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VE SV6 Commodore - “Safe Mode” Issues

Skyhawk

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This post refers to my Holden VE SV6 Commodore (MY07) Sedan.

Over the past four months, my SV6 has experienced numerous shut downs, where the following warnings are illuminated:
• Check Engine
• Safety Mode Active
• Power Reduced
• Stability Ctrl Off
⚠️ (In this order) ⚠️

Twelve months ago, when the first shut down into “safe mode” occurred; the problem was identified as a stretched timing chain.
This was subsequently replaced (inc. new cogs etc).

Everything went well for about nine months.
Then new error-codes began to appear, which firstly indicated that the throttle body (sensor) needed to be replaced, followed shortly thereafter, by the throttle/pedal position sensor.

After travelling a single 620km highway drive (without any issues), the vehicle again shut down in “safe mode”!

The vehicle was inspected by my usual mechanic and a specialist technician. The decision was made to send the ECU to Melbourne for a more comprehensive diagnostic test.
Aside from detecting some corrosion on the zinc pins, the ECU was found to be in good condition. Errors could not be replicated ‘on the bench.’

The ECU was reinstalled into the vehicle and test driven. No faults could be replicated on the road drive.

The vehicle performed well for about two weeks. Then, one afternoon, I reversed out of my driveway and then engaged ‘Drive’ on the automatic transmission. As I applied pressure to the throttle pedal, the vehicle again entered “safe mode”!!

I am at a complete loss to understand what is causing this continual problem?
The vehicle is now back with my mechanic.

Does anyone have a confirmed diagnosis about what is happening?

Thanks in advance.
 

Skylarking

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Fault codes are probably more relevant than the text messages themselves as multiple fault codes could result in the same message being displayed or the car going into limp mode :rolleyes:

However, I have a vague recollection of reading that VE ESC warning issues could be due to wiring faults in the rear loom going to the right rear ABS sensor ;) (I think it was VE :rolleyes:)

Other than that vague recollection, sorry I can’t help.
 

Skyhawk

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Fault codes are probably more relevant than the text messages themselves as multiple fault codes could result in the same message being displayed or the car going into limp mode :rolleyes:

However, I have a vague recollection of reading that VE ESC warning issues could be due to wiring faults in the rear loom going to the right rear ABS sensor ;) (I think it was VE :rolleyes:)

Other than that vague recollection, sorry I can’t help.

I appreciate the reply. Thank you.
This is another option to consider.
I certainly had not thought of this.
In my mind, the issue must certainly be electrical?
 

mechanic

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In my mind, the issue must certainly be electrical?
Not necessarily. The electrical system is detecting a fault, but the actual fault could be mechanical/external.

For example, if the throttle butterfly was meeting resistance through excessive carbon, a tight pivot pin or a stuck object, the system would go to safe mode.
If there were metal shavings from abnormal wear in a wheel hub area that were magentised to the ABS sensor, the system would detect a fault.
If the tone wheel on the crankshaft had slipped slightly, the ECU would indicate a cam/crank correlation error.

Each of these faults were caused by a mechanical defect, but the integrity of the electrical system is perfectly intact. No amount of sensor replacements or ECU reprogramming would resolve these errors.
 

Skyhawk

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Not necessarily. The electrical system is detecting a fault, but the actual fault could be mechanical/external.

For example, if the throttle butterfly was meeting resistance through excessive carbon, a tight pivot pin or a stuck object, the system would go to safe mode.
If there were metal shavings from abnormal wear in a wheel hub area that were magentised to the ABS sensor, the system would detect a fault.
If the tone wheel on the crankshaft had slipped slightly, the ECU would indicate a cam/crank correlation error.

Each of these faults were caused by a mechanical defect, but the integrity of the electrical system is perfectly intact. No amount of sensor replacements or ECU reprogramming would resolve these errors.

That makes a great deal of sense
Thank you for taking the time to respond.

