Hi all,

2006 Cobalt SS S/C

For the second time this summer, I'll be driving normally and then all of a sudden I get a message on the DIC saying "Engine Pwr Reduced". The car will start sputtering and basically there is no response to any pushing on the gas pedal. It's kind of scary because I've been in the middle of highway traffic.

Both time, I've restarted the car and it continues to sputter. Then when I try again the second time everything runs totally fine. The both times it happened 1 month apart.

I scanned the codes and I got:

P0172 - System Too Rich
P0068 - Throttle Position Sensor Inconsistent with the Mass Air Flow Sensor
P0172 - System Too Rich

Now as a note, I already had the P0172 for like 2 years because I don't know how to get rid of it. When I got the car there was a really really dirty CAI that was half broken on some plastic pipe (P0172 was still being given at the time when i got the car if i remember correctly). I replaced it with a new cold air filter and I believe an AEM intake. I cleaned the MAF multiple times but it never got rid of the CEL, even after clearing it just came back.


Looking up the P0068 code I can see it has something to do with the MAF as well.

What steps should I take? is my MAF totally shot and needs replacing?

Should I purchase a full stock cobalt intake as well as a new MAF?


Sorry if I haven't been too clear, I'm pretty much an amateur in anything automotive and everything I know about car has been from my experience with this car, and friends who have helped me.

 

The P0068 is causing EPR. Could be a dirty throttle body causing it. Take off the intake and clean the throttle body on the car as much as you can.

 

Thanks for your reply. Whats the next step after that?

 

See if it comes back. P0172 is the car just telling you it can't compensate for the extra air its seeing from the aftermarket intake.

 

Will I be able to find out if it comes back without being surprised again in the middle of traffic(P0068)?

Also how do I deal with P0172 in that case?

Thanks again

 

Not really. It's something I had to take a chance on way back when I had this problem. It wouldn't be a problem if P0068 didn't put the car in limp mode, but it does.

P0172 you'd need a tune, if it keeps coming back. I have been untuned on a K&N without a retune for awhile before with no codes.

 

Cleaned the Throttle Body today. Was dirty inside- looked like this (click for larger image):



Not sure if thats considered extremely dirty or just average. If someone could comment on that, it would be great.

Cleaned the MAF today as well, but the hex screws that hold the MAF in the aluminum intakeboth snapped as I was unscrwing them... So I'm gonna try to bore them out or I guess I'm stuck having to buy a new one. Any suggestions there?

Thanks again.

 

My throttle body is 2.5 years old and is perfectly clean, that's pretty damn dirty

 

That's pretty dirty. Definitely try to clean that up as much as you can.

Try taking them to a hardware store for somebody to match up the size and length.

 

Aright thanks, I gave it a thorough cleaning yesterday.

Gella- It's not just that the screws broke, it's that the screws that normally hold the MAF snapped with half of them still inside the hole.