Chevy Malibu "Engine Power Reduced" - What's the Problem?

The Malibu is a really great sedan car from one of the most famous American car manufacturers - Chevy. The vehicle is really comfortable and quite good in terms of quality. But it often shows some messages on the dashboard that can really be frustrating for owners. And sometimes those messages need extra research to understand what is going on with your car.

Engine power reduced message highlights

• Common reasons:electrical problems, dirty throttle, glitch
• How to fix:check the battery and alternator, check the throttle, read the codes
• Possible consequences:limp mode, no power, stalling
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$0-$500

What are the symptoms you should take into account?

Well, the reduced power message means that the vehicle is in the so-called limp mode. It means that the ECU caught some problem with one or more components of the vehicle and intentionally reduced the power of the engine to avoid extra damage. This is the standard function in pretty much all modern cars to avoid bad engine or transmission damage when there is a tiny problem with some unit.

But you should also understand that the problem may be serious. There is no need to panic, just pay attention to how the vehicle reacts to your actions, how it goes and if anything changes at all. The symptoms are very important because they will help you identify the problem even before you visit a repair shop.

Here are the symptoms your Malibu MAY have when it displays the power-reduced message on the dashboard:

• the message itself is the first symptom - it may go on and off or just be on all the time, but this doesn't change anything;
• also, the check engine light may go on - this is a good sign, now you know that most likely the problem is one of the sensors that control the engine;
• the power may be actually reduced, but it's not always so, just try to accelerate the vehicle and you'll see if it is limited;
• the transmission may only operate within the limited range of gears which makes it hard to drive the vehicle;
• other error messages and warnings may also appear on the dash to inform you of any side problems that limit the power of the Malibu;
• the engine may start freaking out - for example, the idling RPM may go up to 1500 or the consumption may grow rapidly.

Eventually, the problem may disappear when you restart the engine, but in most cases, this will not happen. The "Engine Power Is Reduced" message is only displayed when the problem is quite obvious and it can affect the safety of the vehicle's elements. That's why you should understand how to act in this situation.

All other changes in the way your car goes are very important to notice. Remember what exactly changed in the behavior of the vehicle compared to its normal condition. This will help your mechanic diagnose the vehicle faster and find the exact problem that triggers this issue.

What can cause the "Engine Power Reduced" message in the Malibu?

Your Chevrolet Malibu of any generation is equipped with a decent self-diagnosis tool that can analyze the way the engine works. Once something changes, the ECU registers these changes and sends the needed signals to the driver through the dash.

So, here are the modules that can trigger the power-reduced message in your Chevrolet Malibu:

• Gas pedal sensor

One of the most common units that may malfunction and cause the power-reduced message in your Chevy Malibu is the accelerator pedal sensor. It's a small electronic unit that controls the position of the gas pedal and sends the needed signals to the ECU.

In modern cars, there is no direct connection between the accelerator pedal and the throttle. The gas pedal is electronically controlled. So, if the sensor is completely broken, you will not be able to drive at all.

In most cases, the sensor fails to send the needed signals only in some positions. While in other positions it can still work. So, you can still drive to the nearest dealer or repair shop without calling the tow truck.

• Throttle body problems

The throttle body in your Chevy Malibu is packed with different sensors. So, it's almost always the problem with one of the electronic components but not with the throttle itself. If one of the sensors malfunctions, you will still be able to drive, but the ECU will limit the power to avoid problems.

In some cases, a totally broken sensor may stop your vehicle and not allow you to drive further.

• MAF sensor issues

Chevy is known for sensor problems. A lot of issues are reported and the mass airflow sensor is one of the leaders in the number of reports. It measures the amount of air that is sent to the combustion chamber and then sends the needed signals to the ECU helping it control the amount of fuel injected.

If the sensor is broken, it will send wrong information to the ECU and will cause a lot of problems in terms of preparing the correct air-fuel mixture. This will result in immediate limp mode and error on your dash.

• Spark plug and ignition coil issues

When your spark plug doesn't ignite the fuel each time it has to do so, the engine will misfire. When it happens once or twice a minute, it's OK. But when the misfires happen too often, the problem may be pretty bad.

The ECU counts every time the engine misfires and if the number of times is large, it will show the check engine light on the dash. Also, the reduced power message may appear on the dashboard because the ECU calculated all the risks and decided to turn on the limp mode.

• Other issues

You never know for sure what exactly the ECU thinks in your car. It's a very complicated unit that analyzes lots of information and sends signals to all parts of your vehicle. It can also malfunction because of water damage and send unintentional messages on the dashboard. It can also glitch when it doesn't get needed signals from certain sensors.

The problem may be in the wiring or in the software. So, if the source of the issue is not that obvious, you will have to diagnose the vehicle and find the problem in the ECU or in the wiring. But it's not going to be that easy with the Malibu.

What should you do when you see the "Engine Power Is Reduced" message?

If you are driving your Chevy Malibu and suddenly see a message telling you that the power of the engine is limited, you don't have to panic. There is no need to stop your vehicle as soon as possible - you may continue driving.

But here is a short guide to what you should do in this situation:

• plan your visit to the dealer or to the respected repair shop for diagnosis;
• avoid aggressive driving - just drive slowly and keep to the right side of the road;
• register and remember any changes in the behavior of your vehicle on the road;
• remember any messages that the Malibu shows you on the dashboard;
• don't plan to drive your vehicle for more than one or two days before going to the mechanic.

You can drive but make sure you minimize the amount of driving until you have the vehicle diagnosed and repaired. Unfortunately, any self-repair options won't be good in this situation.

How much is it to repair your Malibu?

If the problem is in the gas pedal position sensor, the repair is going to cost up to $200 including parts and labor. But if the issue is with any other part like the throttle body or maybe the ECU, or wiring, the repair is going to be costly.

Overall, the repair costs depend much on what part is in charge of the message. We should say that the Chevy Malibu is not a cheap car to maintain and repair, so sometimes the repair costs will be pretty depressing.

Final words

If you get the "Engine Power Is Reduced" message in your Chevrolet Malibu, the best thing you can do is to plan your visit to the dealer or to a repair shop. Having your car diagnosed and repaired is the best solution. Even if you find out the actual problem that triggers this message, repairing your Malibu by yourself is not always possible.