Reduced engine power and idled for like 5 minutes and died, now won't even crank?

2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE
110 MILES • 1.4L • TURBO • AUTOMATIC
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DB123
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Customer flipped out ripped wires outta the inside of the car, all the way through, the canbus wires under the driver's fender well, wiring from under the hood, wouldn't read on the obd port, wouldn't turn on...I fixed all the wiring [or at least I think I did] got a new battery, battery cables, the fuse link that sits atop the battery, new fuse box, the car turns on now and reads from the obd port with no codes or check engine light, after putting the new starter it cranked up and said reduced engine power and idled for like 5 minutes and died, now won't even crank, the ign a fuse when you press on it in the under hood box clicks if you press down on it but all other fuses are good, I'm need yours guys help on what I should do next
Sep 23, 2026 at 6:36 AM
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STRAILER
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You could have got a defective starter motor. I would try tapping on it when you have a helper turn the key to the crank position. Here is a video that can help. Also, if you can upload a short video of what is happening that would help as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YRW8fyNudY&t

Sep 23, 2026 at 5:48 PM
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STRAILER
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Also, make sure you have a good ground from the battery to the engine block and then to the chassis of the car.
Sep 23, 2026 at 5:48 PM
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DB123
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I've made sure of the grounds taken them off and cleaned them up and put everything back together a couple different times, bench test with the starter is good, under the driver's side front fender well there's a cluster of wires one is for the radiator fan, the other is the twisted blue and white wires, I've got all that together there's one mint green with a brown stripe that I have no clue where it goes, it runs back up in towards the fuse box and splits off and runs inside the vehicle but the end that's hanging seems to stop at that cluster under the fender well it runs no further...and getting no dtcs, will send a Pic asap
Sep 24, 2026 at 9:12 AM
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STRAILER
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Lets check for power at the trigger wire when the key is in the crank position. Please go over this video first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YRW8fyNudY&t

Sep 25, 2026 at 5:48 PM
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DB123
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No, I know all that in the video mines got something to do with the igntion, in the under hood fuse box which is new, the ecm-ign 15 amp fuse clicks if I happen to move it back and forth and shows no power with the key on, but has power with the key off
Sep 26, 2026 at 8:46 AM
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STRAILER
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So it does not crank over (starter) correct? Here is the wiring diagrams for the starter motor so you can see how the system works.
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Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 AM
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DB123
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Yes after putting all the wires back and a new starter in, it actually started up and idled for a few minutes and engine reduced power came on and shortly after it died buy before that there was no check engine light and no dtcs but now it a no crank no start condition and the ecm ign fuse clicking on and off when I wiggle it...the pins probably need pressed together in that spot....when it was running everything was working but since the reduced power light came on and died it's almost like a bad starter but it's no the starter or Solenoid or the fuse or starter relay all good
Sep 28, 2026 at 3:41 PM
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STRAILER
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So when it wont crank, do you have power to the trigger wire when the key is in the crank position?
Sep 28, 2026 at 4:48 PM
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DB123
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I've tried to send a one minute video of what's going one says it's too big but I have the key on now no check engine light and the only dtcs are for the refrigerant being low, it's acts like it's a starter but it's brand new ans did start last week and ran and Idled for about 5 minutes until the reduced power light came on and then slowly idled down and died now won't crank back up
Sep 29, 2026 at 9:07 AM
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STRAILER
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So when it wont crank, do you have power to the trigger wire when the key is in the crank position? Can you shoot a shorter video?
Sep 30, 2026 at 8:19 AM
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DB123
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Yes I think I need to squeeze together or reinsert the connectors in the fuse box side ecm ign fuse jus falls in now i don't think it's even making contact like it was and above that feels like the starter relay is getting more loose now...lemme try that and I'll get back to you guys idk what happened there it wasn't like that
Sep 30, 2026 at 8:45 PM
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STRAILER
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Okay, sounds good.
Oct 1, 2026 at 9:19 AM
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DB123
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Still can't get the video to you guys wish I could somehow its only 42 seconds but here's some live data off the scan tool
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Oct 5, 2026 at 8:03 PM
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STRAILER
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The site admin increased the video time to 1 minute. Please try again. The data looks okay, are there any other codes?
Oct 6, 2026 at 9:26 AM
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DB123
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Just a refrigerant code, its just not letting me send the video, when I get to the shop in the morning I'll see if I can't make another short video
Oct 6, 2026 at 9:38 PM
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