reduced power warning and engine check light

[caseyjones22]

Has any one heard of the Reduced Power warning that comes on with a check engine light. Mine came on tonight and I lost a majority of the power to my 2005 Colorado. any ideas what the problem could be?

[TrailLeadr]

I've heard that many of these vehicles have a "limp home" mode. When the ECU expects, or detects catastrophic failure of some engine, or transmission component it will put the engine into that mode to prevent too much damage from being done.

Can you tell us what the truck was doing at the time of the reduced power warning?

[caseyjones22]

I was driving and the truck all of a sudden lost power. no warning no sounds at all. then the warning signs came on. I then drove torward home and the truck died at a light. I then coasted backward to park on the side of the road and then tried to turn the truck back on. It started the reduced power light went off and the check engine stayed on. but full power came back. I drove the car home and havent started it since.

[TrailLeadr]

I would say you should see about getting the codes pulled. They will give you the most info as to what the problem is.

[ChevyTech]

There is a recall on the truck for the A/C. The voltage spikes with the fan switching and causes the car to go in to limp home mode and the A/C stops working . Call GM and see what recalls and updates are open on your truck.

[unplugged]

Hey ChevyTech, you didn't mention if that was a NHTSA recall or a factory TSB. The only data I could dig up was this from ConsumerGuide (http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2004-to-2006-chevrolet-colorado-6.htm)

Check-engine light: The check engine light may come on accompanied by an engine misfire due to weak exhaust valve springs which must be replaced. (2004-05)

[ChevyTech]

I am sorry for not saying if it was a TSB or NHTSA, I got the info from my old GMSTC (General Motors Service Technical College) binders. It was handed out in a Fix it Right the First time Factory Bulletin sheet. Along with a hundred other this is how we messed up tech tips. It was mentioned for the Cobalt and the Pursuit in Canada only with a 4 cyl. engine. We had 2 Colorados come in to the dealer with the same problem, it was determined through tech line that it was possible that the mentioned bulletin might include certain Colorados. Sice it was not a specific Colorado bulletin I did not give the info on the tsb itself. I appologize for making it seem in my previous post that it was a sure fire TSB for the truck, I was at work and had twenty things going at one time and typed faster than I could proof read.

If it pulls a P0507 code here is the NHTSA info;

Service Bulletin Number: 3358 Replacement Bulletin Number:
NHTSA Item Number: 10014876 Date of Bulletin: 19010101
Failing Component: 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Date Added to File: 2005-05-11
Summary:
SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER DUE TO A P0507 DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. *TT

P0507= Idle Control System RPM Higher Than Expected

This is the more likely cause of the problem.

A few times I came across missfire codes that caused the problem and the head had to be replaced with an updated assy.