The engine is the heart of the automobile. It is the machine that generates mechanical energy from another energy source. When you press the accelerator pedal, you are essentially placing a greater demand on your engine to produce more power.
If the internal combustion process goes well, your engine should be able to give you that power. As a result, your vehicle will move faster when you apply more pressure to the accelerator pedal with your right foot.
However, it may happen that your vehicle experiences reduced engine power. You will easily notice when this occurs, as pressing the accelerator pedal will not increase your vehicle’s speed. In fact, you will see a “Reduced Power” warning light illuminate on the dashboard. In some vehicle models, the “Check Engine” light is used instead. Regardless, your vehicle will move very slowly and downshifting will be quite difficult.
Therefore, reduced engine power means there is some kind of problem with the engine itself or another component or system that is responsible for assisting the engine’s operation. For example, a bad car battery could reduce engine power because the battery is responsible for charging the starter. If the starter receives a weak charge, it will not be able to start the engine sufficiently. Even if the engine is running, it will be extremely weak in terms of power. Other causes of reduced engine power may include transmission issues or a faulty alternator.
What to do?
As soon as you notice a decrease in engine power, you should return home immediately. Some newer models have a special “Limp Mode” designed to give you just enough power to bring your vehicle home. You will still have poor acceleration and terrible fuel consumption, but at least you won’t be stranded somewhere. Avoid taking your vehicle on fast roads like the highway until the problem is resolved.
Similarly, do not activate any car accessories that you don’t need. This means no radios and preferably no air conditioning use. You don’t want to stress the engine more than necessary. If there is an auto mechanic closer to you than your home, try going to their shop instead. Because if you bring your vehicle home, you will still need to take it to a mechanic. So, you might as well take it to a mechanic while you’re on the road if you can.
What to expect
In many cases, reduced engine power might not even be a big problem. There could be an issue in the engine control unit or one of its corresponding sensors. Sometimes, you can simply turn off the vehicle and then restart it to clear the reduced engine warning light. But if the problem is real and there is an actual issue or error, the light will come back on. You will never know for sure what the problem is until a professional mechanic performs a diagnostic check.
Whatever the diagnostic results are, you must listen to them. The diagnostic scan tool never lies because it communicates with your engine control unit and receives a special error code in response. The error code indicates the exact nature of the engine problem. Once you become aware of this problem, you must fix it if you want to have normal engine power again. You will not be able to drive your vehicle safely on the road until you do.