Reduced Engine Power Message

[augr]

Hi,

I have a 2001 Tahoe 2WD 5.3 and the other day I got a Reduced Engine Power message on the dash. I managed to start it after about 5 tries and drove it home just fine.

I thought it was a bad battery and replaced it yesterday. The car ran fine for 2 trips to the store. Now it won't start at all.

I checked for codes and none are stored.

It's as if it is starving for fuel. Yes it has fuel in it.

I have no idea where to start to diagnose this issue.

Any thoughts?

I was thinking maybe something do to with the throttle body and connectors so maybe a good cleaning and dyelectric grease to start? possibly fuel filter which was last replaced a year ago? I tuned it a year ago (about 10K miles) with all new plugs, leads, etc. as well.

Thanks for any direction!

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by augr

Hi,

I have a 2001 Tahoe 2WD 5.3 and the other day I got a Reduced Engine Power message on the dash. I managed to start it after about 5 tries and drove it home just fine.

I thought it was a bad battery and replaced it yesterday. The car ran fine for 2 trips to the store. Now it won't start at all.

I checked for codes and none are stored.

It's as if it is starving for fuel. Yes it has fuel in it.

I have no idea where to start to diagnose this issue.

Any thoughts?

I was thinking maybe something do to with the throttle body and connectors so maybe a good cleaning and dyelectric grease to start? possibly fuel filter which was last replaced a year ago? I tuned it a year ago (about 10K miles) with all new plugs, leads, etc. as well.

Thanks for any direction!

no DTC code and the dash panel said reduced power ? not ever had that one....

with no codes hard start reduced power etc.. these all require fuel pressure measuring..........key ON eng OFF 60-62 PSI..

only use ac delco or Delphi pumps ...

NEVER USE AIRTEX EVEN IF ITS FREE !

[augr]

Thanks jcat it was the fuel pump after all...

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by augr

Thanks jcat it was the fuel pump after all...

that is good you fixed it with out buying other parts first.

make sure you keep the fuel above 1/3 at all times . this should keep the pump from failing. you run out of gas this is what kills the pump you may luck out 2-3X then you will have a pump fail... replace the fuel filter every 30K .
GOOD LUCK......

[brcidd]

Jcat- isn't the fuel pump running hot due to low fuel tank level issue solved now that new style fuel pumps run inside of a canister (big gulp cup) that is constantly filled by the return line dumping into it? I would think the advice to not run below 1/3 tank level no longer applies. As far as I know, the canister idea started around 1999 - I first saw it on a '99 Yukon when I changed a FP- when I spilled it all over myself after removal.....

Your thoughts?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by brcidd

Jcat- isn't the fuel pump running hot due to low fuel tank level issue solved now that new style fuel pumps run inside of a canister (big gulp cup) that is constantly filled by the return line dumping into it? I would think the advice to not run below 1/3 tank level no longer applies. As far as I know, the canister idea started around 1999 - I first saw it on a '99 Yukon when I changed a FP- when I spilled it all over myself after removal.....

Your thoughts?

with NEW vehicles that have NO return line back to the tank this may be true. on these old vehicles , as the fuel level drops the fuel heats up because of the regulator sending back excess fuel. The new vehicles , no return line , may not be causing pumps to run hot. the old vehicles , fuel may be filtered many times before used.also the amount around the pump is little. on the new vehicles that have NO return line the reason to keep the fuel level above 1/3 of a tank is , because ethanol creates dirt/crap with the air/moisture in the low level fuel . the fuel is filtered once then sent to the injectors. the vehicle has no external filter so the in tank pump filter gets clogged , then low pressure , then the miss fires which has been a big problem . the p0300 code is a way many shops guess at the vehicle owners expense. also these ethanol particles clog the injectors causing high long term FUEL trims and loss of power . it has been stated by GM and others not to operate the vehicle , with low fuel levels . lets say you run out of fuel ... the pump is designed to operate at a constant load. when the pump starts to pick up air , it over speeds damaging the armature winding . another way that the pump will die an early death. so no reason to operate with low fuel levels unless you want to loose your vehicle for some time to get fixed and pay lots of cash at the repair shops guessing. MANY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACE FOR NO REASON....I just love it when the repair hacks spray carb cleaner on the plastic intake manifold gaskets GM used .....