Range Rover Limp Mode
Range Rover Sports have the ultimate blend of performance, luxury and style. Sometimes Range Rovers can have issues which cause them to break down. This happened to our clients after they experienced the dreaded limp mode. What did they do? They visited our workshop for diagnosis and repair. Sometimes it happens unexpectedly so at Swift Motor Services we’re here to help. Let’s explore how we fixed their pride and joy.
Firstly, limp mode occurs when the vehicle has a serious engine issue. It is designed to protect the vehicle as best it can by lowering power output and preventing you from driving at higher speeds (30-50mph is usually the limit). Limp mode activation usually coincides with a warning message or dashboard warning light to inform you about the issue. This indicates that you should visit a workshop for diagnosis and repair immediately.
Our customer entered our workshop with complaints of poor performance and the dreaded warning light on the dashboard.
Here’s what we did to fix it:
Limp Mode Diagnosis
When the customer’s Range Rover Sport entered our workshop we immediately got to work. Our specialist team of Range Rover experts knew something was up as the engine management light was on and the vehicle had entered limp mode and was displaying poor performance.
Our team began our thorough 15-step diagnostic process to identify all the possible causes of limp mode activation.
Being able to understand the issue quickly and consequently get to the root cause, is our way of covering all bases for our customers. We used a specialist diagnostics machine to perform a health check on the engine. The vehicle is scanned for any fault codes and gives the technician a better indication as to what areas to address first.
From the diagnostics test, our technician discovered the following fault code:
- P006A-00 manifold absolute pressure – mass air flow correlation
The technician knew immediately that the mass air flow sensor needed to be examined. They knew that it was mounted on the inlet manifold (or sometimes the throttle body) of the Range Rover which is inside the engine bay. The sensor is very delicate and needs to be handled appropriately as the small element inside can break easily. The mass airflow sensor’s job is to measure the rate of flow of air through the inlet manifold and how quickly it enters the engine – it is therefore an integral part of the engine management system which is why the customer vehicle entered limp mode.
Airflow is measured to adjust the amount of fuel being deposited by the injectors within the combustion cycle of an engine. If the air flow sensor is not working as it should, then the vehicle has to in some ways guess the amount of fuel to inject, which it cannot do reliably, thus causing limp mode.
Our experienced technicians stood out with their knowledge as they knew how to check the live data of the air flow sensor when using advanced diagnostics equipment.
We proceeded further with our 15-step diagnostic procedure and examined the throttle body and valve to check for damage. No clear sign of damage from the throttle body meant the technician could move onto the next step which is where they found the problem.
The induction system had leaked.
After a deeper diagnosis, the technician confirmed that there was an issue with the inlet manifold, causing the air to leak.
The manifold on the inlet side of the engine allows air flow into the engine cylinders which leads to combustion inside the engine. The carefully designed manifold is responsible for maximum air flow and efficiency. If the inlet manifold is leaking, then the amount of air entering the engine is affected and reduced, causing an inefficient combustion cycle and leading to poor fuel economy.
Fixing The Inlet Manifold
After completing our diagnostics procedure, the technician knew what to do next.
The right inlet manifold needed replacing.
The newly installed manifold would not be leaking and would put the vehicle back to full working order, removing any warning light and limp mode issues as the airflow would be improved and the engine could perform optimally.
The technician immediately contacted the owner of the Range Rover Sport and took them through their diagnosis. We outlined the repair work necessary before carrying out any work, and asked permission from the owner before starting the repair.
Only once the client gave us the go ahead did we begin working.
At Swift Motor Services we only use recommended and genuine parts during repairs. We have a close network of authentic suppliers who provide our parts at short notice. With the inlet manifold on this customer’s Range Rover Sport, we were able to source the replacement part the same day.
The technician then carried out the following repair procedure:
- Removed the nearby parts to access the broken inlet manifold
- Remove the damaged inlet manifold from the engine bay
- Precisely installed the new replacement inlet manifold
- Assembled all the components that were removed to make the engine bay look good again
The technician then performed a fault code clearance to ensure the light would not appear again before taking the vehicle for a test drive.
The test drive filled the technician with even more confidence knowing that the replacement inlet manifold was the solution, as the vehicle was back working smoothly once again. The vehicle no longer experienced limp mode and zero warning lights appeared on the dashboard, meaning another successful repair!
To fully test the mass air flow sensor, the technician performed one final check for our customer. Using the diagnostics computer, they examined the live data from the mass air flow sensor to ensure everything was back to normal.
We always make sure no other issues appear for our customers when their vehicle is in our workshop. The last thing we want is for our customers to return with another issue later down the line, causing them unwanted stress and time and costing them more money. This is why Swift Motor Services has such an excellent reputation when it comes to vehicle repairs and customer service.
The customer picked up their car the same day and this simply wouldn’t be possible in other workshops or at main dealerships. In other workshops, components take longer to source and may come from overseas, plus they may have lots of warranty repairs to undertake.
Summary – Limp Mode In Our Customers Range Rover Sport
The dreaded limp mode is not what any driver wants to experience. This case was different as the customer came straight to us at Swift Motor Services to have their vehicle fixed. Our technicians worked hard to fix their vehicle and performed our strict 15-step diagnostic procedure to ensure nothing was left to chance.
This diagnostic process identified a mass air flow fault which was recorded on the diagnostic scan. They examined the inlet manifold and concluded that it was damaged and causing air to leak. The customer’s Range Rover Sport therefore needed a new inlet manifold to fix the issue.
Once the customer was taken through the repair process over the phone by our specialist team, they were happy for us to go ahead.
Ensuring our customers are always in the loop, Swift Motor Services takes pride in customer service. Indicating costs, repair time and work required to repair their vehicle, we always seek approval before beginning any work.
Only using genuine Land Rover parts, we ensure every customer has the best quality repair possible, leaving nothing to chance.
We always aim to beat main dealer lead times and pricing with our repairs. Along with our clear communication, Swift Motor Services’ team of Land Rover Experts are here to assist you. Contact us today if your Range Rover, or any Land Rover model enters limp mode and needs repair.
