While driving on freeway truck goes into a limp mode, and the check engine light, abs light, parking break light, service brake
While I was doing 65mph down the freeway I noticed my Speedo was bouncing, my check engine light, abs light, parking brake light were on, and 4 messages on dash. Oil level low, change oil, service brake system, and service brake booster. I scanned the codes for the check engine light, and it said massive air flow sensor. I've unhooked the battery to reset the system but as soon and I get going it put the truck back in to limp mode, but with out the check engine light on. Any ideas or thoughts?
My car has 200000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It is possible that you could be having an issue with your powertrain control module. This is somewhat of a common problem on many GM vehicles. I would recommend having your vehicle inspected by the dealership to determine if the powertrain control module is functioning properly. If not, a reflash of the powertrain control module may resolve the issue but often times it must be replaced.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If the check engine light in your Chevy Silverado 1500 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention expeditiously and your Chevy should be brought in expeditiously. This blinking light frequently indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system.
When one of the signals is abnormal, the car will revert to limp mode to prevent further damage. Problems which cause signals like this are usually faulty engine sensors/components/wiring, transmission issues, dysfunctional brakes and clutch, or even low fluid levels.
A flashing light signifies that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of expeditiously may result in major and significant damage to the vehicle. This blinking light usually reveals a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system.
Constant illumination of the Chevrolet Silverado ABS light is caused by internal failure of the ABS pump and module.
While the check engine light can definitely be indicative of serious problems, the most common cause of the flashing is usually an engine misfire. There are many reasons why an engine misfire might be occurring. To run smoothly, an engine must be receiving the correct amount of power from the cylinders in your vehicle.
What a Blinking Light Means. It could be overheating or an oil pressure issue. It could also be a problem with the brakes or fuel line, belt, hoses, etc. By far, though, the most common is a misfire in the engine that can damage the catalytic converter.
The MAF sensor regulates the air-fuel mixture in the engine and might become dirty. The dirt on the sensor sends wrong values to the control unit, and the limp mode is activated.
This is done by disconnecting the battery and letting the vehicle sit for 30 minutes. Then after this time has elapsed you will reconnect your battery and retest the system. If the limp mode is still present then this would indicate a hard fault.
A solid check engine light indicates a problem that needs to be addressed but is typically not urgent. A flashing check engine light indicates a severe problem that requires immediate attention to avoid further damage.
The Check Engine light flashing is a pretty much universal sign that you have a misfire that is bad enough that a lot of raw, unburned fuel is being dumped in to the Catalytic Converter, to the point that it could be ruined if the problem is not taken care of very quickly.
The four common reasons that typically cause this light to turn on include a malfunctioning ABS module, low levels in the fluid reservoir, broken wheel speed sensors, or the system is turned off.
If your brake service warning light is always on, it could be due to a need for parking brake adjustment, worn brake pads, or hydraulic issues. If your brake service warning light turns on when you hit the pedal, it could be due to hydraulic loss on one side of your vehicle or low brake fluid in the master cylinder.
A check engine light flashing– as opposed to a continuously illuminated check engine light – should never be ignored. A flashing CEL indicates a severe problem, one that requires immediate car repair. In other words, if your check engine light is flashing, pull over and call a tow service.
A failed O2 sensor is the most common cause of a flashing check engine light. The O2 sensor is a critical part of the exhaust system, monitoring how much unburned oxygen is exiting the engine in the exhaust. The sensor sends messages back to the engine to adjust the mix of oxygen and fuel being used.
Low oil pressure is a common cause of a check engine light turning on, and it can seriously interfere with your car`s performance. Usually, if this is the case, your oil light will also appear.
Likely causes for your car entering limp mode range from faulty engine sensors and wiring to low fluid levels, such as engine coolant and oil. More serious issues include gearbox and clutch malfunctions or brake problems.
You can attempt to bypass Limp mode by restarting the vehicle after a short wait or by removing one of the battery terminals to reset the electronic systems.
Generally this causes poor performance and limp mode, and customers often complain of a faulty MAP sensor despite the fact it just hasn`t been calibrated correctly, or at all.
Clear the check engine light
Use a reliable OBD2 scan tool to clear fault codes and reset limp mode. Just plug into your OBD2 port and search for the correct function.
Limp mode is meant to give your car just enough power to drive home (or to the nearest repair shop) without causing severe damage to the engine or transmission. You can bypass limp mode by restarting your car, topping off fluids, or resetting the battery.
Some main issues that can cause the transmission to trigger limp mode are the solenoids and the ECM (engine control module). Solutions: It can be the shift or TCC (torque converter control) solenoid. Any easy fix might be checking the wiring to the transmission for shorts or loose connections.
It will flash if the fault is likely to cause damage to the catalytic converter. The VSC light is for the Vehicle Stability Control system and it is probably indicating that whatever fault exists, is common to the two systems.
