Reduced engine power

[ro]

2013 ford v 10 class A Motorhome looses power on hills.Dash indicator reads Reduced Engine Power.Anyone had this happen.What was the fix?

 

[Utclmjmpr]

Only your Ford dealer knows for sure..>>>Dan

 

[Olyteddy]

If it overheats the V-10 has a "limp" mode in which half the cylinders shut down & act as air pumps to cool the engine. This could be the case with yours. The dashboard temperature gauge isn't a real good indicator. I use a program called Forscan running on a Windows laptop with a compatible OBDII scanner as a virtual dashboard in my 1999 Fleetwood. Overheating may not be the cause in your rig but a scanner will help diagnose the problem.
www.forscan.org/

 

[DonTom]

2013 ford v 10 class A Motorhome looses power on hills.Dash indicator reads Reduced Engine Power.Anyone had this happen.What was the fix?

Any OBD2 codes? Check engine light on?

It means the computer doesn't like something it senses and is deliberately limiting your power to prevent any engine damage and /or pollution concerns.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[IBTripping]

Could be a lot of things including the need for a tune up. As Utclmjmpr noted, a trip to the repair shop for a diagnosis may be in order.

 

[ro]

Any OBD2 codes? Check engine light on?

It means the computer doesn't like something it senses and is deliberately limiting your power to prevent any engine damage and /or pollution concerns.

-Don- Auburn, CA

No Codes.Check engine light never came on.No overheating.Just boggs down on hills,no power,trans downs shifts.

 

[Contributor]

Here is the link to Ford's manual on your drivetrain.

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/13motom1e.pdf

Here is what it says about your situation.

 

[ro]

Here is the link to Ford's manual on your drivetrain.

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/13motom1e.pdf

Here is what it says about your situation.

Thanks for all the replies.All temp.gauges showed normal.No signs of overheating.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

But, the engine computer might think it's overheating due to a bad sensor or other cooling system issue. Having an OBD reader is a key element to figuring this out. There may be pending codes that won't light the CEL yet but would give a clue what it's unhappy about. Once you shut the engine off those codes could be lost, so in order to get the jump on this, get an OBD reader.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[TheBar]

No Codes.Check engine light never came on.No overheating.Just boggs down on hills,no power,trans downs shifts.

Pretty sure you should consider the reduced engine power to be a check engine light.

 

[ro]

Rechecked for codes with OBD reader.No codes found.The reduced engine power light only came on one time for about 10 seconds.Has never come back on.Replaced air filter,road tested and seemed fine.Will road test again with Jeep hooked up

 

[Ex-Calif]

Thanks for all the replies.All temp.gauges showed normal.No signs of overheating.

Well the reduced engine power should "preclude" an overheating event. i.e. reduce power before the engine cooks.

If you are able to access the "Engine Info" page on the annunciator scroll through the coolant, oil and trans oil temps and see what they are running.

I don't know the cut off on your vehicle but it is probably around 210*-212*F. Under normal freeway driving my truck sits around 190*F.

 

[Contributor]

Here is some more indicators of pending reduced power - chimes.

 

[TheBar]

You may also have an airlock in the cooling system. Usually around the thermostat or upper radiator hose. Never fill the radiator on an incline when the back of the engine is higher than the radiator. That can cause trapped air in the engine block or cylinder head causing burnt valves, a cracked head, or worse.

If the radiator hose is incorrectly twisted where the upper hose is higher than the radiator can cause an airlock. Squeezing the air out of the upper radiator hose while filling will help to purge the air. Some systems have a air purge bolt around the thermostat housing. Some higher end thermostats have an 1/8" hole to allow trapped air to escape.

 

[tlmgcamp]

If the temp gauge says things are OK but the sensor is telling the engine to reduce power due to temp, one of these devices could be malfunctioning.

 

[ro]

If the temp gauge says things are OK but the sensor is telling the engine to reduce power due to temp, one of these devices could be malfunctioning.

What are the devices ?After drivng w/jeep in tow no dash message and reduced power returned and still not over heating.

 

[tlmgcamp]

What are the devices ?After drivng w/jeep in tow no dash message and reduced power returned and still not over heating.

Device #1 is the temp gauge that tells you that engine temp is fine.

Device #2 is the electronic gizmo that is lowering engine power because it believes that the temp is high.

 

[Contributor]

So it went from a dash message of reduced engine power,

Motorhome looses power on hills.Dash indicator reads Reduced Engine Power

to no dash message

After drivng w/jeep in tow no dash message and reduced power returned

Maybe you need a tuneup, fuel filter, plugs, air filter, etc.