Codes and Battery Disconnects
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Codes and Battery Disconnects
Hi --
My 2005 has been doing the "Reduced Engine Power" with the check engine light and "Service Active Handling" for the past month or so. I am able to get it out of the limp mode pretty easily by disconnecting then reconnecting the battery. Eventually, however, it reoccurs.
I finally took it to my mechanic, who tells me when I disconnected the battery I erased the codes, so he is not able to diagnose my problem.
Since the problem is intermittent and cannot be produced "on command," is there anything I can suggest to him? (He is a good mechanic, trustworthy with a great local reputation, and has some Corvette experience and training, but is not a Vette "specialist." He was great with my C4 and C5's, but I know he has not done much with C6's).
Other interesting factors which may or may not relate:
(1) seems more likely to happen when car has been run a while and the weather is hot.
(2) the driver's door handle module is bad -- the inside button does not work and the key fob cannot be programmed.
(3) there is an aftermarket gas pedal on the car (possible issue I noted using search function).
Any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks...
My 2005 has been doing the "Reduced Engine Power" with the check engine light and "Service Active Handling" for the past month or so. I am able to get it out of the limp mode pretty easily by disconnecting then reconnecting the battery. Eventually, however, it reoccurs.
I finally took it to my mechanic, who tells me when I disconnected the battery I erased the codes, so he is not able to diagnose my problem.
Since the problem is intermittent and cannot be produced "on command," is there anything I can suggest to him? (He is a good mechanic, trustworthy with a great local reputation, and has some Corvette experience and training, but is not a Vette "specialist." He was great with my C4 and C5's, but I know he has not done much with C6's).
Other interesting factors which may or may not relate:
(1) seems more likely to happen when car has been run a while and the weather is hot.
(2) the driver's door handle module is bad -- the inside button does not work and the key fob cannot be programmed.
(3) there is an aftermarket gas pedal on the car (possible issue I noted using search function).
Any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks...
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 965
Likes: 13
From: turn 12 at Road America or TX
Did your mechanic actually try to read codes, or did he tell you he couldn't because you had disconnected the battery? AFIK, some history codes should remain across battery disconnects.
Last edited by gbrtng; Jun 4, 2014 at 06:32 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Really disappointing compared to my C5 which allowed ME to read codes and be a more knowledgeable consumer of my mechanics' services. What was GM they thinking?
If so, I hate to do this, but I'll just ask him to button it up and I'll take it to a local Chevy dealer whose reputation is "OK"...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 807
From: West coast CA
I suggest that you buy a code reader (they're cheap) and drive around with it in the car. Then you'll at least have a starting point for wherever you end up taking it to get fixed.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
$16 at Amazon...worth having. The aftermarket gas pedal would be my first place to look at.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
As to the code reader -- a $16 piece will read all the codes these things can throw? No brainer for me to buy one and I will. Thanks.
Still seems weird to me that the computer(s) won't save history codes just because battery is disconnected.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 807
From: West coast CA
Correct -- car will not learn new fob with either short or long procedure. Mechanic's diagnosis is that defective door lock module precludes this.
As to the code reader -- a $16 piece will read all the codes these things can throw? No brainer for me to buy one and I will. Thanks.
Still seems weird to me that the computer(s) won't save history codes just because battery is disconnected.
As to the code reader -- a $16 piece will read all the codes these things can throw? No brainer for me to buy one and I will. Thanks.
Still seems weird to me that the computer(s) won't save history codes just because battery is disconnected.
As for the not learning a new fob: the car can learn four fobs and then it's full. Perhaps the previous owner used up all the slots. You need some other proprietary dealer gizmo for un-learning.
It's also possible that the learn procedures just aren't working; I've seen them not work and not work and then work. As I recall, the M6 cars have to be in reverse to learn; this was left out of the original instructions.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
I don't think you can get at the ABS codes, airbag diagnostics and some other stuff without the proprietary equipment, which is dumb, but a generic code reader may get you pointed in the right direction and is good to have.
As for the not learning a new fob: the car can learn four fobs and then it's full. Perhaps the previous owner used up all the slots. You need some other proprietary dealer gizmo for un-learning.
It's also possible that the learn procedures just aren't working; I've seen them not work and not work and then work. As I recall, the M6 cars have to be in reverse to learn; this was left out of the original instructions.
As for the not learning a new fob: the car can learn four fobs and then it's full. Perhaps the previous owner used up all the slots. You need some other proprietary dealer gizmo for un-learning.
It's also possible that the learn procedures just aren't working; I've seen them not work and not work and then work. As I recall, the M6 cars have to be in reverse to learn; this was left out of the original instructions.
Time will tell, but I had a VERY hi-miles C5 which gave me less headaches in 3.5 years than this thing has given me in 3 months!
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Specific follow-up question --
Can anybody confirm for sure that the codes disappear when one disconnects and then reconnect the battery to, in effect, temporarily overcome the problem I described in my first post?
Thanks...
Can anybody confirm for sure that the codes disappear when one disconnects and then reconnect the battery to, in effect, temporarily overcome the problem I described in my first post?
Thanks...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
Lots of reading to do, but well worth it:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...tructions.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,415
Likes: 198
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
It takes a high end scanner to read all the systems. I think they still have to purchase additional software packages for different manufacturers but pretty much any shop should have GMs. The basic scanner will only show the standard CELs.
Last edited by MARSC6; Jun 5, 2014 at 06:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Turns out the door fix was easy -- some crimping of wires in the door hinge area. So, fob is programmed and door button works...
Now we have to get the CEL + other issues to go off. I have the car back in my possession; it is of course running fine now.
My mechanic has a real fancy Actron device (I think a scanner) but who knows if that covers everything. I might still buy a $90 one from CanOBD2; at least that will help with the CEL bit and might give some clues otherwise -- seems it does the ABS as well...
Last edited by Rapid Fred; Jun 5, 2014 at 07:41 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,415
Likes: 198
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
Thanks!!!
Turns out the door fix was easy -- some crimping of wires in the door hinge area. So, fob is programmed and door button works...
Now we have to get the CEL + other issues to go off. I have the car back in my possession; it is of course running fine now.
My mechanic has a real fancy Actron device (I think a scanner) but who knows if that covers everything. I might still buy a $90 one from CanOBD2; at least that will help with the CEL bit and might give some clues otherwise -- seems it does the ABS as well...
Turns out the door fix was easy -- some crimping of wires in the door hinge area. So, fob is programmed and door button works...
Now we have to get the CEL + other issues to go off. I have the car back in my possession; it is of course running fine now.
My mechanic has a real fancy Actron device (I think a scanner) but who knows if that covers everything. I might still buy a $90 one from CanOBD2; at least that will help with the CEL bit and might give some clues otherwise -- seems it does the ABS as well...