Major problems with my 97 C5! H E L P!!!!!

[ElectroCulture]

A while ago I posted about an error and problem I have been having with my 97 C5. I get the error message "Service Traction Control System - reducing engine power" and then I can't get anymore than 1500 rpm out of the car.

I took it into my local mechanic back in December and they pulled the codes ... told me it was a matter of having a bad battery and it was causing problems with the electrical system ... so I had them replace the battery. Got the car back and 30 miles later the problem continued ...same error message and result. I took the car back and they did more investigation ... they told me the TAC module needed to be replaced, so I had them replace it. Got the car back early Jan, drove it about 30 miles again and the problem re-occurred.

The mechanic has the car towed back ... they looked it over for a week and then sent it to my local Chevy dealer. They did a diagnostic and dug around in the electrical system and then after a week proceeded to tell me it had a loose wire and the TAC module was programmed incorrectly. They gave me the car back and lo and behold ... the error occurred again about 30 miles later again.

Had the car towed back to Chevy ... they dug around some more for another week or so ... told me the APP had failed and needed to be replaced. I asked them "Are you sure this is it?" ... "Yes" they told me. So ... I had them replace it. And yes, you guessed it when I got it back, 50 miles later same error occurs. They towed it back to their garage and now have had it for the week again, with no results yet.

Needless to say, I am beyond frazzled ... thoughts or suggestions please? I am at my wits end ....

~Craig

 

[Patrick]

Craig,
Hang in there- Hopefully, C4C5Specialist will see this and have some thoughts.

Help is on the way.
-Patrick

 

[atmmac]

argh what a pain in the ass. I wish you luck and i would suggest a new dealer.

 

[Paul T]

A while ago I posted about an error and problem I have been having with my 97 C5. I get the error message "Service Traction Control System - reducing engine power" and then I can't get anymore than 1500 rpm out of the car.

I took it into my local mechanic back in December and they pulled the codes ... told me it was a matter of having a bad battery and it was causing problems with the electrical system ... so I had them replace the battery. Got the car back and 30 miles later the problem continued ...same error message and result. I took the car back and they did more investigation ... they told me the TAC module needed to be replaced, so I had them replace it. Got the car back early Jan, drove it about 30 miles again and the problem re-occurred.

The mechanic has the car towed back ... they looked it over for a week and then sent it to my local Chevy dealer. They did a diagnostic and dug around in the electrical system and then after a week proceeded to tell me it had a loose wire and the TAC module was programmed incorrectly. They gave me the car back and lo and behold ... the error occurred again about 30 miles later again.

Had the car towed back to Chevy ... they dug around some more for another week or so ... told me the APP had failed and needed to be replaced. I asked them "Are you sure this is it?" ... "Yes" they told me. So ... I had them replace it. And yes, you guessed it when I got it back, 50 miles later same error occurs. They towed it back to their garage and now have had it for the week again, with no results yet.

Needless to say, I am beyond frazzled ... thoughts or suggestions please? I am at my wits end ....

~Craig

I had the same problem with my 98 and it turned out to be the accelerator pedal transducer. They changed out the pedal assemble and the problem was solved. Hope you get the situation taken care of.

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
Do you know of any diagnostic trouble codes that have been present in the PCM when this occured??? This will give you alot of leads as to the how, when and why this has occured.
Please post any codes listed on any receipt you may have.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[mrC5]

Craig,

Has the problem been corrected with any certainty yet? I'm having the same problem with my '01 6-speed coupe.... all the typical codes. It's at the dealer's shop for the second time now, and I'm starting to think they don't know what to do. According to the service history, (I'm the 2nd owner), it's already had the APP sensor and the TP sensor replaced, each within 500 miles of the other. They last suggested the low-voltage/battery possibility, and I'm a bit skeptical of it being that. I'm thinking that sooner or later, the TAC module will become the next likely suspect, and I don't have a problem with replacing it as long as it fixes it. This may be a stupid question, but did they charge you for everything that so far, hasn't fixed the problem? From all the posts I've seen, this seems to be a quite common problem, and I cannot understand why GM hasn't apparently issued any service bulletins.

Mike

 

[ElectroCulture]

I had to replace the TP, APP and the TAC module. Replacing these 3 items did the trick. Not sure which one but all 3 ended up fixing the problem. The first thing they replaced was the battery, then the TAC module, then the APP sensor then the TP sensor.

 

[mrC5]

How long has it now been trouble-free?

 

[DS760]

Before i bought my 03 i took it for a test drive. It had been sitting for a couple weeks without being started. When they jumped it I got the same messsage right after I put it in gear and it stalled. I restarted it and got the reduced power message. They charged the battery up and it was fine.