# 2003 Nissan Sentra intermittent limp **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan, sentra\ **Created:** [March 17, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666 "2019-03-17T21:14:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MikeDwyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeDwyer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeDwyer)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/1 "2019-03-17T21:14:58Z")
Wondering why it goes into “limp” mode (goes only about 5 miles an hour) intermittently. When I turn it off, and then back on, it drives normally. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/2 "2019-03-17T21:20:35Z")
It will likely have a stored code(s) in the PCM memory. Have someone retrieve any stored codes with a scanner and post them here in the form Pxxxx. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/3 "2019-03-18T00:34:38Z")
I presume automatic transmission . . . ? ---
**Author:** ![MikeDwyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeDwyer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeDwyer)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/4 "2019-03-18T01:29:31Z")
Yes,automatic. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/5 "2019-03-18T02:20:20Z")
when it acts up . . . no response to the accelerator pedal? does the engine rev up when you step on the pedal . . . or not? ---
**Author:** ![MikeDwyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeDwyer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeDwyer)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/6 "2019-03-18T03:11:16Z")
When it acts up, the car will only go 2 to 5 mph regardless of how much I step on the pedal. If I shut if off and turn it back on, it will return to normal. I have had someone refer to this as going into limp mode. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 4:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/7 "2019-03-18T04:06:20Z")
Please answer my very specific question . . . When the car is acting up, will the engine rev up when you step on the accelerator pedal? I didn’t ask if the vehicle gained speed, because you’d already made it abundantly clear that it did not ---
**Author:** ![MikeDwyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeDwyer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeDwyer)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 5:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/8 "2019-03-18T05:25:15Z")
No, the engine did not rev up. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/9 "2019-03-18T23:19:51Z")
Thanks for the additional information Sounds like a problem with the electronic throttle control system ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/10 "2019-03-19T00:01:15Z")
IF you are indeed in limp mode and it sounds as if you are then there is a subsystem causing it. Your CEL is probably illuminated as well. Trust me, it is trying to tell you something. The engine codes will reveal why she is going into limp mode. The vehicle is literally doing this on purpose and I’m sure it has your attention. Do yourself a favor and invest in an OBDII scanner…they are ridiculously affordable these days. It will pay for itself the first time you use it and avoid the runaround at a shop. I promise. In the meantime Auto Zone and P Boys will pull the codes for you at no cost. We…and you…need those codes. ---
**Author:** ![MikeDwyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeDwyer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeDwyer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/11 "2019-03-19T01:31:38Z")
I had my mechanic check the codes one of the days just after it happened. All that came up was the emissions sensor was tripping. Nothing else… Of course he was not able to duplicate the problem, and sent me home no charge…The next morning… you guessed it! On my way to work it happened again. It has not happened in over a week sense. Very frustrating. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/c/ce885f4cfadc009ecaf10fdc45bf39ef6f6bc236.png)](http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail) Virus-free. [www.avg.com](http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail) ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/12 "2019-03-19T01:41:06Z")
No big deal… buy yourself a scanner… they are very affordable under 100 and even under 50 these days. Of course buy as you see fit, you dont need anything fancy at all. Get the vehicle to do it again (which seems easy) and read what you get. It should point you directly at the solution…no need to ask anyone. ---
**Author:** ![MikeDwyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeDwyer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeDwyer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/13 "2019-03-19T02:02:37Z")
sounds like good advice…Thank you! [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/c/ce885f4cfadc009ecaf10fdc45bf39ef6f6bc236.png)](http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail) Virus-free. [www.avg.com](http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail) ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 3:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-nissan-sentra-intermittent-limp/136666/14 "2019-03-19T03:55:22Z")
Some emissions codes could also trigger limp mode.