My engine won’t rev over 2.5 rpm when speeding up, is this normal for my car?
Posted by madygb23@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 46 comments
I own a 2011 Chrysler 200 with a 3.6 L Pentastar Engine, which was the more powerful option for an engine for the previous 1 owner. When I’m speeding up, the rpm won’t go over 2.5 and I can’t speed up fast, is this normal for my engine?
Plenty-Mousse7305@reddit
Clear clogged catalytic converter
Nacelle72@reddit
If it's not in limp mode and it has a high pressure fuel pump, check that. They tick pretty loud when working correctly.
Unique_username28@reddit
I’ve seen this with a clogged cat before; no CEL but wouldn’t go above ~3200 RPM with WOT and just hung there. Struggled to get above about 45 MPH.
Replaced the cat, and did O2 sensors while we were at it and back to normal!
williamMurderfase@reddit
What are you shifting into before driving? D? Or the one below that? That one is manual shifting and you have to shift yourself left and right if you’re all the way down at the bottom of the column.
LrckLacroix@reddit
Not normal, could be a few causes. Id hook up a scanner, check for any obvious faults and start playing with shit while watching values. Could be a bad accelerator pedal, clogged cat, limp mode, faulty brake pedal switch will limit power on some makes.
tads73@reddit
Limp mode. Is the check engine light on? If not, does the check engine light go on when you turn your key to the second position. This is when the light array goes on. If it does go on during the light array test its bad or disconnected. If it's disconnected, someone did that to hide an issue when selling it.
madygb23@reddit (OP)
the engine light is not on at all, not when starting the car either
red18wrx@reddit
How long have you had the car? Has the check engine light ever lit up upon key on? It's supposed to come on and go off everytime you start the car so you know the bulb still works. If it doesn't, it sounds like someone pulled the bulb and sold you a dud.
ThePurch@reddit
Aren’t all Chryslers duds?
red18wrx@reddit
You're not wrong, but not what I meant.
Occams_RZR900@reddit
Does it come on when you turn the key but don’t start it? If not, then it’s been on so long it burned out or if you recently acquired the vehicle someone disabled it.
madygb23@reddit (OP)
it comes on when i turn the key but don’t start it, but when i fully start the car it flashes for one second
Educational_Meet1885@reddit
The engine light is required by law to come on to prove it hsn't been tampered with. Have it scanned anyway.
tads73@reddit
It should come on during the test array. Take it to automatic store to read codes.
If you disconnect the negative terminal of the battery, wait 15 minutes. Connect it back, start car, does it allow you to rev easily past 3k rpm? This can clear limp mode codes temporary since its the computer restricting rpm. Its only temporary an something still needs fixing.
Ben2018@reddit
2.5RPM is fast for a second hand on a clock, but way too slow for an engine.
Zippo963087@reddit
Im pretty sure OP means 2500 rpms
mrbigbusiness@reddit
Look, up there, it's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's the joke!
Zippo963087@reddit
I mean...I understand it. But also, its Reddit, you never know.
Also, if it was a joke, it was a bad one lmao
kaio-kenx2@reddit
Just because you didnt understand it doesnt mean it was bad.
I really dont get how do people just say that, what are you? The joke critic?
Zippo963087@reddit
It's a very simple "joke" to follow if thats what it was. Wouldn't anyone who hears the "joke" be able to be the joke critic for said joke? Its my opinion that it was a shitty ass joke, nowhere did I say it should also be your opinion.
kaio-kenx2@reddit
Again, the part "what are you? The joke critic?" Was in a joking matter. Jokes fly over your head like its nothing I see.
Theres no reason to just go out and say if it was a joke it was a bad one. Even more so when you didnt get it.
Zippo963087@reddit
Again...I did get the bad joke.
kaio-kenx2@reddit
Hardly. You took it very seriously. And nobody is frustrated that you called it a bad joke. Just saying that you believe your opinions matters that much that you try calling out jokes you didnt get.
Zippo963087@reddit
lmao but I did get it, it wasn't a difficult "joke"
I don't take anything "very seriously" Im sitting at work waiting to clock out trolling Reddit and you took the bait my guy. It's okay. It happens
kaio-kenx2@reddit
Sure you do.
Zippo963087@reddit
Lol getting yall all riled up is the much better joke.
Ben2018@reddit
orange you glad I didn't say banana?
glayde47@reddit
But that’s surely not what op wrote.
Zippo963087@reddit
I'm not disputing that at all.
madygb23@reddit (OP)
yes
abiggerbanana@reddit
Its a 3.6 L, obviously shortened as it’s clearly the 3,600 L variant. Cant spin very fast
jondes99@reddit
Need to cross-post this to r/askfreighterguys to get a better response.
PinkGreen666@reddit
Some may say yes, that is normal for a 3.6 pentastar.
Green_Carpenter_9477@reddit
Limp mode:
makes your wallet cry and the mechanic happy
Screamlngyeti@reddit
One of my older cars, 93 probe gt did the same thing.
Piece of the cat broke and was lodged in the output of it and wouldn't let enough exhaust out to rev
Tobazz@reddit
Are you flooring it? Auto trans? It should shift higher than that imo if you’re flooring it
madygb23@reddit (OP)
yes to flooring and yes to auto
Zippo963087@reddit
2500 rpms is slow for any motor while giving it gas. You need to get that checked out. Is your check engine light on?
xGreenWorks@reddit
Sounds like limp mode
Uncle-Istvan@reddit
If you put it in neutral and rev it, how high will it go?
HoldingThunder@reddit
Sounds like your engine is stuck on limp mode. Bring it to a mechanic.
Insertsociallife@reddit
Those Pentastar engines move pretty good. If you can't speed up quickly (less than 10 seconds to 60 from a stop) something is wrong.
If you floor it and it's slow and under 2500 rpm, it's an issue. If it runs fine otherwise, I'd think it's a fuel supply issue since it's only occurring at high fuel rate.
GeriatricSquid@reddit
Sounds like it’s normal for your engine. Not normal for other engines.
TIGman299@reddit
Not at all normal
bitchesrus25@reddit
Your transmission might be on it's way out.
HotmailsInYourArea@reddit
No, any engine should use it’s full rpm band at wide open throttle