What does code P0300 mean? The P0300 engine code indicates a misfiring cylinder problem in your vehicle. The misfiring happens when insufficient fuel is burned or when the spark plug gets damaged.
Low fuel pressure is also a common cause of a misfire. There are a few things that can cause this such as a dirty fuel filter, or a worn-out fuel pump.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
While driving on freeway truck goes into a limp mode, and the check engine light, abs light, parking break light, service brake
ANSWER : It is possible that you could be having an issue with your powertrain control module. This is somewhat of a common problem on many GM vehicles. I would recommend having your vehicle inspected by the dealership to determine if the powertrain control module is functioning properly. If not, a reflash of the powertrain control module may resolve the issue but often times it must be replaced.
Car goes into limp mode when the check engine light and VSA light comes on
ANSWER : The lights that you have on and the vehicle going into fail safe mode is an indication you have a major system failure that will require computer to be tested for codes first. There are many possible codes it can be so the additional testing will be needed to isolate the cause of the problem.
Battery light goes on when I start car then turns off, if I rev engine light comes back until rpms go down. Abs goes comes on/off
ANSWER : Batteries can die due to faults in the charging system so ideally a suspected "faulty" battery should be load tested before a decision is made to condemn it. The only exception to this rule is if the battery is already clearly "old" (greater than 5 years) but even then once you put a new battery in, as a replacement for a "dead" battery, you have to comprehensively check out the charging system. Diagnostic Trouble Code P0460 will result in disruption of the dashboard fuel gauge’s ability to accurately report your tank’s fuel levels. The fuel gauge readings may be erratic, or read somewhere off scale. Vehicles equipped with a low fuel warning light feature may also suffer from erratic low fuel warnings in the event of a code P0460. Unless the P0460 code has been reported alongside other trouble code, all of the vehicle’s essential systems should otherwise function normally. I would recommend that you request a check engine light diagnostic to first resolve the fault causing the P0460 code to set. The check gas cap light warning light could be due a faulty gas cap and/or small leaks in the EVAP system.
When I put my foot on the brake my back left brake light goes off, when I take it off the brake the brake light comes on
ANSWER : I would suggest trying to disconnect and reconnect the wiring to the rear lights. I have seen these older Toyota vehicles rear lighting short out on the lights themselves due to the way the light circuit was made on the lamp housing. Look at the housing circuit on the light to see if one is touching another, and that could tell you why it is malfunctioning. There could also be a problem with the brake light switch. If you are not comfortable dealing with wires, I recommend getting in touch with a certified mechanic who can look at your brake light issue for you to see what’s going on.
Abs light, emergency brake light, steering wheel assist light, engine light, EPC light, traction control light
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle does utilize a lot of the same sensors for these systems. Are there any other codes that are coming up when this code appears? If so you will want to take these into consideration when processing the repair and making a diagnosis. The module may be bad, and replacing it should fix the problem. The lights should turn off once the main computer recognizes the new module and the sensors sync up. If you believe the sensors need to be cleaned you may do so. Do as minimal as possible to make sure you are not damaging the sensor or disrupting the wiring inside. A bad connection would make the lights stay on. With so many lights that are effected by the module being illuminated, the module is likely bad or does not have a connection. Check the connection first and then resort to replacing the unit. For more help with these electrical tests, contact our service department.
Engine Light and AT light. Car goes into limp mode
ANSWER : Hello. Most of the time this is the result of a transmission failure. It is common for this transmission to have internal pressure problem which will cause these codes. It can also be a voltage problem so I always check that first. I check the voltage going to the transmission and if it is too low I repair that issue which is commonly the ignition switch. If the voltage is fine, then the transmission pressures need to be checked and it will more than likely need to be replaced. I would have a transmission specialist look into this.
I changed the break light switch and now I can not get the truck out of park
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle may be having issues the with ABS system. Considering the timing with the brake light switch, you will want to verify that installation and make sure it is clean, dry, and tight. If the transmission does not detect that the brakes are being pressed, the transmission will not move out of park, pointing to an issue with the switch or its circuit. You may also want to check to verify that the brake lights are getting power when the pedal is pressed, both while on and off. If there is not an electrical issue, you will want to turn your attention to the vacuum and brake fluid. There may be a vacuum leak involving the booster. All of the vacuum lines should be inspected. The hydraulic brake fluid lines, fluid level, and fluid condition should all be inspected. For more help with these inspections, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
EPC light on 2004 Jetta. Code said brake switch faulty, but brakes lights worked. Replaced brake switch, now no brake lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. The first thing that pops in my mind beyond of what you have listed is perhaps the electrical harness attached to the brake switch. Perhaps the harness itself is damaged or you have an exposed wire, loose ground wire somewhere. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a brake lights not working inspection to help you diagnose this issue.
