What is Limp Mode?

[Xe]

Can someone explain to me what is 'Limp Mode' and how can I check that when I think the car has gone into limp mode, that it really is limp mode and not some other problem?

ie. Are the revs limited to a certain amount? Is the turbo switched off? Basically I need more information about what it is and how it works.

 

[pr0ton]

Are the revs limited to a certain amount? Is the turbo switched off? Basically I need more information about what it is and how it works.

Atleast boost is limited greatly. The car should recover from the limp mode just by turning the ignition off and restarting the car. And if the problem still exists it should go back to limp mode after driving a while.

edit: the difference should be like night and day. Check the fault codes with Vag-com if possible.

 

[Xe]

Atleast boost is limited greatly. The car should recover from the limp mode just by turning the ignition off and restarting the car. And if the problem still exists it should go back to limp mode after driving a while.

Yep I restart the car and it goes away. Thing is it ONLY ever occurs when starting the car (random not every time), not once has the car been driving along fine and then gone into limp mode. It seems to be totally random, car can be fine for a week or so, then it will go into limp mode 3 times in one day, i.e.. I have used the car 3 times that day, and each time I start it and drive off, I notice its got no 'power', forcing me to stop and restart the car. Which fixes or clears the fault 100% of the time until the next time I come to use the car, when it may or may not be OK. No dash lights or faults are recorded.

Now the car has been back numerous times to the Seat dealer (so many times I would need to consult my diary to remember), and had lots of things changed/replaced, including a new ECU and sensors etc. Nothing they have done has fixed this problem, yet.
Now my dealer has said they need the car in for a full week to fix the problem, but will only provide a replacement car for a maximum of 2 days (WTF?). Is this normal? Surely if I buy a brand new car and it does not work Seat should fix it and provide a replacement in the mean time? Seat UK seem to have dodged this by saying its up to the dealer, and that dealers are somehow separate to Seat UK?

So I was just trying understand if it was a proper limp mode or not. As I put my foot down the revs will keep rising all the way to x3000, and probably more, but the car hardly moves much.

 

[JonTelfer]

On mine - which has had similar work to yours and still not fixed, the limp mode stops the car revving past 3K, further prodding of the accelerator makes the revs drop further.
I bought vag com in the end to try and cut down the number of visits to the dealer. Now I can fax scan reports through to them to get them thinking (not that it seems to help mind), but I do get a record of the issue. The fault frequency is also recorded so I can say that the boost sensor has had the intermittent fault 53 times this month and the maf has had intermittent failure 6 times.

Good luck.

Jon

 

[Xe]

I dont know whats going on tbh but earlier today a light on the dash came on for the first time, and is staying on. So its going in for diagnostics first thing tomorrow morning. I'm hoping its connected to the problem above... we shall see.

One trend i have noticed is I have filled (half a tank) up at the service station twice now, and both times the next morning the car has its problem. I shall see if it continues. But to be honest I'm fed up now, and will be drafting a letter this weekend to Seat, to fix the car, replace or refund. As not only is this highly annoying, but also a safety concern, as I have had near accidents thinking the car is fine, when its not.

 

[Snarks]

Welcome to the limp mode club! We really should have our own forum by now.

The glow plug light flashes slowly on mine and I get a message on the dashboard, something like "Visit workshop" and hear a beep. Car accelerates as if there's someone at the back pushing it. Happens twice each day it's occurred and then drives as normal, especially when the dealer looks at the fault.

Dealer had my car 4 times. Just got it back after a week and I got a Leon for the whole time free of charge (heard of some dealers insisting you insure the car yourself). No faults found and passed every test they threw at it. I don't know of anyone with limp mode problems who's had it fixed. Most seem to get a replacement car.

What age and mileage is the car? I see it's a 1.9 TDi. Most problems seem to be with the FR TDi engine in the Leon and Altea.

Good luck getting it fixed.

 

[Xe]

Started happening when the car was 8 or 9 months old. not sure what the mileage was back then without consulting the log book (it had a full service about the same time). Mileage is 19K now, and due another full service next week Thursday.

I don't think my Seat dealer/garage 'can' fix the car to be honest, as they seem a bit clueless. The car has been in and out since February. Thus I must now insist on it being fixed within a certain time frame, or action WILL be taken.

 

[leonlad]

it`s when the mrs wants a bit and youve had too much to drink.