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Saturn Vue Loss of Power/Check Engine Light
04saturnproblm
Member Posts: 2
We have a 2004 Saturn Vue that has been in the shop FOUR times for a loss of power issue. The check engine light will come on and almost simultaneously the loss of power light will come on and the car will pretty much come to a stop. So far they have replaced the computer, gas pedal, wiring to the computer, cat converter...it is still doing it! I don't know what to do!
I have googled around and have seen that other people have the same problem, but nobody has an answer as to what it is...thanks for any help you might have!
See Also
Edmunds Answers: "Saturn Vue Power Loss" Questions
I have googled around and have seen that other people have the same problem, but nobody has an answer as to what it is...thanks for any help you might have!
See Also
Edmunds Answers: "Saturn Vue Power Loss" Questions
0
Comments
Brownboot
I would definitely recommend working with a GM dealer. I apologize I do not have pricing information. The dealer will be able to assist you in pricing the cost of the repairs. Please keep me updated on your progress.
Christina
GM Customer Service
I am considering trying to get rid of it and buy something new, but how exactly does one sell a car that is a lemon????
Ours was also around 50,000 miles and now we are at 62,000 and it has given us no problems since. See if you can explain this to the mom and pop garage, or return it to the place where you spent the $1,000 and make them do it, and maybe even try to get them to refund you for all the things they did that didn't work. Good luck!!! This is the most frustrating thing ever!! We had all but given up hope..
Glad to hear your vehicle is fixed and you are no longer experiencing any issues!
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service
I apologize for the problems you are experiencing with your vehicle. By chance, have you been in contact with GM Customer Assistance? If so, could you please email me your case number and VIN? I would like to look further into your situation.
You can get my email by clicking on gmcustsvc.
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service
It's a freezing evening here in Northwest Louisiana and I called ONSTAR for a diagnosis but they simply said the engine computer was displaying code 23 faults and they were unaware what was causing the faults...
They suggested turning the key off and removing it from it's ignition several times and restarting to see if the fault would reset itself but this was to no avail...
After summoning a $85.00 tow to a local repair center I awaited the grim reapers report the next day from the maintenance foreman...
Two days later he finally called and said that other than the battery was totally stoned dead and the computer code was showing a history of a code 23 they could find nothing wrong with the vehicle at this visit...
They simply recharged the battery and sent me a bill for $95.00!
The battery was just replaced last Spring and if this vehicle is starting to EAT batteries I gotta dump it or keep it on charge continually...
Does anyone have any suggestions regarding this issue?
If so I'm a listening...leehhiltoniii@bellsouth.net
:>/
Please send us an email with more information at your convenience if we can be of service.
Sarah
GM Customer Service
Be careful who you take it to though, because since that repair, I have new problems with my Vue that I didn't have prior to taking it in. Like suddenly all my engine mounts are worn out and my car vibrates like crazy, Had to take it back in to find out why this was happening, because it wasn't doing that before they worked on it, and they only want $1175 to fix that, and also they claim that they have discovered a blue liquid in my brake fluid, which has contaminated my brake system, and they only want $3500 to fix that. I hate to point fingers, and make accusations, but I had none of these problems prior to taking my car to them regarding the electrical problem. But I have no way of proving that they are responsible, so I will just warn people about these possible shady activities to force people to let them work on their cars. We've all hear the saying, Despirate times.
I'm not sure I buy the sediment explanation...fortunately replacing the fuel filter on the 2003 model is very easy as it is external from the fuel tank. You should just replace it so you know that its not your issue. Cheap repair.
I will keep an eye out - post back...
Took the car to the Tallahassee, FL Chevy Dealer and was advised they would charge me 95.00 to confirm and an about $175.00 to replace part. I choose to just have the repair done.
About 2 weeks later, both lights came on AGAIN. Took the car back to Chevy and this time was told it needed an ECM – Almost $700.00.
About 10 weeks later , both lights came on AGAIN. Took the car back to Chevy and was told the history shows the lights having come on, but they could not find anything wrong.
In the past 2 weeks, the lights have come on twice. About 200 miles in between. When the lights come on, I pull to the side of the road, turn off engine and re-start and the reduced light goes out, but the service light stays on. After I park the car for a while, and later start it up, both lights are off.
Can not afford to keep taking it to the Chevy Dealer. I am afraid, first it was a sensor, then they said, ECM, I am afriad, next they may say, Engine needs to be changed.........
