"Engine Disabled" & "Eng Pwr Reduced"
10-29-2006, 04:59 PM
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 07-18-2006
Location: Northern Cali
Posts: 243
Found this info online:
For non-sealed batteries, check both the specific gravity in each cell with a external hydrometer AND the battery terminal voltage with a digital voltmeter without the engine running. For sealed batteries, measuring the battery's voltage without the engine running with an accurate digital voltmeter is the only way you can determine the state-of-charge. Some batteries have a built-in hydrometer which only measures the state-of-charge in ONE of it's six cells. If the indicator is clear or light yellow, then the battery has a low electrolyte level and should be refilled before proceeding, or if sealed, the battery should be replaced.
For non-sealed batteries, check both the specific gravity in each cell with a external hydrometer AND the battery terminal voltage with a digital voltmeter without the engine running. For sealed batteries, measuring the battery's voltage without the engine running with an accurate digital voltmeter is the only way you can determine the state-of-charge. Some batteries have a built-in hydrometer which only measures the state-of-charge in ONE of it's six cells. If the indicator is clear or light yellow, then the battery has a low electrolyte level and should be refilled before proceeding, or if sealed, the battery should be replaced.
11-03-2006, 11:42 AM
#22
New Member
Join Date: 05-05-2006
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 18
Be prepared for the Engine Power Reduced message to appear again even after the battery replacement.
I experienced the message myself back in April. I started my car and got the message along with the sputtering engine. I let my car sit while I steamed inside, and went out to start it again a few hours later. It started fine but the check engine light was on.
I took it into the dealership the next day. At the end of the day, they called me and told me that my battery was defective and that they had replaced it. I picked up my car and drove home.
I wanted to wash my car when I got home so I went outside to move it closer to the hose. Guess what? "Eng Pwr Reduced". Not 30 minutes after leaving the dealership with my shiny new battery do I get the message again.
To make a long story short, my car has been in the shop no fewer than four more times for this issue after the battery was replaced. The dealership has never been able to get it to repeat, and they can find no evidence of it ever happening when they hook up diagnostic tools to the car. They'd gone so far as to offer to hook up a recorder that I could turn on and off when the message reappeared so they'd have a better idea of what was happening.
Luckily, it never came to that. The message has not reappeared for several months now and the car has been running fine ever since.
I experienced the message myself back in April. I started my car and got the message along with the sputtering engine. I let my car sit while I steamed inside, and went out to start it again a few hours later. It started fine but the check engine light was on.
I took it into the dealership the next day. At the end of the day, they called me and told me that my battery was defective and that they had replaced it. I picked up my car and drove home.
I wanted to wash my car when I got home so I went outside to move it closer to the hose. Guess what? "Eng Pwr Reduced". Not 30 minutes after leaving the dealership with my shiny new battery do I get the message again.
To make a long story short, my car has been in the shop no fewer than four more times for this issue after the battery was replaced. The dealership has never been able to get it to repeat, and they can find no evidence of it ever happening when they hook up diagnostic tools to the car. They'd gone so far as to offer to hook up a recorder that I could turn on and off when the message reappeared so they'd have a better idea of what was happening.
Luckily, it never came to that. The message has not reappeared for several months now and the car has been running fine ever since.
11-03-2006, 11:59 AM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-26-2006
Location: Soon to be Longview, Texas
Posts: 903
The battery recall that was mentioned shouldn't affect the HHR batteries. That recall sounds like it's for a side-post battery, and the battery used in the HHR/Cobalt/G5 is a top-post, since it's in the rear of the car.
Dead cells will cause weird things to happen, though, I know this from experience. In an older car I had a while back, a battery with a dead cell eventually killed part of the alternator's voltage regulator, and I wound up with some severe overcharging when I replaced the bad battery.
As far as finding out about a dead cell, the newer test equipment used by most shops can detect a dead cell by using radio frequency technology in addition to a load test. This is a necessity since, as has been stated, new batteries are sealed.
I guess I must have gotten mine at the right time, I'm close to 17 thou with no significant problems at all. :)
Dead cells will cause weird things to happen, though, I know this from experience. In an older car I had a while back, a battery with a dead cell eventually killed part of the alternator's voltage regulator, and I wound up with some severe overcharging when I replaced the bad battery.
As far as finding out about a dead cell, the newer test equipment used by most shops can detect a dead cell by using radio frequency technology in addition to a load test. This is a necessity since, as has been stated, new batteries are sealed.
I guess I must have gotten mine at the right time, I'm close to 17 thou with no significant problems at all. :)
11-28-2006, 03:07 PM
#25
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 07-18-2006
Location: Northern Cali
Posts: 243
Update... I called Roadside Assistance to check on my claim. ($60 for towing overage and $60 cabfare for a passenger friend that had to be sent home; $120 total). Well, the rep told me they approved the $60 for the towing overage because it was vehicle related, but the cabfare was not approved. I mentioned that this incident should never have happened, so I should not have had ANY out of pocket expenses but she just apologized and said it doesn't fall under the guidelines of what they will reimburse. Well, at least I have $60 coming back to me... So I suppose we must never have additional people in the vehicle if we're far away from home because how they get home, should the vehicle get towed, will be on us... go figure. 
12-04-2006, 08:25 PM
#27
Join Date: 10-27-2006
Location: michigan
Posts: 7
next time you have to file a claim list it as 120.00 for road side asst.(towing) You have to file for what they will pay. It's your money they are giving you back. If they don't want to pay then find another company to do buissness with. They will change there mind.
12-05-2006, 01:37 AM
#28
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 07-18-2006
Location: Northern Cali
Posts: 243
I would have filed the $120 for towing, but they require documentation (credit card statement) proving the amount that came out of my pocket. I supplied that, plus the cabfare receipt, but it was a "no-go" for the cabfare portion of the claim. They sent a letter saying they wouldn't cover the "rental", which it wasn't... DUH!.. so I called and the rep said "rental/cabfare".. would not be covered.... Oh well, half is better than nothing! 
12-07-2006, 04:26 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: 05-02-2006
Location: Branson Mo
Posts: 123
i had a very similiar probelm with my hhr...battery went dead and after i was jump started i could only start the car from the remote but once i put the key in it would die...the fuel pump and starter were disabled..i was stranded on labor day weekend in the woods cause i went camping lol....hillybilly tow truck driver tried all he could to get it to work...this was on sat i didnt get it towed till tueday to a dealer..then ended up replaceing the battery and then had to reporgram the key...crazy
12-07-2006, 04:33 PM
#30
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 07-18-2006
Location: Northern Cali
Posts: 243
Wow, well at least you were having fun camping! They didn't reprogram my key when my incident happened. I thought they would, so I brought the spare key fob in just in case they needed to re-do that also.