What Is Limp Home Mode?
Youve started up your car, but something isnt right  its power has been significantly reduced. That most likely means your vehicle is in limp home mode, a feature that designed to help you stay mobile, but also mitigate impending powertrain damage by limiting speed, RPMs, and gear changes. Heres a look at the basics of dealing with your vehicle when it goes into limp home mode. Prevent Engine Problems: Heres why you should invest in regular oil changes  What to do when your vehicle is in limp home mode  While limp home mode is considered a safety feature, if it activates at an inconvenient time, it can leave you virtually stranded or in danger. If you happen to be near a repair shop, take your car there as soon as possible. If you need to change lanes or turn, be aware that your vehicles speed and maneuverability has been significantly hampered. Also, consider checking on your vehicles temperature gauge  if its getting too high before you can reach your home or repair shop, pull over before engine damage occurs. If youre on a highway or busy road, its best to pull over, since a significantly slowed vehicle can become a traffic hazard. Issues that can trigger limp home mode  A variety of issues can cause limp home mode to activate. It can happen suddenly, particularly if your vehicle detects and issue with its throttle body. Other times, youll have a bit more warning  such as the check engine light switching on. Here are some other common symptoms to look out for. Transmission trouble  limp home mode can activate to lock it into a certain low gear. Turbulent idling  Black exhaust  Stalling while idling  Engine misfires  Engine overheating/cooling system malfunction  Sensor malfunctions  its entirely possible that a sensor could be misinterpreting data. Have this checked out by a trained technician  Dont Get Stranded: Make sure your cars battery is in working order  Getting your vehicle back to normal  Much like when dealing with other electronic issues, its worth a shot to simply turn your vehicle off and on to see if it clears any computer malfunctions or sensor misinterpretations. If that doesnt do the trick, its time to take it to a technician. An expert can read the error codes from your vehicles sensors and make an accurate diagnosis. That said, its best to get your vehicle serviced as soon as possible. While limp home mode is designed to prevent further damage, its far from a good state to leave your car in. Try to have the issue fixed before permanent damage occurs. Check out these hidden signs that your vehicle needs service.