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Limp Mode for Dummies?

Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:12 pm
by RodS
Ever since I bought my 2007 Hilux SRX I have (naively) assumed that this was far too basic a vehicle to get involved with this Limp Mode thing - that only applies to Discoveries! So I have not really paid any attention to all the relevant posts and discussions. Two years ago I took it to SAC for an inter-cooler and Dastek chip, and I had a cruise control fitted as well.

We just got back from a rather crazy 6 week trip to Pemba in Mocambique,taking in Khaudum, Drotsky's caves, Savuti, South Luangwa and Lake Malawi. Back via Mutari, GreatZimbabwe, KNP, Barberton and Durban. There was a lot of water on some stretches, such as Savuti after a severe thunderstorm, so we had splashes up over the bonnet many times. Northern Mocambique had plenty of puddles too, and was of course hot and humid.

Coming down through KNP I found that the cruise control had stopped working, making it much harder to stick to 50 km/hr. A couple of days later on the steep road towards Havelock mine at Barberton I realised that the bakkie had almost no power below 2000 revs, i.e. turbo kick-in. This actually got us into a rather dangerous situation when I stopped on a steep section and could not pull away. Above 2000 revs it was fine, so we drove home to Somerset West in this condition.

Obviously I intended to take the bakkie to SAC a.s.a.p. but decided to get the cruise control looked at first. Somerset Car Radio sorted this out in 30 minutes: The Brake lights were not working (blown fuse). They replaced the fuse and "cleaned up all the contacts". Imagine my surprise when I pulled away from there to find that the power problem was fixed as well!

I would like to hear your opinions:
Was this the famous Limp Mode?
Could the blown brake light fuse put it into limp mode?
Should I forget about it now, or take it to SAC for a follow-up?

Rod

Re: Limp Mode for Dummies?

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 12:16 am
by lukestoyzx
Thats not limp mode! In limp mode you'd be lucky to get 60kph out of it and no power at all! And I mean none!

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Re: Limp Mode for Dummies?

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 12:06 am
by Mud Dog
Hi Rod, as Luke says, definitely not limp mode. Even before I had finished reading your post, I was already suspecting the after market cruise-control. The fact that everything is back to normal after sorting the cruise-control fault tends to substantiate that suspicion.

I would leave well enough alone for now and see how it fares over the next couple of months and save some bucks (SAC has enough). :winkx:

Re: Limp Mode for Dummies?

Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2017 7:18 am
by Mars
I agree. In limp mode the engine light will also come on and you will have almost no power and will probably not even rev to 2000 rpm.