Car went into limp mode, died at red light and won't start

2006 SATURN ION
105,000 MILES • 4 CYL • AUTOMATIC
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CJLUCKADO
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Today I drove my car to work and it drove just fine. When I got off work, I started my car and the warning bell dinged. An engine symbol with a downward arrow showed up on my dash. I backed out and headed to my mom's to pick up my kids and my car wouldn't move very fast. I pulled back into my space and waited a few minutes to let my car warm up. I then turned off my heat and stereo in case they were drawing too much power for some reason. Again I headed for my moms. My car wouldn't go past 10 mph with my foot to the floor. My mom was less than a mile away so I decided to chance it. I got to a red light and it started idling hard and shaking like it wanted to die so I let off the brake a little and it died. I tried to start it back up and all the lights turn on but car doesn't turn over or click or anything. My husband tried jumping it, he unhooked and rehooked the battery. The only code was p00442. Please help.
Feb 13, 2016 at 4:20 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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So what happened when you tried to jump start the car?did it crank over?
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:13 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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When it wouldn't go very fast did it say reduced performance on the dash?Because when it goes into reduced performance mode it will have different codes the P0442 Evap small leak code.
Feb 14, 2016 at 8:18 AM
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CJLUCKADO
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Nothing happened after jump start. He also unplugged battery and replugged it.
When it drove slow, the engine symbol with down arrow came on nothing else.
Feb 14, 2016 at 12:24 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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So the starter made no noise etc when jump starting the vehicle?
Feb 14, 2016 at 4:07 PM
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CJLUCKADO
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No
Feb 14, 2016 at 4:32 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Do your dash lights etc come on when turning the key on?If so is the security light on solid or flashing with the key in the run position?
Feb 14, 2016 at 4:37 PM
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CJLUCKADO
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Dash lights came on. I dont know about the security light
Feb 14, 2016 at 4:41 PM
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CJLUCKADO
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Do you have any idea what it could be? I read on another forum that Yukon have this same problem but was caused by faulty ground wires.
Feb 14, 2016 at 4:56 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Yukon is a totally different vehicle I need to know about the security light.
Feb 14, 2016 at 5:03 PM
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CJLUCKADO
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my husband said it did not come on
Feb 14, 2016 at 5:06 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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So the only code you have right now is the P0442?So has the battery been tested?Have all the fuses been checked as well?
Feb 14, 2016 at 5:25 PM
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CJLUCKADO
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I went to drop off keys today for the service people and tried to start car again just in case. Still nothing but I did notice the security light does come on and stay on.
And yes that was the only code.
Feb 15, 2016 at 2:21 AM
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CJLUCKADO
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No to both battery and fuses. They have not been tested
Feb 15, 2016 at 2:22 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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As far as the no start with the security light you could have a bad ignition switch.But that wouldn't explain the limp mode.Let me know what they find.
Feb 15, 2016 at 6:57 AM
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CJLUCKADO
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They've been looking at my car since Monday. So far they have been unable to figure out the problem
Feb 18, 2016 at 1:42 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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Where did u take it. Too?
Feb 18, 2016 at 7:30 AM
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CJLUCKADO
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Car lot I bought it from. They said it's the ecm
Feb 18, 2016 at 2:32 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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So is it still under warranty from where you bought it from?I haven't really seen many of those ion ecms go bad.
Feb 18, 2016 at 3:20 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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If the throttle body goes bad and sets throttle body codes and there current codes the car won't start.
Feb 18, 2016 at 3:21 PM
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CJLUCKADO
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No its not under warranty and I am being charged 700. Auto zone sells the part for 337. I hope it is the problem
Feb 18, 2016 at 3:22 PM
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CJLUCKADO
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I don't want to pay for any more repairs
Feb 18, 2016 at 3:23 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Make sure they put it in writing that if the ecm doesn't fix it they won't charge you for there guess.There would be a lot of things I would want to know before I thought it was the ecm .doesn't sound like a ecm but I don't have enough info to know for sure.Keep me posted on how it goes.
Feb 18, 2016 at 4:14 PM
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CJLUCKADO
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Just got car back yesterday. It was in the shop 2 weeks. They replaced the ecm, fuse box and ignition coil.
Feb 27, 2016 at 10:53 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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Sounds like they were fishing with dynamite all those parts going bad at once don't see how that's possible.Sounds like they guessed till they guessed right
Feb 27, 2016 at 11:29 PM
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CJLUCKADO
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That's what we were thinking. I said I thought it was the ignition when I brought it in. They blew me off. Then 2 weeks later when they finally finish (after I spoke with the manager), I'm told they replaced all those things but was only charged for the ecm. Until I spoke with the manager, they were gonna try to keep it longer.
Feb 28, 2016 at 4:05 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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I guess we will never know what it actually was but it sounds like they guessed till it was fixed.That's what some places do just keep replacing parts till it's fixed.The only good thing is its fixed.The bad thing is it might of been a cheaper repair then the ecm.it didn't sound like the ecm was bad .They may have replaced other parts and just didn't tell you out of embarrassment.
Feb 28, 2016 at 7:25 AM
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CJLUCKADO
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Thanks for your help I'm just glad to have my car back.
Feb 28, 2016 at 7:27 AM