How To Bypass Reduced Engine Power [Simple Methods To Fix]

The article is divided into several parts. If you read further, you will know about reduced engine power, how you can fix it, how to bypass reduced engine power, and what effect a reduced engine power can cause your vehicle.

A reduced engine power not only affects your vehicle but also ends up ruining your driving experience. There can be various reasons behind a reduced engine power.

Maybe there is a fault in your engine, some inaccuracy in your transmission or motor trigger. These faults will not allow your vehicle to exceed the speed limit of 20 miles/hour.

Let us discuss how we can fix it first, and then we will discuss further details related to this domain.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ways To Fix Reduced Engine Power

Getting An OBD Scan

The easiest way out in this case is using an OBD II Scan Device. Suppose you own this device, well and good. Scan your engine and look for the fault that needs to be repaired. If you do not own it, don’t worry; visit the nearest automobile shop, they will provide you with a free OBD II scan.

The OBD II scan will fully browse through your vehicle to look for any possible faults and get them repaired.

Pro Tip: The OBD II scan will help you decide which method to bypass your reduced engine power.

Once with the limp in method or OBD II scan, you are done decoding the problem; you will not need to see your automobile shop anymore, as now we will present you with some easy-to-do methods to bypass your reduced engine power.

Most of the methods are easy for the first-timers, but a few of them might feel a bit complex to perform, especially for the first-timers.

In this article, you can get the best OBD2 Scanner.

Loosened Cord, Harness, or Clamp

This is one of the most common reasons behind reduced engine power. It is easily detectable and easy to fix too.

Here is what you need to do:

Start with separating your battery.
Now you need to examine the chord, harness, and clamps really carefully.
Look for the loosened or compromised cords, clamps, and harness.
Tighten the loose ones, and if any cord, harness, or clamps are compromised, reconnect them from scratch or even alter the wrecked one.

A Compromised Air Sensor

This is also one of the most common reasons that might have reduced your car’s engine power. Do not worry; the term air sensors might look a bit complex, but they are definitely not, even for first-timers.

Here is what you need to do:

Take a clean piece of cloth. A microfiber towel would be excellent for this process.
Now carefully start cleaning the air sensors, as the dirt accumulated over time is one of the major reasons the sensors are not working properly.
Now check the engine once.
If the engine is still not working, the sensing unit might need a replacement.
You can buy one from an automobile shop and get it replaced there, or buy one online and replace it yourself.

A Few Complications With The Throttle

This can be tricky, as the major task here is to look for the part that is causing trouble in the throttle. It can be either the sensor placement or the whole body needs to be replaced.

Here is what you need to do:

First, start with identifying the position of the throttle. Again, you will need the handy book for this step, as the position of the throttle might differ according to the car’s model.
Now check the position of the sensor. See if it matches the one presented in the handy book.
If not, try placing the sensor in the right position.
If it still does not work out, you need to visit the automobile shop to get it replaced.

Note: The replacement of the throttle position sensor is not expensive, especially for the sensing unit. You can easily afford it.

A Defective Mass Air-flow Sensor

It can be one of the major reasons behind the faulty limp setting, which causes reduced engine power. But nothing to worry about; it is not a complex task to deal with it.

Here is what you need to do:

The position of the mass airflow (MAF) sensor is usually near the sky air filter or sometimes in between the sky filter and the intake manifold of the car.
Once you identify the position of the mass airflow (MAF) sensor, you need to take a dry cloth for cleaning and start removing the dirt from the filter.
Do not clean too hard, as it might damage the sensor.
Once you are done cleaning it, you need to check out its functionality.
If everything is working out well, you are done here. If not, you might need to visit the automobile shop to get it replaced.

ECU

The ECU is one of the major concerns when it comes to reduced engine power. This is something you cannot handle at your home by yourself. This is a complex piece of machinery for which you will need some professional help.

Note: It is up to you if you want to buy a new ECU or reflash it and deal with whatever is causing the problem.

A Clogged Catalytic Converter

It is one of the most common reasons behind reduced engine power. The position of this part of the machinery is usually underneath the lorry of the car.

Here is what you need to do:

You need to visit a nearby motor service station and ask them to take the tool out for you.
Now you need to see if there are any battery issues. Also, look out for some loose connections and rust.
If you see any dirt or rust, start cleaning it up with a clean and dry cloth.
Now start connecting any loose wires or connections to the battery.

