engine power reduces and traction stabilizer control error appeared. I couldn't get up small hill so backed down to my house. (About a block away). Tried to pull into driveway and car would not move. It was snowy and got stuck. Neighbor came to move car and he tried to move it but said that the car had no power. Put car in neutral and moved to driveway. The car hasn't moved since. This has happened numerous times.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
For those who get the reduced power alert, all you have to do is replace the gas pedal. It is an electric one and that will fix the problem or get a cheap scan tool to delete the code. I've only run into that code twice since I bought the car with 114 000 miles and I just delete it. I'm at 198,000 now. It came on today and deleted it again.
- Mike M., Vallejo, US