Check your air intake system (specifically for small air leaks AFTER the MAF sensor)

 

i wonder if my car is on Limp Mode. at idle the car doesn't send out any codes, but when i try n drive it around the block i have to keep my foot on the gas pedal or it turns of. also the car feels really heavy when i start to drive it. all this happened after i got Tboned on the drivers side. the car has already had the body work done. i had to replace the strut, abs sensor, brake line, and the rod on the rack n pinion. please any info would help..

 

Its something that may happen as we get older, there are ways to fix it tho...

 

all this misinformation... if your in limp mode you will know.. how? You will see your check engine light go on... number 2, your dccd on your dash will keep on blinking, number 3, your traction control is turned to off (orange warning light) and you cant turn it on... number 4, your cruise control isnt working. Thats how you know your in limp mode...

 

This thread is from 2010 / 2011. I'm sure a few of us have researched and learned what it is now.

First, know the difference between YOUR and YOU'RE. Second, put it in numbering format - It's much easier to read.

You will know you're in limp mode when:

1) CEL is on.

2) DCCD on the dash will constantly blink.

3) Traction control light turns orange indicating that it is off.

4) Cruise control does not function. (Does blink also)

 

its when the car gives up on the driver.

 

No, just because the cel and cruise lights come on does not mean your running in limp mode. Just like everyone else said....YOU WILL KNOW WHEN YOU ARE IN LIMP MODE. Your car just doesnt feel right and you have little to no boost. My car went into limp mode once after a deep cleaning. I think I might have gotten the MAF senesor a little wet and the car bucked really bad...wouldnt build boost, then threw a code.

 

- My 2007 wrx is currently telling me my car is running lean on bank one, the cel and cruise lights come on. Does that mean I'm in limp mode? Getting new injectors to fix issue. Replaced o2, found the boost leak, but still runs the same.

 

Post 9, you didn't load a valet map by mistake or have someone load it on your car as a joke... Did you?

 

Let me google that for you

Click the first link

 

I am experincing limp mode becuase revs will NOT go about 4500 rpms but yet I am throwing zero codes. the car idles fine I cant' figure out for the life of me what the hell is going on...

No knocking, no pinging..etc. I am truely at a loss.

-Nigel

 

That's not limp mode. It doesn't set a rev limiter.

 

I experienced limp mode in my mini cooper due to a problematic piggy back ECU. Coolant or oil overheating, extreme overboosting, or other sensor triggered issues can cause it. When the car goes into "limp mode" the ECU retards timing, drops boost, and limits power to keep the engine from extreme operating conditions as long as it thinks a problem persists. In the mini, the CEL would come on but would be a different color to represent limp mode. It would turn off as soon as the ECU stops seeing the problem. Your Subaru manual might have information on how it would be indicated on the dashboard.

You'll know it when it happens, and if it does, assume it is a serious issue and diagnose it, or take it to a mechanic.

 

i'd guess overboosting is the most common limp mode
this is not a specific example but it would go something like
ecu requests 16 psi, it sees 18 psi for X amount of time goes to limp mode limiting boost to 10psi

 

I was just wondering. I have 1300 miles on the car so I'm not worried about Limp Mode but I read it in a thread earlier and in other threads before and was just wondering what the symptoms where and what conditions that would cause it to go into Limp Mode. It scares me because I have over revved the engine twice. Once going WOT not paying attention and another time trying to talk on the cell and shift at the same time downshifting on accident.

 

If you really over revved your motor you'll def notice it. Cause the pistons crashed into the valves

 

limp mode won't be different from vehicle to vehicle, it's an ecu programmed failsafe
when it notices a seriously unsafe operation it will default to operating in a limited fashin. i.e. limited boost, timing. (i don't know the exact specifics of the limited parameters on the subaru ecu)

allowing you drive, or 'limp', back to the dealer or a mechanic to get the issue fixed.

 

I believe the ECU pulls timing (not the proper terminology, retards timing?) and keeps you from entering boost. I read it happens when it detects way too much knock and is a self preserving thing.

I also believe you'll instantly know. Some CELs will probably pop up too.

I'm speculating a little because it hasn't happened to me yet but from what other people describe thats what it seems like.

If your car is in limp mode something bad happened and you need to get it looked at asap.