I am not a mechanic/technician, so to me, the fault appeared to be electrical in nature.

It is becoming an exercise in extreme frustration. I just want to know what the problem is?
 

flaw01

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This post refers to my Holden VE SV6 Commodore (MY07) Sedan.

Over the past four months, my SV6 has experienced numerous shut downs, where the following warnings are illuminated:
• Check Engine
• Safety Mode Active
• Power Reduced
• Stability Ctrl Off
⚠️ (In this order) ⚠️

Twelve months ago, when the first shut down into “safe mode” occurred; the problem was identified as a stretched timing chain.
This was subsequently replaced (inc. new cogs etc).

Everything went well for about nine months.
Then new error-codes began to appear, which firstly indicated that the throttle body (sensor) needed to be replaced, followed shortly thereafter, by the throttle/pedal position sensor.

After travelling a single 620km highway drive (without any issues), the vehicle again shut down in “safe mode”!

The vehicle was inspected by my usual mechanic and a specialist technician. The decision was made to send the ECU to Melbourne for a more comprehensive diagnostic test.
Aside from detecting some corrosion on the zinc pins, the ECU was found to be in good condition. Errors could not be replicated ‘on the bench.’

The ECU was reinstalled into the vehicle and test driven. No faults could be replicated on the road drive.

The vehicle performed well for about two weeks. Then, one afternoon, I reversed out of my driveway and then engaged ‘Drive’ on the automatic transmission. As I applied pressure to the throttle pedal, the vehicle again entered “safe mode”!!

I am at a complete loss to understand what is causing this continual problem?
The vehicle is now back with my mechanic.

Does anyone have a confirmed diagnosis about what is happening?

Thanks in advance.
Since all your issues have you had a resolve yet? My ute has started to do the same thing (VE II series), it is with much frustration that it just kicks into safe mode during the most unlikely driving situations. there appeared to be a number of possibilities that may have been the issue as mentioned in the responses (e.g. throttle body sensor, wiring faults, throttle butterfly, metal shavings in the wheel hub etc) or in short what did you do to take it out of safe mode?
 
Last edited:

boombaby

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This post refers to my Holden VE SV6 Commodore (MY07) Sedan.

Over the past four months, my SV6 has experienced numerous shut downs, where the following warnings are illuminated:
• Check Engine
• Safety Mode Active
• Power Reduced
• Stability Ctrl Off
⚠️ (In this order) ⚠️

Twelve months ago, when the first shut down into “safe mode” occurred; the problem was identified as a stretched timing chain.
This was subsequently replaced (inc. new cogs etc).

Everything went well for about nine months.
Then new error-codes began to appear, which firstly indicated that the throttle body (sensor) needed to be replaced, followed shortly thereafter, by the throttle/pedal position sensor.

After travelling a single 620km highway drive (without any issues), the vehicle again shut down in “safe mode”!

The vehicle was inspected by my usual mechanic and a specialist technician. The decision was made to send the ECU to Melbourne for a more comprehensive diagnostic test.
Aside from detecting some corrosion on the zinc pins, the ECU was found to be in good condition. Errors could not be replicated ‘on the bench.’

The ECU was reinstalled into the vehicle and test driven. No faults could be replicated on the road drive.

The vehicle performed well for about two weeks. Then, one afternoon, I reversed out of my driveway and then engaged ‘Drive’ on the automatic transmission. As I applied pressure to the throttle pedal, the vehicle again entered “safe mode”!!

I am at a complete loss to understand what is causing this continual problem?
The vehicle is now back with my mechanic.

Does anyone have a confirmed diagnosis about what is happening?

Thanks in advance.

Hello, Skyhawk!

I've got a VT, but like you, OP, it has developed the problem
whereby some error(s) cause serious failure. In your case the car
falls back to "Safety" mode; in my case, the VT stalls. Engine
OFF; no power steering; no brake assist. It's suddenly like
holding onto a runaway train. Won't turn; won't stop. Just
suddenly; anywhere; any time. Try THAT for frightening.

