Reduced Engine Power / won't start
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: New York
Reduced Engine Power / won't start
I have a 2000 hardtop, 6 speed. Drove to dinner & had a great time untill we got back into car. I used remote to unlock doors, turned key to start engine and nothing. On dashboard displayed ( Reduced engine power ). The volt meter read OK @ 13.5 volts, didn't change because the key did not start engine, no load, no crank, no nothing. While I was on the phone with tow truck people, the car horn started honking, sounding like the panic button was pushed. I unlocked car to dis-arm horn & tried to start it, it started. I was glaad to get home. Does anyone know what kind of gremlins live in my car or any reasonable explanation as to what happened. I am losing faith in car. Thanks
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 2
From: Morgantown WV
Did you figure this out? This sounds like the short version of my problem: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1849896
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,817
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
If you hadn't gotten the reduced power message I would have said you experienced a problem with the Passkey antitheft systyem. Most times when you turn the key and the battery is OK but you get nothing and even the dash goes dead it means the antitheft system hasn't recognized your key. The reduced power message sort of puts a different light on things. It could be it was caused by a low voltage problem screwing up the column lock system. Sometimes the system gets confused (even after the recalls) when the power is low. Although the IP read a good voltage that doesn't mean the PCM saw a good voltage so you may want to check battery connections to the engine, PCM and other electronics involved in startup.
Bill
Bill
