Has this ever happened to you? While driving you notice that there has been a decrease in acceleration or “loss of power”. There can be multiple reasons for this to occur, and the severity of the loss of power can vary. Some of the reasons for a vehicle to not accelerate can be a need for maintenance to be performed or something that needs to be repaired/replaced.
For most vehicles when there is a loss of power the check engine light will come on to indicate the vehicle has noted a condition that is outside of the expected parameters. If the vehicle computer determines that the condition can cause damage to the engine, it can go into a “limp home mode”. This mode will reduce the engine power output and can limit throttle response to reduce the likelihood of engine damage.
If you notice your vehicle is not accelerating as it used to, or a check engine light is on, it is recommended to have your vehicle diagnosed by a certified repair facility. While there is some cost associated with diagnosis/testing, it is the most efficient and cost-effective way to get to the root cause of the concern.
As a general rule, if the check engine light is on steady it is ok to continue to drive the vehicle to a repair facility. If the check engine light is flashing, it is recommended to stop driving the vehicle immediately and have it towed to a repair facility. A flashing check engine light indicates the concern that is present can do damage to the engine and/or emission system.
