I have a 2015 Corolla CVT 1.8 with just over 138k miles. It has a strange problem that has only happened twice also both times while driving up a mountain at highway speeds. I hardly ever drive up mountains so this has only ever happened those two times I put the car through a heavy load. The first occurrence happened about 2.5 years ago maybe about 25k miles ago and it hasn’t happened since - it was also the last time I drove up such a steep grade. I never did anything about it the first time since nothing seemed wrong, I scanned for codes and nothing came up, so I just left it as is and the problem never came back. Until now (the most recent time I drove up a mountain). I was driving up a mountain on the highway going 65-70 mph and since it’s a slow car it was sitting at 3500 rpm not really gaining any speed. However after a minute or two it just threw itself into a limp mode (check engine started blinking again like it did the first time) and I lost a lot of power. I pulled to the shoulder and turned off the car for 20 seconds. And when I turned it back on and continued driving up. The problem was gone yet again. This happened a few months ago and I also haven’t done anything to resolve the issue as my car has driven normally since then and no codes where showing up on the scanner. I am asking this because i might have to drive up a mountain next month for a road trip and I want some information on what it could even be. Maybe just a computer glitch not used to the load since I hardly drive up mountains? I don’t know. - thanks in advance for any info
I never did anything about it ... check engine started blinking again like it did the first time ... I also haven’t done anything to resolve the issue
There are many many causes for it to go into limp mode. You have to capture those codes when they happen instead of ignoring them, especially when they're flashing at you, and the freeze frame data that comes with them too.
Other than that just cover the basics.
Spark plugs should have been changed already.
Measure the fuel pressure, check misfire count, etc.
@imperator Ok thank you for the reply, and for the spark plugs they’re were replaced @107k miles. I should also note that I also had an engine misfire a few weeks before the 2nd occurrence. It was a faulty ignition coil in cylinder 2. Should I start by replacing the other 3? Thanks
you should test them all with an ignition tester