Important Advice:

Do not think of substituting the catalytic converter. It is going to cost you more than a thousand bucks.
Even after working with the connections, the battery seems dead. Therefore, you will need to replace the battery of your car.

The Other Things You Can Look Out For

Even after trying all the above things, the engine does not regain its power, and you need to look for some additional points.

Here is what you can look for:

Keep a check on the transmission liquid; if possible, substitute it.
Check the level of your gearbox liquid, as it may also result in low engine power.
You also need to look for any slipping link, as the tiniest link plays a huge role in maintaining the engine power.

What Does Reduced Engine Power Mean?

The reduced engine power is basically a feature in the new models that indicates possible engine issues in the vehicle. The ECU plays a huge role in the process.

An ECU is the Electronic Control Unit of the car that switches on the reduced engine power light when it suspects any upcoming issues with the engine.

It will keep track of any possible breakdowns in your car or your truck in the form of your check engine light. Thus, never ignore the check engine light for too long in the future.

In some cars, it might also appear as a limp-in mode, or it might appear as the reduced electrical power of the motor on the dashboard of your car. The terminology might vary depending upon the model that you are using.

Here is the compilation of the possible parts that can result in the blinking of the check engine light on your dashboard:

Clutch
Accelerator pedal placement sensor
TPS sensor (throttle position sensor)
Carbonized engine pistons
Electrical wiring and circuitry
Fuel pump
Catalytic converter
Transmission rate sensor
UEGO (universal exhaust-gas oxygen) sensor
Time belt

The parts mentioned above might not cause any serious problem to the car, but they are definitely worth considering, as this will help you in the long run. Most of these parts you can fix by yourself at home.

If your car is in a limp-in mode, it will automatically start reducing the engine’s performance, thus resulting in the reduction of your engine power.

Even the slightest malfunction of the parts mentioned above can result in the limp-in mode, and it is a headache to drive the vehicle, as a lot reduces the performance.

This is the time when the methods mentioned above are going to help you a lot. Try to fix the little problems by yourself to save some money, as the vehicle parts are not that cheap.

How Is The Car’s Performance Affected By The Reduced Engine Power?

When your car enters the limp-in mode, it goes through real major changes. The working of the engine will not be the same as before. Though the changes happening in your car might differ according to the model you are driving.

Here are some common observations that you can expect to happen:

A fair reduction in the speed of your car.
Reduced acceleration.
You can observe a certain restriction in terms of speed.
There can be adverse effects on your fuel economy.
Your can might close down in the middle of driving.
Low electrical power.

There are many other changes that you might see, but these are some of the most common ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. If My Car Has Bad Spark Plugs, Will It Result In Reduced Engine Power?

Yes, bad spark plugs are definitely going to cause reduced engine power. But, it is just one of the consequences and the most simple ones. If you do not get your spark plugs fixed, your car can undergo some serious problems.

Bad spark plugs mean that your engine is misfiring. Thus, it will definitely cause abnormal exhaust emissions. You might also observe an increase in fuel consumption by the car, and your engine will be affected in a really bad way.

You can check if your spark plugs are bad or not.

Q2. If I Drive With A Bad Ignition Coil, How Bad Will My Engine Be Affected?

If you have a bad ignition coil, that means your COP or coil on plug is not functioning properly, and it can harm your engine really badly. It will definitely reduce the power of your engine, and you might keep on driving your car if you can afford to harm your car’s mechanism.

Driving with a faulty ignition coil will destroy several parts of your engine one by one, and in the end, you will have to replace it. In case of replacement, you have to spend more than a thousand bucks to fix your car. Thus learn how to change the faulty ignition coil.

Q3. What Are The Signs Of Ignition Troubles?

There are various factors that you can look out for in terms of ignition troubles. Firstly, your key will not move smoothly when you switch on the engine; sometimes, your engine might stall.

Your dash light might flicker, and you can observe the change in the sound of the engine. Worst case scenario, your car will not start at all.

Conclusion

The engine of the car plays a vital role in a smooth drive, as it is the vehicle’s heart and soul. Thus reduced engine power will definitely affect your smooth drive in various ways.

If you observe the changes your car is undergoing, you can definitely decode the reason behind the reduced engine power.

Once you are done decoding the reason, we have already explained above how to bypass reduced engine power. Most of the time, you can perform the procedures by yourself, but some of the procedures might demand some extra help if you are a newbie.

Never delay the procedures, as they might not sit very well with your pocket in the future.