MAZDA Service 101: Is My Car Safe to Drive in Limp Mode?

If your car detects a severe fault, it may activate “limp mode,” which throttles performance (and may cause a moment’s panic). Read more below about this protective feature, then visit North Penn Mazda for Mazda service so you get back on the road safely and soundly!

What Is Limp Mode?

Nobody wants to see the check engine light illuminate, but limp mode is another matter altogether. It activates when your engine’s ECU (the computer that acts as its brain) detects a severe fault somewhere in the powertrain and is designed to give you enough energy to get home safely without aggravating the problem. This is where the name comes from: you’re given enough performance to “limp home.”

What Can Cause Limp Mode?

Like the check engine light, limp mode can be caused by several different problems, some serious and some not. As a buyer, it’s hard to know whether the problem is caused by the engine sensors picking up a problem or by faulty wiring sending an incorrect message. Rather than trying to guess, bring it in for service as soon as possible.

What Kind of Service Does Limp Mode Require?

To turn off limp mode, our team must fix the underlying problem, whether the fault is with the powertrain or one of its sensors. If you live near our Colmar Mazda dealership, you can drive to our service center, but for those living farther away, it’s better to call a tow truck. Driving in limp mode can aggravate the underlying trouble and require a more involved repair.

Get MAZDA Maintenance and Repairs in Colmar, PA

If your car has switched into limp mode, it’s time for a thorough tune-up. Bring your vehicle into North Penn Mazda and have our expert service team perform a complete check-up to get back on the road in no time!