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Why won’t my car go over 40mph?

I have an older car that’s having issues with acceleration. I can’t go over 40mph, even when I'm fully pressing on the gas pedal. Why won’t my car go over 40mph?

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Bianca (Bee) Davis · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear about your car! There are a lot of reasons you could be having this issue, but the most likely answer is that your car has gone into limp mode.
Limp mode is a preservation feature that’s basically meant to get you to a mechanic when something goes wrong. A failing clutch or transmission, low fluid level, or faulty sensors can all trigger limp mode. If your 40mph cap speed is accompanied by a check engine light, there’s probably something wrong in your engine that you should get assistance for.
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