Reduced Power Message on DIC

[Mark805]

I went on vacation over the month of August and got home to a dead H3 in my garage. :mad:

I jumpstarted the car with a battery pack and the H3 started and ran really rough. On the DIC it said "Reduced Power" and the car would not rev over 3k. Is this common with a dead battery?

I thought maybe it was because the battery was so dead so I let it idle for a while, shut the rig off and restarted. Same problem.

I went back out a few hours later and the car started just fine as if it never happened. Now i show an engine light on the dash. I called the dealer yesterday and they told me it was ok to drive the car as long as the engine light is not flashing. Made an appointment for a real checkup but its a few days away.

Anyone have an idea what was wrong or if its ok to drive based on this sparse description?

[ChevyHighPerformance]

I went on vacation over the month of August and got home to a dead H3 in my garage. :mad:

I jumpstarted the car with a battery pack and the H3 started and ran really rough. On the DIC it said "Reduced Power" and the car would not rev over 3k. Is this common with a dead battery?

I thought maybe it was because the battery was so dead so I let it idle for a while, shut the rig off and restarted. Same problem.

I went back out a few hours later and the car started just fine as if it never happened. Now i show an engine light on the dash. I called the dealer yesterday and they told me it was ok to drive the car as long as the engine light is not flashing. Made an appointment for a real checkup but its a few days away.

Anyone have an idea what was wrong or if its ok to drive based on this sparse description?

The dealer is right; it's OK to drive. One cause for the reduced power is a mismatch between the commanded throttle position and the actual position. After an OK start, the reduced power message will go away and a code will be stored. I forget how long it takes to clear on its own.

[fourfourto]

If you get a chance before bringing it to the dealer ask onstar they should be able to tell you why the light went on.

I had a bad battery after 5 months and no light went on just door locks and I think windows didnt work for 5 minutes (after jump)?.
New battery under waranty,no problems since:D

[MountainBlue]

If you get a chance before bringing it to the dealer ask onstar they should be able to tell you why the light went on.

I had a bad battery after 5 months and no light went on just door locks and I think windows didnt work for 5 minutes (after jump)?.
New battery under waranty,no problems since:D

You, me and about 1000 other H3 owners. GM must have had a bad batch of batteries or something.

[Zoomie]

If you want to hear about GM batteries, go to a Corvette forum and find a thread on C5 batteries! I cannot believe that after over 100 years of making 12 volt wet cell batteries, the General has , apparently, forgotten how to do it!:twak:

To be fair, though, my wife's Trailblazer is over 4 years old and still on the original battery. Maybe I'd better change that sucker!!;)

In any case, I think anyone with a battery problem might as well save themselves some grief (alone on a trail with a dead battery???:crying: ) and get an Optima. No, I don't make them, sell them or own stock..wish I did!

I went through two GM batteries on my 01 Vette before I gave up and bought an Optima. A little expensive, but I know it won't leak, damage a computer or leave me stranded.:D

[Mark805]

Thanks for the input everyone :beerchug:

I am actually considering the yellow top (only because it matches my ride :p )

[fourfourto]

If you want to hear about GM batteries, go to a Corvette forum and find a thread on C5 batteries! I cannot believe that after over 100 years of making 12 volt wet cell batteries, the General has , apparently, forgotten how to do it!:twak:

To be fair, though, my wife's Trailblazer is over 4 years old and still on the original battery. Maybe I'd better change that sucker!!;)

In any case, I think anyone with a battery problem might as well save themselves some grief (alone on a trail with a dead battery???:crying: ) and get an Optima. No, I don't make them, sell them or own stock..wish I did!

I went through two GM batteries on my 01 Vette before I gave up and bought an Optima. A little expensive, but I know it won't leak, damage a computer or leave me stranded.:D


X2 a optima yellow top is what I will upgrade to in the near future.

[f5fstop]

If you want to hear about GM batteries, go to a Corvette forum and find a thread on C5 batteries! I cannot believe that after over 100 years of making 12 volt wet cell batteries, the General has , apparently, forgotten how to do it!:twak:

To be fair, though, my wife's Trailblazer is over 4 years old and still on the original battery. Maybe I'd better change that sucker!!;)

In any case, I think anyone with a battery problem might as well save themselves some grief (alone on a trail with a dead battery???:crying: ) and get an Optima. No, I don't make them, sell them or own stock..wish I did!

I went through two GM batteries on my 01 Vette before I gave up and bought an Optima. A little expensive, but I know it won't leak, damage a computer or leave me stranded.:D

Only problems Vettes had with leaking batteries was the side post batteries. In 2002 they switchd to AGM batteries that can't leak, and in 2004 they went to a top post. I would not worry about a top post battery leaking.
(I will say that whoever designed the computer below a side post battery should be sent back to school.)
As for GM batteries, well, GM does not make batteries. In addition, as I have stated before, batteries are a problem for all manufacturers, battery failure is extremely high at any vehicle manufacturer, especially if the vehicle is in a very warm location.
Optimas are great, might be the best, but they can also fail, but their failure rate is a hell of a lot lower than a normal wet battery. (I had one fail!)
To be honest, the last battery I replaced was my Jeep. My vette batteries never gave out, my H3 battery is still going strong. But in all honesty, if I do have a battery fail, I will install a red top, unless I install a winch or other high amp device.