Engine Missing, Flashing, CEL Codes P0030, P0031, P0053
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Engine Missing, Flashing, CEL Codes P0030, P0031, P0053
Headed to work this morning and not more than 1/4 mile from my driveway I felt a shudder, loss of power, engine was missing, feeling much like "limp mode," and was accompanied by a flashing CEL. I pulled off the road, shut down for a few seconds, restarted/rebooted, and everything was running smoothly again, but CEL is now solidly illuminated. All the codes above are emission system malfunction codes. Engine was still cold, and I was being gentle as I always am until oil is up to normal operating temp.
This is a 1/18/18-built Z51, M7 with 1200 miles. Dealer wants it flatbedded which will happen tomorrow, but I'd appreciate any thoughts or similar experiences.
This is a 1/18/18-built Z51, M7 with 1200 miles. Dealer wants it flatbedded which will happen tomorrow, but I'd appreciate any thoughts or similar experiences.
Last edited by Foosh; Apr 11, 2018 at 01:02 PM.
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Thanks. One of my big concerns about giving up my flawless '14 was something like this.
A quick Google search indicates all 3 codes are related some aspect of oxygen sensor or possible ECM malfunction. One write-up suggests that ECM can put the engine into "fail-safe" (limp) mode when it detects the O2 sensor malfunction, which is completely consistent with what I experienced this morning.
A quick Google search indicates all 3 codes are related some aspect of oxygen sensor or possible ECM malfunction. One write-up suggests that ECM can put the engine into "fail-safe" (limp) mode when it detects the O2 sensor malfunction, which is completely consistent with what I experienced this morning.
Last edited by Foosh; Apr 11, 2018 at 01:13 PM.
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Perhaps, but just because it ran smoothly for a few minutes after restarting doesn't mean the misfire, and limp-mode won't recur on the way to the dealer. After the incident, I drove it 1/4 mile back home and put it in the garage.
Dealer, OnStar, and Chevy Roadside assistance all recommended the flatbed given the obvious engine malfunction. Moreover, I sure as hell don't want to get blamed for engine damage by driving it to the dealer.
Dealer, OnStar, and Chevy Roadside assistance all recommended the flatbed given the obvious engine malfunction. Moreover, I sure as hell don't want to get blamed for engine damage by driving it to the dealer.
Last edited by Foosh; Apr 11, 2018 at 01:33 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2017
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Headed to work this morning and not more than 1/4 mile from my driveway I felt a shudder, loss of power, engine was missing, feeling much like "limp mode," and was accompanied by a flashing CEL. I pulled off the road, shut down for a few seconds, restarted/rebooted, and everything was running smoothly again, but CEL is now solidly illuminated. All the codes above are emission system malfunction codes. Engine was still cold, and I was being gentle as I always am until oil is up to normal operating temp.
This is a 1/18/18-built Z51, M7 with 1200 miles. Dealer wants it flatbedded which will happen tomorrow, but I'd appreciate any thoughts or similar experiences.
This is a 1/18/18-built Z51, M7 with 1200 miles. Dealer wants it flatbedded which will happen tomorrow, but I'd appreciate any thoughts or similar experiences.
I can't help but think its a bad sensor of some kind. I had something similar happen on my boat. The darn thing would start and run fine, but when I pushed the throttle forward to get on plane the whole thing would cut out and the engine alarm would sound. Took it to the boat mechanic and it took him an hour or so to replace the sensor. Of course, I think I paid him something like $500.00 to replace the sensor. ........Moral of the story, be glad it's under warranty.....and it's not a boat!
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
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The "input" or first exhaust stream O2 sensor for one bank cylinder has a malfunction in its heater circuit. Could be a loose plug or wire fault issue but it is likely that this sensor had an infant failure in its heater element.
With the flashing CEL and missing it sounds like the engine controller was being fed wildly incorrect data from that sensor and responded by going into its safe mode which chooses a new set of average parameters that should result in a reasonable fuel/air mixture while ignoring the results from the sensor.
Going via flatbed is safest as long as the driver knows what he is doing. It should be a simple fix at the dealer.
With the flashing CEL and missing it sounds like the engine controller was being fed wildly incorrect data from that sensor and responded by going into its safe mode which chooses a new set of average parameters that should result in a reasonable fuel/air mixture while ignoring the results from the sensor.
