Help! What does this mean....

[chevy gal]

Ok Guys,

I need help. i drive a 2001 chevy camaro. I was at the gas station buying something to drink and when I went back to get into my car and tried to turn it on all of a sudden the following warning light popped up.
Could someone please explain to me what the following warning light means,
"REDUCED ENG PWR"
I looked in my manual and all it told me was to take it to the dealership as soon as the following light came up,
"Reduced Engine Power Lights"

But my problem is that my car won't move AT ALL!!! So I had a tow truck pick it up and take it to a shop. They are going to look at my car tomorrow and let me know what the problem is but I wanted to get a head start find out what this meant....and how much it was going to cost to fix this!!

[Genopsyde]

what did it sound like when you tried to start it?

[chevy gal]

Nothing. There was no sound. My car is standard so I hit the clutch and turned the key and the car acted like it was going to start. Everything in the car turned on and then it suddenly seemed as if it died. But at the same time it was on.
I know this sounds weird or dumb but i don't know how else to describe it. Also, i just got my fuel pump replaced a couple months ago so someone told me that maybe something was wrong with my fuel pump again. But then other people are telling me it sounds like the alternator went out?? Any suggestions??

[89IROC&RS]

ok it means your hot, cuz your a chick, drivin a camaro ok sorry, neanderthal moment over.

reduced engine power means that something in the drivetrain went wrong, and its in limp home mode. say, your MAF sensor went bad. for instance. without it your computer has no way to measure the ammount of air entering the engine and therefore no way to tell how much fuel to put in. so the computer drops into a limp home mode with preset values that are not optimal but should allow the engine to run. sense its not running, im not sure what to tell you. could be a failed TAC module, a failed PCM, any number of things.

[89IROC&RS]

ok, its not your alternator. cuz your engine would still start from battery power, it would just kill the battery as you drove and then it would die. and not start. now it does sound like you ahve a dead battery, because the reason everything turns off when you go to start the car, is because its pulling all available power to run the starter motor and turn the engine over. so the power is pulled from your IP and interior lights. and they turn off. so it does sound like a dead battery, but its odd that it was running, you got out, came back, and it was dead. i guess its also possible that your starter motor has shorted or has failed in some way. but its definately an electrical problem that has to do with engen controls. probly a module or the starter.

[chevy gal]

ok, so far everything you say sounds like thats the problem. But I guess i won't know until tomorrow when they check my car.
Thanks for the info!!! I really appreciate it.

Chevy gal!

[89IROC&RS]

no prob, its what were here for

[Chevyracincamaro]

if there's something more attractive than a woman driving a camaro, i havent found it

[Hypsi87]

Originally Posted by Chevyracincamaro

if there's something more attractive than a woman driving a camaro, i havent found it

a chick driving a GN. Ok now here is my question.... If the PCM was bad would it turn on the check enginelight? Mine went out on my buick and the SES light did not come on. it just ran like crap

[hot_red_z28]

sounds like a dead battery to me...

[Chevyracincamaro]

Originally Posted by Hypsi87

Ok now here is my question.... If the PCM was bad would it turn on the check enginelight? Mine went out on my buick and the SES light did not come on. it just ran like crap

makes sense to me that it wouldnt turn on a light. if the pcm was shot, there would be nothing to turn on the light; in theory.

[chevy gal]

Ok,

So the shop finally called me and they "think" it's my ignition module?? Or something with my electrical system. They said it wasn't the bAttery, alternator,spark plugs...nothing like that.

Anyway, I am still waiting to hear from them again.

[89IROC&RS]

the ICM, ignition control module. very possible. this module is responcable for changing your ignition timing, for acceleration, coasting, load and such, if it starts to fail, then your engine looses its ability to adapt to changing situations. and it goes into limp home mode. and the engine dosnt have the power it needs in certain situations. not saying that this IS the problem, but it would make sense.