Limp Mode

[Desert Orchid]

No. I do not have any kind of problem with you know what.

Today on the motorway my car disengaged from cruise control and nothing I could do would get any response so I got over on to the hard shoulder and called the AA. (No I do not have a drink problem.)

The recovery guy (a subcontractor) diagnosed that my car had gone into 'limp mode'. I had never heard of this.

Apparently if the engine management system gets overloaded with messages it virtually shuts itself down, limiting the car to 20-30mph. It seems switching the ignition off and back on re-sets the system and everything gets back to normal.

Apparently most modern cars have 'limp mode' but I had never heard of it before.

Just in case something similar should happen to any of you.

 

[harry]

This has happened with my C Class when it has had engine probs.....quite a shock when it happens. Putting your foot down and it does 20mph

 

[Bar the Bull]

My Dad's car had this on a number of occasions. Pretty scary, he said.

 

[Desert Orchid]

Meant to add:

According to this month's Which? magazine, if you have a particulate filter in your car and have it removed (at a cost of about £1000, apparently) it will now automatically be an MOT fail.