2009 Chevy Aveo5
180k miles.
Auto
I have an aveo that goes into what someone told me is called limp mode. The engine seems to lose power and basically crawls at 20mph until I stop and disconnect the battery. The AC also stops working. I have replaced dozens of parts sensors, coils, etc. Nothing has worked.
I bought one of those vin programmed ecms/pcms on eBay after running out of options. I installed the computer they sent and the engine won't even start. The first try it will start and run for 3 seconds then shut off. After that it does nothing. I can disconnect the battery then reconnect iIt and start the engine again for 3 seconds. They sent me a second ecm and it has the same issue. I even did the key program sequence which did not help.
After putting the original ecm back in it starts and runs again, but still goes into limp mode every 10-15 minutes. I called the local locksmith about programming new keys but he said he can't work on the Korean made Chevrolets. I called the nearest Stealership and they want $200 per attempt to program a new ecm with my vin and keys. They said no guarantee that it will work but if it fails the first time it will cost another $200 for a second attempt.
Well you need to run a diagnostic. "Limp home mode" means the computer detected a problem somewhere in the vehicle, and it's protecting it from further damage.
There are many, many causes.
Throwing a new computer at your car won't fix it, if the problem is your battery, or steering wheel, or any of the dozens of sensors etc.
In 2008, I rented an Aveo while on vacation in Oregon. It went into limp mode on the coast highway. It had been giving me "Oil Change Due" warnings for two days. I thought, "who cares it's a rental" and the company will change the oil when I turn it in. At this point, I would be turning the car in within three days and I was only putting about 40 miles a day on it. I later learned, that if the car exceeded a pre-programmed mileage beyond the scheduled (computer determined) oil change interval that it puts the car into limp mode. Perhaps it was low on oil; but that's not what the message said nor did it indicate any low oil pressure issue....perhaps it is lacking on instrumentation. I learned this when the rental car company had the car towed into a shop and the only thing they did was the oil change and reset the oil change interval monitor and they gave the car back to me and it ran fine for the rest of my vacation. I never rented another Aveo again because of this. This limp mode for oil change left me stranded on the highway in the pouring rain.
I hooked an odb2 scanner to the car and haven't seen any codes that might cause it. I will be driving it tomorrow and I just got that new scan tool recommended by Scotty in the mail. I will see what codes I get.