MustangGTroy

So I started my car up the other day, and drove about .1 mi, and the engine bogs down, and the reader thing beeps and says Check Engine, Fail Safe Engine Mode. What is this, and what could have caused it? It has happened once before, but the Ford Dealership is so far away. Turning the car off and starting it up after 10 minutes resolved the screen message, but I don't know how concerned I should be?

Thanks

07AlloyGT

fail safe mode means the computer tones the engine down to reduce the amount of stress on it to save itself. you can usually get this when your engine overheats. the reason the message gets resolved is because the engine most likely cooled down enough to start up again thus clearing the message. check your owners manual for more info. you definitely need to take it into get serviced to have the problem fixed.

what year mustang do you have?

MustangGTroy

2005. This happened both times when the car was cold. Dealership couldn't explain just said bring it in, and the owners manual is lacking on the subject - nothing is in there on it.

07AlloyGT

there is an explanation on fail safe mode in the 2007 manual but it doesn't get into everything that could cause it.

LBJay

Fail Safe Mode is a CEL designed to get you attention.... NOW. It's hard to ignore.

brainhud

manual says failsafe mode is to prevent overheating. i've had it happen twice. cleared it with a tuner but it came back. where is your temp guage at when it comes on? mine stays right about in the middle.