corrado

Ok this happened a week ago today. Wasn't gonna post it, but wondering if this has happened to anyone else here.

Driving home on the highway. Merging onto another highway when the DIC reads "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING(or traction?)/REDUCED ENGINE POWER".

The engine just shut down, not limp mode, SHUT DOWN.

In the middle lane of the highway, at night. Too much traffic to even drive to the shoulder. This was the scariest moment of my life. I honestly thought I was going to die as it was the WORST place possible on a very busy highway with many transport trucks and a merging point so drivers behind me didn't have much line of sight to see me. A few cars swerved to avoid me. Car wouldn't start. Had to run out and push the car over to the shoulders which was 2 lanes away. I thought if I was lucky enough not to die the car would be totalled from behind.

Luckily I avoided an accident. After a few minutes the car started and drive home ok. The check engine light is on and dealer said it's the throttle body. Luckily its under warranty, but how the hell does that happen out of the blue, no warning at all. VERY bad experience I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Still waiting for a new throttle body to come in.

Lost alot of confidence in the car now, I must say. I think cars have too many damn computers these days. At least if it was running strange or making a weird sound I would have some warning, bit to die in the middle of the highway is NOT good.

Lucky I'm ok and no accident, could have been ALOT worse.

The Director

DAMN! Not good!

GARYFINN

wow how many miles on your car ???

Big Lebowski

Corrado...I just had a very similiar experience last Friday on my 2012 GS Vert. It was not the Throttle body, but had a very similiar reaction. Thankfully, mine did remain in a "limp mode" and I was able to get home, but did not have confidence driving it to the dealer, so they put it on a flat bed.

Here is my post from this weekend:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...n-the-dic.html

P0234

Been in a similar situation before (for various reasons), as soon as you start losing power, you have to force your way over to the shoulder. You'll get a-holes that won't let you over but keep cramming in and you'll get over before you come to a stop. Stopping in a travel lane is bad news.

corrado

Yeah, lot of traffic and no one would let me in. Happened very fast too. only 48,000 KMs on the car.
Dlinderman, it sucks having to flatbed the car, eh? But glad they fixed it for you.

Big Lebowski

I was reluctant to do it, but the dealer sent the guy that they have handle all their Corvette and ZR1 transport.

Once the guy showed up he put me at ease and said he towes vettes to Lambo's all the time. He said mine was easy with power (though reduced). He said the bitch of the bunch was Lambo's with no power!

jonathontodd

Happened to me before, it was the throttle body, my car wouldn't start at all. Reset the fault codes and it would run for about 3 seconds, then shut off again

TTZ06VETTE

Has happened to me many times for the same reason...throttle body codes. I have a ported and polished TB which the ECU didn't like. I completely agree with you about the safety aspects when it happens. This is a GM lawsuit waiting to happen!

The Director

Damn straight and I have one serious power based lawyer. This happens to me on a lonesome mountain road or in Atlanta downtown traffic, GM is going to see litigation that won't quit.

jack5hd

Is your car stock?

LS WON

With these electronics work great but die without warning. Mechanical vs. electronics.
Can't throttle body be cleaned out instead of getting a new one?

ulllovethecarpayment

never had it happen to my C6('s). The same thing happened in my first Corvette;2001. Problem was the battery terminal/cable separated. Complete failure in the mid-town tunnel in rush hour. I can't say I've had "that" problem; but I have had the same results on a busy highway. Keep in mind your car is a machine; we imperfect at best humans built them. They're going to have some issues, have faith - no matter if you're on a bicycle-bad luck will find you. I'm personally just happy you're safe.

Roidz

Not fun at all. I had it happen to me recently on my motorcycle. That was scary as hell.

legbuh

Well that's just complete BS.. sounds scary as heck!

LS WON

Some 10 years ago or so Ford had a module (ECM) recall because of the placement of this unit on side of distributor it was exposed to heat so you could be driving then all of a sudden car goes dead. The fix was compensate customers for cost of module or to replacement module with a new one but not relocate. So eventually down the road it will fail again.
Yes this did happen to me at 65 MPH in the fast lane.

Aviator

Hey Jim, how ya doing?

ExRedRacer

What model year is your Vette? Any engine mods?

branemaniac

I had this thing happen once in an old 81 rx7 of mine. The battery cable slipped out of the clamp on the terminal. That moment when you have no power and you are still moving is pretty scary.

The vettes auto trans sh*t the bed while I was driving it. Was actually stopped at a red light and it lunged once and put me in limp mode, pissing off everyone in the turn lane with me.

JoesC5

I purchased a new 1968 Ford Torino GT fastback in 1968. It would die without any warning, at any time, at any speed. No computers to blame the problem on, but most likely an electical problem. But, you could immediately put the car in neutral(even at 80 MPH on the Interstate), turn the key to start it, put it back in drive, and it would then be okay(for awhile). Ford dealer couldn't fix it so I got rid of the car after 6 months before it killed me, my wife and daughter.