No throttle response?

RONETHUK

MEMBER
1998 MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON
2.4L
4 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
100,000 MILES

I parked my car with no problems, when I returned the engine started okay, but windows would not work, the engine would not speed up, had to drive home at idle speed, the check engine light was blinking, everything else was working normal. The car had been parked in the open on a very hot day 38-40 c.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,871 POSTS

The flashing Check Engine light means stop the engine right away because too much unburned fuel is going into the exhaust system and will overheat and destroy the expensive catalytic converter. The excessive fuel is usually caused by a misfire condition which would explain the lack of power.

If the catalytic converter did overheat, the catalyst material may have melted into a glob that restricts exhaust gas flow. That will also prevent the engine from speeding up or developing any power.