Going via flatbed is safest as long as the driver knows what he is doing. It should be a simple fix at the dealer.
Last edited by NSC5; Apr 11, 2018 at 01:40 PM.
Advanced
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Perhaps, but just because it ran smoothly for a few minutes after restarting doesn't mean the misfire, and limp-mode won't recur on the way to the dealer. After the incident, I drove it 1/4 mile back home and put it in the garage.
Dealer, OnStar, and Chevy Roadside assistance all recommended the flatbed given the obvious engine malfunction. Moreover, I sure as hell don't want to get blamed for engine damage by driving it to the dealer.
Dealer, OnStar, and Chevy Roadside assistance all recommended the flatbed given the obvious engine malfunction. Moreover, I sure as hell don't want to get blamed for engine damage by driving it to the dealer.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
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The "input" or first exhaust stream O2 sensor for one bank cylinder has a malfunction in its heater circuit. Could be a loose plug or wire fault issue but it is likely that this sensor had an infant failure in its heater element.
With the flashing CEL and missing it sounds like the engine controller was being fed wildly incorrect data from that sensor and responded by going into its safe mode which chooses a new set of average parameters that should result in a reasonable fuel/air mixture while ignoring the results from the sensor.
Going via flatbed is safest as long as the driver knows what he is doing. It should be a simple fix at the dealer.
With the flashing CEL and missing it sounds like the engine controller was being fed wildly incorrect data from that sensor and responded by going into its safe mode which chooses a new set of average parameters that should result in a reasonable fuel/air mixture while ignoring the results from the sensor.
Going via flatbed is safest as long as the driver knows what he is doing. It should be a simple fix at the dealer.
With regard to the flatbed, I'm armed with a long Y-harness, and J/T hooks for the chassis jack points. Chevrolet Roadside Assistance let me choose a dealer which was not the closest one. We happen to have one of the best Corvette techs in the country at the dealer it's going to, and they've committed to only letting him touch it.
Last edited by Foosh; Apr 11, 2018 at 01:52 PM.
Safety Car
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Sounds like it will be in good hands! Sensors, like other car components, are designed to a low price point and there will be infant failures. If mil spec parts were used for cars only billionaires would drive and the rest of us would be commuting via foot or bicycle.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
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From: Sunnyvale CA
I had a bad battery connection on a different new car. On a cold day after 1-2 mile of driving the very same happened to me: Engine shudder, flashing CEL, multiple emission codes, and CEL stayed on. I drove to the dealer. They diagnose for a day and ended up saying the battery connection was loose.
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My only concern, and not to be a Debbie Downer, is that with all my experience in the car business I never had a O2 sensor trip a flashing CEL causing a car go into limp mode. Perhaps the C7 has different way of doing things, I dunno. 
Good luck, hopefully it's just a bad O2 sensor.
Good luck, hopefully it's just a bad O2 sensor.
Last edited by themonk; Apr 11, 2018 at 02:36 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: 2019 CMG Z06
I had a bad battery connection on a different new car. On a cold day after 1-2 mile of driving the very same happened to me: Engine shudder, flashing CEL, multiple emission codes, and CEL stayed on. I drove to the dealer. They diagnose for a day and ended up saying the battery connection was loose.
Happened on one of my cars, diagnosed as a defective battery. Dealer replaced the battery and never had the issue again.
Hope it's something minor like this Foosh. Good luck buddy.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 183
From: Maple Ontario
O2 Sensor heater control circuit... i do know that some subsequent codes can get thrown off as a result on one particular issue so it looks much worse than it actually is...
I could have sworn i'd seen that code before as a mis-fire and it was usually a bad coil. guess not...
I could have sworn i'd seen that code before as a mis-fire and it was usually a bad coil. guess not...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 786
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From: Oak Island NC
Foosh, sorry to hear this is happened to you...keep us posted on how the flatbedding and dealer fix goes. Agree that you should let them flatbed the car to the dealer vs. you driving it to the dealer. Why potentially put yourself on the hook for further damage by driving it to the dealer. All the best to a quick and easy repair. Appreciate all your help to CF.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 983
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From: Stafford Virginia
I would check the fuse for that sensor first. Water getting inside the heated oxygen sensor connector can caused the heated oxygen sensor fuse to blow. Before replacing the sensor, check for the condition of the heated oxygen sensor fuse and connectors.