Here is my picture, so far. Due to my uncaring attitude to my
car for a very long period certain "issues" have come to the fore,
let's say.

My experience with maintaining vehicles is from "the olden days".
Easy! Check the radiator and tyres. Change plugs, points, oil,
air filter. All good! (And change the water pump one or two
times. x5 actually.) Anyway the moral here is the new vehicles
have Fuel Injectors and ECU/Sensor control, so you can't bury your
head in the sand with them. Maintenance oversight is paramount.
I have had to come up to speed (pardon the pun) rather fast.

IT'S A NIGHTMARE!! WHO T.F. INVENTED THIS CRAP?

Damned expensive Sensors all over the place, that are supposed
to "sense" within boundaries in order to run the car. They will
"report" a problem with something - except on those occasions
when the sensors are the problem!! Or - as in your case - a
problem is with the ECU. [Well, in your case you had to rule out
the ECU as the problem. But, as you can see, the ECU injects
itself (pun intended) into the problem space so that you then have
to rule it out. It's ridickurous!]

For me here - apart from replacing the alternator (was charging
at a whopping 17.6 Volts) and a dead battery (likely from the
alternator) I am still sorting through various issues.

So the first bit of advice is get yourself a Scanner (ie an
ECU/sensor reader, about $100ish+). For me, I had to come to
grips with HOW the ECU and all the sensors interact, individually,
and with each other, then with the mechanical equipment they
control (and, so too, with their effect on my brain). A Scanner
does provide good insight into your engine. And I mean "INSIDE".
In my case for the VT (and after seeking advice here in the Forum
about good choices) I ended up with the Vident - only because it
is focused on OLD "Holden", plus I was limited in my purchase by
the way Holden did things in earlier times. [While the Vident
gives me data I need to know from the ancient format used in VT's,
in modern vehicles some scanners will produce the data more vividly.]

For me the "stalling" has been reduced GREATLY by cleaning the MAF
(Mass Air Flow) sensor. Also, believe it or not, changing the
radiator cap seems to have helped too. [I think the system was not
running at the right temp/pressure and the thingo sensor reading
coolant temp was causing "issues" being unable to read coolant
temp properly. So instead of having a dozen or more stalls over
the intervening period since those changes, so far only three. I
am ruling out the Crank Angle Sensor (CAS) for the time being
(although some will say it is a prime candidate). [See, I have to
sort out multiple issues before I can rely on that "one" thing.]
Personally, I think that I might have a major problem with a dirty
Fuel Filter, but that is a hell of a job to get at it underneath
the back of the car. Who thunk that lunacy up?

I am telling you all this - despite you having a VE, not a VT -
because I know what you have experienced with the "Safety" mode
fallback shock. For me, great peace of mind has come with having
the Scanner handy because I can use real "data" to eliminate issues.
So - despite the long-windedness herein - that is my advice. Ask
the Gang in here which is the BEST Scanner for you.

Perhaps you can rely on your Mechanic mate (and I hope you can,
and I wish you luck) but it may be that a professional tuning
place (I would focus on Ultratune from past/ancient experience)
might be a good turning point for speedy turnaround. (In my case
THAT solution is still beckoning on the horizon but, so far, I
have been stalwart in resisting the lure of that expensive temptress
who sits at the edge of bottomless quicksand.)

(Sorry if this is not precisely what you wanted to know.)

Regards,
boombaby
 

krusing

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Codes ?
K's ?
Mods ?
Service History ?
 

krusing

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This post refers to my Holden VE SV6 Commodore (MY07) Sedan.

Over the past four months, my SV6 has experienced numerous shut downs, where the following warnings are illuminated:
• Check Engine
• Safety Mode Active
• Power Reduced
• Stability Ctrl Off
⚠️ (In this order) ⚠️

Those symptoms sound like an Alternator issue,
going by my past repairs I had to do for a few customers/clients.
 
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