Are you the owner of a Chevy Equinox and have you recently experienced a “Reduced Engine Power” warning? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
I contacted a client who had gone through hell while trying to fix a reduced engine power Chevy Equinox problem on his 2019 Chevy Equinox. Having gained experience fixing this problem, I helped him fix his vehicle. It turned out that a dirty throttle body anchored the whole problem.
In this article, I’ll be sharing some information on what could be causing the Reduced Engine Power Chevy Equinox issue and how to fix it.
So, whether you’re dealing with this problem or just want to know more about it, keep reading to learn more about this common “Reduced Engine Power” Chevy Equinox issue.
Reduced Engine Power Chevy Equinox
The reduced engine power is a warning message that is displayed whenever there is a malfunction in the vehicle. Issues with the throttle body usually cause reduced engine power problems. In some cases, cleaning the throttle body can help to fix the reduced engine power in your Chevrolet Equinox.
However, other factors can lead to this problem. These factors include clutch malfunction, connectors, airflow mass sensors, etc. Some signs to look out for when confirming a reduced engine power problem are; poor idle, poor fuel economy, slow acceleration, and the illumination of the check engine light.
As an owner of a Chevy Equinox, You can check out this Chevy Equinox Solenoid Problems and how to troubleshoot them by yourself.
How To Troubleshoot Reduced Engine Power Chevy Equinox
To effectively troubleshoot a reduced engine power Chevy Equinox issue, an OBD II scan tool is essential. With the scan tool, troubleshooting the problem will not be difficult. The OBD II scan tool reads error codes from the engine control module. The identified error code will reveal the cause of the reduced engine power Chevy Equinox.
In most cases, the reduced engine power in a Chevy Equinox is usually caused by a dirty throttle body, but the problem can also occur due to other malfunctions. That is why troubleshooting with a scan tool is advised.
Top 5 Causes Of The Reduced Engine Power Chevy Equinox
Several malfunctions and faults can trigger the reduced engine power Chevy Equinox problem. However, the five most common causes of the reduced engine power in a Chevy Equinox include the following;
- Faultiness or dirtiness of the throttle body.
- Malfunction of the oxygen sensors.
- Malfunction of the throttle position sensors.
- Failure of the engine control unit (ECU)
- Failure of the clutch.
What Does It Mean When The Reduced Engine Power Light Comes On?
The reduced engine power light comes on whenever there is a reduced engine power Chevy Equinox issue. The reduction in engine power usually occurs when there is a problem with the electronic throttle control. Electronic throttle control problems can involve an issue with the throttle body, PCM, accelerator pedal position sensor, or wiring. Other problems that can lead to the reduced engine power Chevy Equinox problem include;
- Faultiness of the airflow mass sensors.
- Malfunction of the connectors.
- Throttle Position sensor problems.
- Clutch problems.
The reduced engine power light comes on when the reduced engine power Chevy Equinox problem occurs and turns off when the issue gets fixed.
How To Fix Reduced Engine Power Chevy Equinox
Since the most common cause of reduced engine power Chevy Equinox problems is a dirty throttle body, cleaning the throttle body with a throttle body cleaner can help to fix the problem.
However, this does not work in all cases, as other faults can cause reduced engine power problems. In cases where the throttle body does kit help with fixing the reduced engine power problem, scan for error codes using an OBD II scan tool. Fixing the error code(s) identified during the scan will most likely fix the reduced engine power Chevy Equinox problem.
Can I Drive With Reduced Engine Power?
Several factors can cause a reduced engine power Chevy Equinox. Each factor varies from the other(s) in terms of severity. For this reason, it is not entirely safe to continue driving a Chevy Equinox with reduced engine power. Since there is no way of knowing how severe the cause of the reduced engine power Chevy Equinox is without conducting a diagnosis, you should not drive the vehicle.
If the reduced engine power warning is displayed while you are already driving, you can find a safe place to park the vehicle or drive it back home if your house is near. Then, get a professional mechanic to troubleshoot the problem so that you can know the main cause of the problem. This will help you to know whether you can manage the problem and how to fix it.
How Much Does It Cost To Fix Engine Power Reduced?
There are different causes of the reduced engine power Chevy Equinox problem, and each cause has a different fixing procedure. In the same way, each fixing procedure varies in repair cost. The repair cost for reduced engine power Chevy Equinox issues ranges from $100 to $500.
Chevy 305 Owners can, instead, check out this guide on Common Problems with Chevy 305.
Can Low Oil Cause Reduced Power?
A low or insufficient amount of oil in an engine can cause a lot of trouble to the vehicle and damage various engine components. When the amount of oil in an engine is not sufficient, the amount of power produced by the engine will be affected as well. In other words, low oil in the engine can cause reduced engine power in a vehicle.
So, whenever you notice a reduction in your engine’s power, make sure that you check the level of oil in the vehicle’s engine. This is necessary because a low oil level does not just affect the engine’s power output. It also affects the overall performance of the engine.
Chevy Equinox Reduced Power Recall
Over the years, several year models of the Chevy Equinox have been produced, and there have been some issues associated with these Chevy Equinox year models, which brought about the need for a recall.
The reduced engine power Chevy Equinox recall was prevalent in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 models of the Chevy Equinox. The reduced engine power of the year mentioned above models occurred as a result of a separation that existed between the Charge Air Cooler (CAC) outlet tube and the throttle body of the engine.
Conclusion
The reduced engine power Chevy Equinox problem is not the worst of all Chevy Equinox problems. With proper knowledge of the reduced engine power problem and a professional mechanic’s help (if necessary), fixing it is not that difficult.
I hope that the information and guidelines shared in this article have been of help to you.
