“Service Traction Control, Engine Power Reduced” in Chevy Impala. What's This?

The "service traction control" and "engine power reduced" are among the most baffling warning lights in the Chevrolet Impala. One of the reasons these lights can be pretty confusing is that they can be triggered for several reasons, which makes it challenging to know the exact cause unless you run a proper diagnosis.

Service traction control message highlights

• Common reasons:hundreds of reasons are possible
• How to fix:read the codes to narrow down the possible problems
• Possible consequences:limp mode, stalling, harsh engine work
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$150-$1,000

Service Traction Control

The Chevy Impala traction control system uses a computer system and wheel speed sensors to detect the speed at which every wheel moves. The system detects when one or more wheels lose their grip on the road. When the traction control system detects such a wheel, it limits its power by transferring that power to wheels that still have their grip on the road to avoid skidding.

A wheel may lose traction when traveling in adverse conditions such as snowy or rainy roads. The power transfer from affected wheels to the wheels with grip keeps your Chevrolet Impala moving stably and safely in adverse conditions.

When the traction control system malfunctions, a dashboard warning light called service traction control comes on.

Engine Power Reduced

The "engine power reduced" warning light is one of the most frustrating things you could ever experience. This warning light mainly indicates a reasonably severe problem in the throttle system of your Chevy Impala. When this light illuminates, your vehicle will mostly go into "safe mode." In this mode, you will drive at a limited speed, to the extent you may not be able to drive home from the office.

Since this warning can come on for several reasons, you should have a professional mechanic run a deep diagnosis to determine what may have gone wrong. If the mechanic does a lousy job diagnosing and fixing the "engine power reduced" problem, it may trigger again before long and put your Impala in "safe mode."

Why My Chevy Impala Service Traction Control Light is on?

In many vehicles, the traction control takes the acronym TC. In Chevrolet Impala, the light takes the shape of a swaying car that has lost control. The system uses wheel speed sensors and a traction control module to keep your car stable on the road.

In most vehicles, the traction control system shares a control module with the anti-lock braking system. Here are a few reasons why the service traction control light might illuminate.

1) Faulty Wheel Speed Sensors

The TCS uses wheel speed sensors to determine the rotational speed of every wheel. Due to their location, these sensors are susceptible to damage. The wheel speed sensors can be affected by road dirt and dust, mud, rainwater, and other adverse road elements.

If it comes down to it, the traction control was the primary cause of the warning light coming on; your wheel speed sensors are probably damaged. For proper functioning of the traction control, these sensors must be able to transmit accurate data to the traction control module in real-time.

When one or more sensors go bad, the control module cannot determine which wheel needs backup and which one doesn't. As a result, it'll respond as if your Chevy Impala lost its traction, thus the service traction control light.

2) The ABS is Malfunctioning

The anti-lock braking and traction control systems use the same control module and internal self-diagnosing system. As such, the traction control light can sometimes be triggered by issues in the anti-lock braking system. If the TCS light comes on because of problems in the ABS, then both the ABS and service TCS light will illuminate.

When these two lights come on, inspect your vehicle deeply to determine the root cause of the problem. Inspect traction control and ABS components to ensure the problem does not come back.

3) Faulty Traction Control Module

As mentioned earlier, when the wheel speed sensors detect the traveling speed of each wheel to determine when one or more of them lose traction, they transfer this data to the control module. The module then determines which wheel needs power backup and which one it should withdraw power from.

This traction control module needs to be in perfect condition for the system to function correctly.

When the traction control module fails, the traction control safety feature of your Chevrolet Impala will be disabled. As a result, the service traction control light on your dashboard will illuminate.

Why My Chevy Impala Engine Power Reduced Light is on

There are several reasons your Chevrolet Impala engine power reduced warning light came on. The primary ones include bad engine sensors and loose connections.

Here are a few causes of the engine power reduced signal.

1) Bad Throttle Body

The throttle body is a part of your Chevy impala's intake system. It regulates the amount of air taken in by the engine. If the throttle body fails, the engine will not receive the correct fuel-to-air mixture ratio. This issue can cause the "engine power reduced" signal and the check engine light to illuminate.

2) Faulty Throttle Position Sensor

The throttle consists of several components, including the throttle position sensor. This sensor is not placed far from the butterfly valve that directs air into the engine, and it reads the gas pedal's position. The computer system in your Chevrolet Impala uses the throttle position sensor to determine the amount of air to send into the engine.

The throttle position sensor also helps the transmission in gear shifting. If it stops working properly, your Chevy Impala will not shift gears. This problem can trigger the "engine power reduced" warning light.

3) Loose Connections

Your Chevrolet Impala features many connections of wires and connectors - the sensors and other components that keep your car running correctly. You may experience problems, including the engine power reduced light illuminating because of electrical connection malfunction, loose wires, or a loose clamp.

This is one of the most straightforward problems you must inspect before going to the big problems. If you have personally inspected the wiring and haven't found any loose connection, you can contact a professional technician to help.

4) Bad Oxygen Sensor

The oxygen sensors in your Chevy Impala help regulate the amount of oxygen that passes through the exhaust pipe. The sensors also help adjust the ratio of air to fuel for enhanced combustion. If an oxygen sensor malfunctions, the "engine power reduced" or check engine lights may be triggered.

As mentioned earlier, the engine power reduced warning may be triggered for several reasons. As such, always have your vehicle better diagnosed by a professional.

5) Bad Mass Airflow Sensor

Another possible reason your "engine power reduced" light is on is when the mass airflow sensor malfunctions. In your Chevy Impala, you will find this sensor between the air filter and the control valve. The mass airflow sensor gauges the amount of variables going into the fuel injectors, such as air and pressure.

The mass airflow sensor also aids in enhancing combustion. It instructs the system on where to merge fuel and incoming air in the cylinder. If this sensor goes wrong, it affects all these processes, triggering the "engine power reduced" warning light.

6) Faulty Engine Control Unit

All the sensors aiding the engine to perform better report to one central unit called the engine control unit, ECU. The ECU manages almost everything around your vehicle concerning the engine.

When this unit malfunctions, it'll misinterpret every data sent to it, even if other sensors are okay. You can know that your ECU is malfunctioning if more warning lights illuminate, including the engine power reduced light.

How to Fix Engine Power Reduced in Chevy Impala?

The "engine power reduced" is not an easy problem to fix. You will need to consult a professional mechanic, who then runs a profound diagnosis of your Impala to root out the problem.

Your mechanic must inspect the following areas before recommending any solution to the "engine power reduced" issue.

• The catalytic converter
• He has to check the air filters
• Inspect the engine control unit for malfunction
• Scan every sensor that could trigger the "engine power reduced" light
• Check and reduce emission leaks
• Inspect all connections, wires, and connectors

Conclusion

The service traction control and "engine power reduced" warning lights can cause a driver many problems, especially if they come up simultaneously. Even if they don't come up simultaneously, driving with either illuminated is risky.

You must take your Chevrolet Impala to the nearest professional repair shop to have these issues rooted out and fixed.

If your vehicle has a problem that deactivates the traction control system or the ABS, it should be fixed before it gets you into more problems. You won't be able to drive safely without the ABS. And if you find yourself in adverse conditions, it'll not be easy to maneuver without the traction system.

Driving with the engine power reduced light on is even more dangerous. This issue dangerously limits your Impala's speed and sometimes renders it impossible to drive. This explains why we insist that, once you notice this light illuminated on your dashboard, you should get a professional mechanic to inspect and fix it immediately.