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Codes and reduced power on 2nd day of ownership

5154 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Joe_Lee
So, this afternoon was a frustrating one. I bought my truck from a dealer an hour away from me yesterday afternoon.

As I was driving today, I pulled into a parking lot and with the truck idling in park and 190 miles on the odometer, the check engine light and service stabilitrac light came on and a reduced power message popped up.

I called OnStar and they said driving it in limp mode was safe as I was about 6 miles from home. I relayed the codes that OnStar gave me to the service manager of the dealer that sold me the truck over the phone.

I limped home under reduced power and shut the truck off. After thinking it would be easier for the dealer to load it up from my street instead of driveway, I started the truck to move it and all of the lights and messages were gone except for the check engine light.

So, I drove it for a few miles and the power was fine and no other lights or messages except for the check engine light.

I called the dealer back and we agreed that I'd try to drive it over tomorrow for them to look at it. So, I've got a 45-50 mile drive to the dealer in the morning for them to take a look (if i make it without hitting limp mode again.)

I know things happen and that's just life but it really sucks to buy a truck and the very next day have issues at 190 miles. I hope this is not a sign of things to come.
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So, I go out to the garage and start it up and ... Check engine light is no longer on so no lights or messages of any kind now.

I'm still heading to the dealer in the morning for evaluation.
Dealer found an improperly connected ground that may be issue but still conferring with GM. I should know more tomorrow.
Update:

I met with the head of the service department and the shop foreman today. I've got to say that I think this dealer (Vince Whibbs in Pensacola, FL) has gone above and beyond trying to take care of me.

After conferring with GM engineers today, the final verdict is that both the shop and GM feel confident that the loose ground was the culprit. It's one of the main grounds for the electrical system and the tech said it was improperly installed and he could move it with his hand. GM said they have had a small amount of reports similar to mine in which the same ground was loose. They are supposedly issuing a message to factory or whatever. I guess time will show if this really was the issue. Dealer drove the truck for about 65 miles in different conditions and everything is currently correct.

So, the GM rep came to the dealer and to compensate me for my "trouble" they are giving me a large voucher for GM accessories that will be dealer installed and an additional warranty that is in addition to the 3 year 36k mile original warranty. This warranty is exactly the same coverage as the factory 3 year 36k.

I've got to say that both of these were offered before I even had a chance to ask for anything.

I feel like this was a pretty stand up move on the part of GM and the dealership.

They were spraying my bed liner this afternoon and I'm scheduled to pick it up tomorrow.
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Picked up my truck & as it turns out, the accessory voucher from GM was $2500 instead of $2000.

The ground that was loose was G-100 just under the wiper fluid reservoir.

If you look about halfway down the reservoir you can see the ground lug to the left.

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Good to know, which double-check that connection myself just to make sure it is tight.
Great to hear the dealer and GM are taking care of you. I had to run back by the dealer myself the week after, but just to show them the fender flares were separating a bit from the body on the rear of the vehicle where the adhesive wasn't set correctly. Instead of trying to fix the old flares, they just ordered a new set and told me they would call when they come in and put the new flares on to make sure there wasn't any further issues.

I like your result better though, nice to get a $2500 accessory voucher! They have a lot of nice items to add, mine already had the spray in bedliner, and really like that, as I would have had it done afterwards anyway.
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So, this afternoon was a frustrating one. I bought my truck from a dealer an hour away from me yesterday afternoon.

As I was driving today, I pulled into a parking lot and with the truck idling in park and 190 miles on the odometer, the check engine light and service stabilitrac light came on and a reduced power message popped up.

I called OnStar and they said driving it in limp mode was safe as I was about 6 miles from home. I relayed the codes that OnStar gave me to the service manager of the dealer that sold me the truck over the phone.

I limped home under reduced power and shut the truck off. After thinking it would be easier for the dealer to load it up from my street instead of driveway, I started the truck to move it and all of the lights and messages were gone except for the check engine light.

So, I drove it for a few miles and the power was fine and no other lights or messages except for the check engine light.

I called the dealer back and we agreed that I'd try to drive it over tomorrow for them to look at it. So, I've got a 45-50 mile drive to the dealer in the morning for them to take a look (if i make it without hitting limp mode again.)

I know things happen and that's just life but it really sucks to buy a truck and the very next day have issues at 190 miles. I hope this is not a sign of things to come.
I've had mine since memorial weekend and now have 9800 miles on it, it's been in the shop 6 times now, twice for the service stabilitrac code and 4 times for emissions codes. I feel safer driving my 2002 suburban with 250k on it with my kids because of how many times the truck has went into limp mode now. The dealership will look at it, have to call gm, mess with a few things til the lights go off then send me on my way without really fixing anything. I waited for this truck since they mentioned putting a diesel in it and was so excited, now I'm regretting it.
I now have 3500 miles on it and so far so good.
My husband had a similar problem on his 04 Colorado when it was new, thank you for posting this so we know what to check first should this happen.
My husband had a similar problem on his 04 Colorado when it was new, thank you for posting this so we know what to check first should this happen.
Glad they worked it out to your satisfaction. A $2500 accessories voucher is not bad at all!

E
Yes, I think the voucher was a nice gesture for sure. Hopefully, no more problems down the road. I'm at 4500 miles now.
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