# VW Bug in limp mode?
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive
**Created:** [December 25, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288 "2008-12-25T19:11:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/1 "2008-12-25T19:11:53Z")
My friends wife has new bug and he just called me and said it won’t go over 20 mph.
When I had my audi I remember reading about this but never experiencing it. Should I have him disconnect the battery and see if it will reset?
Or have him baby it over to a repair shop?
Probably bracketracer?
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### Author:  [@Slopoke](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Slopoke)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/2 "2008-12-25T19:54:07Z")
hmmm maf? Ecu?
Try disconnecting the battery then touching the pos/ned cables together for 30 seconds…
This will reset the ecu…
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### Author:  [@bigwoode](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bigwoode)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/3 "2008-12-25T22:46:27Z")
Limp mode will usually be reset when the car is turned off/on. What motor is in the car? Check for turbo vacuum leaks (if it applies)
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### Author:  [@nitroinsane](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nitroinsane)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/4 "2008-12-26T01:11:48Z")
1.8t? Get ready to buy coils
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### Author:  [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/5 "2008-12-26T06:36:42Z")
Nope. Not a turbo.
So would that be the 2.0?
It is an older one.
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### Author:  [@eMKay](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/eMKay)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2008, 7:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/6 "2008-12-26T07:50:52Z")
> [@BigRon"](#):
>
> My friends wife has new bug and he just called me and said it won’t go over 20 mph.
> When I had my audi I remember reading about this but never experiencing it. Should I have him disconnect the battery and see if it will reset?
> Or have him baby it over to a repair shop?
> Probably bracketracer?
Did she get it stuck and overheated the tranny? That will put a car in limp mode, just shutting it off and back on after awhile can clear that. Unless the tranny is fried.
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### Author:  [@Spam16v](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Spam16v)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2008, 8:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/7 "2008-12-26T08:01:04Z")
> [@BigRon"](#):
>
> Probably bracketracer?
i’ll be in monday, i’m his “minion” 634-1200
[www.blackforstmotorsport.com](http://www.blackforstmotorsport.com)
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### Author:  [@BadnewsMike](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BadnewsMike)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/8 "2008-12-26T15:22:31Z")
is it throwing a CEL? if its in limp it usally will throw a CEL…
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### Author:  [@scsilver2](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/scsilver2)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/9 "2008-12-26T16:27:39Z")
LIMP mode wouldn’t necessarily limit speed as you are describing…?
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### Author:  [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/10 "2008-12-26T17:07:52Z")
it almost sounding like a valet key if it wouldn’t go above 20 mph, but maybe he was just describing that it was a lot slower.
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### Author:  [@bigwoode](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bigwoode)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/11 "2008-12-26T18:16:25Z")
> [@badnewsmini](#):
>
> is it throwing a CEL? if its in limp it usally will throw a CEL…
Makes you wonder, can we get a year please!
The few times that my Jetta went into limp mode (aside from the vacuum hose popping off), I never had a CEL!
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### Author:  [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/12 "2008-12-29T17:47:20Z")
More info:
2001 non turbo Bug
She says it shakes and shifts rough in first and second and can barely move. Once it gets to 30 ish is smooths out and is a lot better.
I am sending them the info for bracketracer.
Anyone have an idea what she is dealing with.
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### Author:  [@Spam16v](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Spam16v)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/13 "2008-12-29T18:03:11Z")
transmissions are fairly common to fail unfortunately, but i wouldn’t make any diagnosis until i see the car.
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### Author:  [@double\_j](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/double_j)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/14 "2008-12-29T18:43:59Z")
> [@Spam16v](#):
>
> transmissions are fairly common to fail unfortunately, but i wouldn’t make any diagnosis until i see the car.
If it is an auto, then I would guess this too.
Also, Someone said that if it was a 1.8Terror, it might need coils. 2.0s also use a similar coil setup in MK4s, and are prone to failure.
It could be so many things. You really need to get it hooked up to a _real_ VAG COM to get anywhere.
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### Author:  [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/15 "2009-01-02T14:37:22Z")
> [@Spam16v](#):
>
> i’ll be in monday, i’m his “minion” 634-1200
> [www.blackforstmotorsport.com](http://www.blackforstmotorsport.com)
I guess they are scheduled for Monday.
Hopefully it is something minor.
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### Author:  [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2009, 6:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/16 "2009-01-07T06:31:49Z")
Spam any update yet?
I am pretty sure they dropped the car off on Monday.
Thanks,
Ron
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### Author:  [@Spam16v](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Spam16v)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2009, 8:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/vw-bug-in-limp-mode/60288/17 "2009-01-07T08:35:04Z")
> [@BigRon](#):
>
> Spam any update yet?
> I am pretty sure they dropped the car off on Monday.
> Thanks,
> Ron
i took the appointment, mentioned flashing CEL, i suspect coils/coil (engine type unknown), but she either canceled or postponed with Jason. i didn’t ask when it was or if it was still coming in.