Chevy Cruze troubleshooting

[BonnieBoy08]

This is per a friend of mine. She just moved up to Virginia, MN and is a long way from home experiencing some car problems.

"So I have a 2011 chevy cruze and it has 38,000 miles...last night the lights came on flashing saying something is wrong with the engine, the traction control, and that my engine is running on reduced power and they are still on now...it also says to service stabili track...this has happened one other time and I just shut the car off for awhile and turned it on and they were gone...I am going to take it to get fixed but I can't get it fixed for a couple days so I was wondering if you think it would be okay to drive it short distances."

I told her she should be fine to still drive the car, sounds like an electronic problem. I'm not real familiar with these cars but if anyone can offer help here it would be appreciated! I told her to try disconnecting the battery for awhile to see if that corrects the problem. She's going to do that today at some point. Otherwise I'm thinking fuse or module of some sort maybe?

[PRD2BDF]

Battery most likely.

[BonnieBoy08]

Like that it needs a new one or that disconnecting it will fix the problem?

[CMNTMXR57]

My guess is that it has little to nothing to do with the battery. Sounds like a CANbus class II communications issue between modules. Just a random guess (as I have never worked on Cruze's), it sounds like it could be stemming from a faulty pedal position sensor OR throttle position sensor for ETC. Typically in the past when I've seen "reduced power mode" it has been on cars with ETC, throttle pedal position, and/or throttle position sensors, that is the reason why. It puts the car into a "safe mode". With a CAN bus, when one of these sensors or modules go down, if there is an interuption with the data transfers, you can get all those other oddball messages/lights/warnings.

When you disconnect the battery, it's like rebooting your PC at home. This is more or less what we refer to as an idle re-learn. It resets everything back to base, pre-programmed maps. If there is a fault in the system, it will still retrigger once the criteria for fault happens again. Disconnecting the battery to reset is a temp fix to reset, but it isn't the answer.

[PRD2BDF]

I think it needs a new battery based on my experience with saabs. I know they're not the same but on my Saab when battery is low, it sets off all lights, traction control, gearbox failure etc and that's usually our sign to change the battery.

[CMNTMXR57]

I doubt it. These newer, especially CAN controlled GM vehicles have an electrical load compensation system called "Power Moding". Basically, the system is constantly monitoring SOC (State of Charge), the amount of replenishment being delivered, and decay rates based on electrical load. When a battery is low, and or the alternator/voltage regulator can't meet the necessary demand to replenish the battery, it goes into several modes, such as elevating RPM to compensate, shedding electrical loads (such as turning off heated seats, rear defog, and slowing the blower motor down). If this has not happened, the car is charging normally and the battery is holding and maintaining proper levels of electrical charge.

That won't stop a faulty battery mind you, but I would think if her battery were on the fritz, she probably would've noticed severe higher elevation RPM rasing automatically and simple electrical stuff wouldn't work as the system would be shedding that consumer of it's power requirements.

[SSEiMan01]

I agree with Lane. I've scanned a few Cruzes at work with gas pedal sensor faults. Either at the sensor on the TB or the one on the gas pedal itself.

[ChibiBlackSheep]

On my MonteCarlo forum a member had an electrical issue with his 2011 Cruze. Might be a wiring issue that needs to be fixed under warranty.

Take a quick read through this thread: http://montecarloforum.com/forum/monte- ... uze-45829/

[swampthing]

I bet the nice folks over at cruzetalk.com would be more then happy to help figure this out.

[00Beast]

Sounds just like what happened when the TPS went on our Suburban. I'd bet a lot of money it's either the pedal or TPS on the TB. Take it into the dealer. Should still be under powertrain warranty, unless she has over 100k on it.

[1tinindian]

I know this may sound ridiculous, but check to make sure the oil fill cap is on correctly.
Cruzes don't like the vacuum leak through the oil cap and causes drivability issues.
Seen it more than once at the dealership.

Leon

[BonnieBoy08]

She disconnected the battery and no lights have come on since. I told her if they come back on to take it to the dealership and get it scanned.