Bought our 2009 Saturn Vue Hybrid just shy of 6 months with low mileage. Did not have any problems with it until we took it in for an oil change at CO-OP in my local town. First the air conditioner started blowing hot air and not like normal hot air, like a breeze from Hell and at the same time where the base of the air conditioner is, you could feel heat on both sides of the base. After that corrected itself, the "stability tracking" "service hybrid engine" warning came on along with the check engine light. My hybrid would power down to 50% and it did this off and on for about a few weeks. Now it has escalated into water in my oil, using coolant, and leaking something. It has died on me twice and I couldn't restart it right away. I had to sit for at least 5 minutes before it would start again. It also has a surge to it, like when it is in gear, the RPM's will go up slightly then back down. I wish I would have read the reviews on these pieces of crap. I can't afford to be sinking money into this automobile. Did anyone have anything like this happen to them?
UPDATE!!! Ours turned out to be the throttle body sensor and had to be replaced with the computer reset for a total of 500.00. I don't have that kind of money just laying around but I'm so glad it's nothing like 3000.00 like we thought it would be. Make sure you know your mechanic and you trust him with your life!!!!
I'm having power loss with my Saturn Vue, 2003 V6 AWD Automatic. When driving the engine/transmission kind of jerks and the service light comes on. Then it goes into a "mode" where the gas peddle seems to deliver no fuel but it will drive slowly while accelerating but then smooth out when it reaches a certain speed (maybe 40 or so). When you shift down into Low gear it engages again and drives normally but it won't in drive. Can you tell me what's going on and what the problem might be?
i have same problem with my 2003 vue. Now it will not staart
I bought a 2005 vue about a month ago... 10 minutes after we drove it off the lot we had problems... none while test driving though. It acted like it was going to die out then back fired... Then it ran fine and the check engine light came on. We took it back to car lot and they hooked their computer to it and said it was the map sensor and something else... A week later the motor blew. We got a replacement motor and put it in and it wouldn't crank. Had to tow it to a dealership. They said there was something wrong with the wiring. Of course they couldn't guarentee their work. At least it was running after that. We would be driving down the road and and die out. We would restart it and the engine light would be on. Codes for running rich and map sensor and oxygen sensor would pop up. Put a brand new map sensor on it.. Ran okay for a day then started all over again. found out it didn't have a catalytic convertor on it. So we bought a new cat for it and new oxygen sensors on it along with another new map sensor. Ran good for a day or two and it's doing it AGAIN... Other codes that have come up are random misfire, bad or missing gas cap and throttle position sensor. I'm running out of ideas, and money.... Can anybody help me. We even took it somewhere and had the injectors cleaned.
I am new the forum and registered in order to get an opinion regarding this subject. I've been doing a lot of reading/research especially in this particular thread in regards to the Reduced Power Light issue. My error codes are as follows:
p1275
p1271
p1516
Symptoms
SES lamp is constantly illuminated. While driving, my vehicle will make a small hissing noise intermediately in cadence, "hiss......hiss, etc", while driving. Each time this "hiss" noise sounds, it feels as though my engine is being pulled back or that it loses acceleration. The Reduced power light will occasionally come on followed by the reduced power to the engine while driving. I've noticed that this will sometimes happen after going over a bump in the road. For instance, there are certain spots in my route to work where the Reduced Power light will illuminate which is usually after a particular bump in the road. When this happens, engine power is cut almost in half and acceleration is not possible past a certain RPM...which also causes problems with stalling. I understand this is "Limp mode" activated by something in regards to the drive by wire system or throttle body.
I am trying to narrow down the root cause to the issue in order to explain to the mechanic exactly what I think may be the issue....or at least explain the correct symptoms that will lead to resolution. I've thought about using throttle body cleaner to clean in and around the throttle plate. However, i'm hesitant as it is an electrical matter connected with the ECM. Nonetheless, i feel i should ask this forum first before i start messing with my vehicle. I am no mechanic and would rather have a professional handle it. I suppose i am trying to narrow down an estimate the price of such a repair and to make sure it is the remedy to this situation.
I realize this thread is rather old but I hope that this post reaches someone who can confirm the symptoms that I have in line with what has been posted already. I need a solid/simple explanation of the course of action i need to take in order to get this taken care of.
thank you in advance to anyone reading this and willing to help me in this matter. I just bought this vehicle (at 56,000 miles) and i'd hate for it to continue to cause problems for me.
If you'd like to contact me via email, it's [Email removed]. Otherwise, I will continue to check here for any responses.
Has as anyone had any luck with replacing the throttle body?
As for replacing the injectors, that's a good example of how the "check engine light" and loss of power display can have multiple causes. In this case, the car's computer was protecting the catalytic converter from a misfire.
Until the codes of service check engine & low power started coming on, I brought it to a few places that I knew the mechanics they claimed it was just codes that popped up due to the hot weather &/or transmission codes but they clearers the codes and it drove fine until it started pulling back & driving on the highway going 55mph felt like the truck was shaking.
I’m so confused since between my mother and I we have taken pristine care of this & yes I understand it’s a 2003 but this is insane & any advice would be greatly appreciated