Currently, no matter any car brand in the world, manufacturers will also design special modes to protect cars from catastrophic accidents and minimize repair costs.
One of those modes is the limp mode. This mode will automatically activate when your car detects abnormal readings from sensors or improperly functioning mechanical components.
The purpose of limp mode is to protect your engine and transmission from serious damage. Most diesel vehicles have a similar mode called “Engine Derate”. How to get power stroke out of limp mode. Is there any indication to detect this mode? Let’s find out the details in the article below.
What Is The Limp Mode? (Symptoms, Causes, And Remedies)
Before learning about how to get out of limp mode, you need to learn about the definitions, signs, causes, and remedies when this mode is automatically activated. From there, you will not feel confused when your car has major changes in the process of moving.
Do You Know The Limp Mode?
Limp mode is a safe mode or you can understand it as the engine standby mode. When problems occur, it will prevent further problems later. From there, this mode will ensure the safety of your entire car.
The performance of the car will be significantly reduced by the computer to prevent major damage. However, it still allows your car to travel in limp mode to your home, repair shop, or curb to wait for an ambulance.
When the limp mode is activated, it will alert you to a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately. You need to quickly move the car to a safe location. Then, try to determine the cause and call an ambulance to deal with it.
Currently, modern cars are equipped with diagnostic systems that monitor all vehicle systems including:
- Ignition system
- Fuel system
- Exhaust system
- Drive system (including engine, gearbox, shaft)
- Brake system
- Vehicle stability and traction control
- Throttle body
- And more…
The computer uses a series of sensors to collect data continuously and ensure your car is running at its best. Whenever one of these sensors detects a mechanical failure such as problems with the car’s engine or powertrain, it activates the trouble code and enters limp mode.
What Are The Signs Of Limp Mode?
- Limited speed and RPM: When the limp mode is activated, your car will have many different manifestations. It will limit the amount of power to the engine and transmission in the car. The RPM limit is usually below 3,000, so your driving speed will be restricted to around 35 to 45 mph. From there, you won’t be able to drive as fast as usual and minimize the amount of damage to the engine.
- Poor performance: You will feel that the car’s performance is worse. Acceleration will slow down and you may feel the engine vibrate or move with difficulty. You won’t be able to shift into 3rd gear because the automatic transmission downshifts.
- Warning engine light: The check engine light will light or flash depending on the problem. You may also notice the car starts to heat up from the engine and gives off more heat. If the car is too hot, you should move it to the side of the road and give it time to cool down. If you try to drive any further, the engine and transmission are at risk of more serious damage.
What Causes The Limp Mode To Be Activated?
The limp mode can be activated for a variety of reasons. However, some common causes are listed below.
- Low fluid levels: One of the top common causes of limp mode triggering is a lack of fluids, especially gear fluid, and oil. When the transmission lacks fluid, it causes low pressure and causes it to operate abnormally.
- Sensor failure: Your car has a lot of sensors to control the engine and transmission. If one of the sensors, such as MAF, MAP, TPS, or speed sensor is sending an inappropriate signal to the computer, the limp mode will also be activated. In addition, damaged fuel injectors, coil packs, and worn spark plugs can also cause this phenomenon.
- Damaged Wiring: Damaged or broken wiring is also a cause to activate the limp mode. Wires can be damaged by heat, debris hitting them, or even battery acid leaking onto them. Therefore, the computer does not receive a suitable electrical signal and will automatically turn on limp mode to protect the motor.
- Damaged gearbox or clutch: A damaged clutch is also the cause of the computer starting limp mode. From there, the computer will recognize abnormal signals and turn on this mode to limit serious damage to the car’s gearbox.
Sometimes the engine’s safe mode is triggered by a component that fails, such as the oil pump unit, belt, crankshaft or camshaft, or other internal engine components. It is also common for damaged transmission components such as gaskets, sensors, gears, or drive shafts. In addition, some sensor failure or a damaged electrical connection to the sensor will also inadvertently trigger this alarm system.
How To Get Power Stroke Out Of Limp Mode
When your car is in limp mode, you need to move it quickly to the curb or a safe location for inspection. You should not try to move the car over a long distance as the engine will be seriously damaged. Check out some of the causes and fixes below.
Check And Fill Liquid
The first thing you need to check is the fluid. You need to move the car to a flat surface and the engine works. Then you check the oil in the transmission. If you detect a low amount of fluid, adjust it to the car’s specifications. In addition, you should be aware of the smell and color of the oil. If the transmission oil is dirty, burnt, or has a lot of deposits, it will also affect the engine. After you check the fluid and fill it up, restart the car and install the ECU.
Shutdown And Restart
A simple way to get out of limp mode is to shut down and reboot. You can turn off the engine and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. During this time, you can check the level of engine oil and other fluids under the hood. Sometimes shutting down and restarting will allow the car to refresh and update to more precise specifications.
Disconnect The Battery Cable
Disconnecting the battery cable is also a way to get out of the car’s limp mode. It’s best to pull both cables away from the battery and hold them together for 15 to 30 seconds. This operation will drain the computer’s remaining power and cause the computer to forget any code that may have been stored. You can also erase codes with an OBD2 scanner for faster and safer results.
How To Fix Limp Mode
Limp mode is a mode with high complexity due to the information collection of the sensor system. So the best way to fix this mode is to use a scanner to read the code stored in the car’s computer. If the result is that all fluids are clean and of good specification then the cause could be from some faulty parts.
The OBD/OBD2 scanner will read the code and can then show you which sensors or parts need replacing. However, you need to double-check the parts where the scanner is giving error results. Sometimes even loose parts of the wire cannot send the correct signal to the sensor system.
Therefore, the computer will notify you that the power cord is damaged. You can use a multimeter to check wires and other electrical components before replacing them. Look closely at joints or connections before replacing or removing them.
Conclude
Limp mode is a mode to protect the safety of the engine and car to avoid consecutive damage. When the computer system detects abnormal signs on the car, it will turn on limp mode to warn. You should move the vehicle to a safe location or to the side of the road to find a solution.
You should not attempt to move the vehicle over long distances because the problem may cause more serious engine damage. Some of the common causes of computer limping include lack of oil in the gearbox, lack of fluid in the engine, faulty sensors, damaged wiring, or damaged transmission.