SL500 R230 2003 - speed limiter

[kevh]

On a couple occasions recently my SL500 has lost power. The car appears to have gone into some sort of 'Limp Home' function. I was able to drive the car up to a max speed of about 20 mph.On both occasions the roof was folded away and unfortunately due to the glare of the sun I couldn't see whether there was any message on the dash. I can't find any reference to this in the owners manual.

Can someone please suggest what this might be, and what the remedy might be. Thanks very much.

 

[Naraic]

No idea. You must get the codes read to find the problem.

 

[L John]

On the two occasions did you go home or to a garage, if not, what did you do to get it back to normal?
Do you have a speed limiter as part of your cruise control, if so is it possible you knocked it on?
When the speed limiter function is active, it can be cancelled by hand or with a fully pressed throttle.
Not sure your car has the speed limiter function as part of cruise control though.

 

[Naraic]

His car will will have the speed limiter.

 

[McDonald]

Hello Kevin,

The smaller stalk behind the left side of the steering wheel is a speed limiter and is very useful for motorway travel, but very easily knocked too. I've done the same thing myself, but eventually realised my mistake and switched it off again. It's alarming when you can't work out what's happening, but like banging your head on the wall - it's lovely when it stops.

 

[sonic]

My wife managed to do that several times when I wasn't in the car. Eventually realised.

Hello Kevin,

The smaller stalk behind the left side of the steering wheel is a speed limiter and is very useful for motorway travel, but very easily knocked too. I've done the same thing myself, but eventually realised my mistake and switched it off again. It's alarming when you can't work out what's happening, but like banging your head on the wall - it's lovely when it stops.

 

[kevh]

On the two occasions did you go home or to a garage, if not, what did you do to get it back to normal?
Do you have a speed limiter as part of your cruise control, if so is it possible you knocked it on?
When the speed limiter function is active, it can be cancelled by hand or with a fully pressed throttle.
Not sure your car has the speed limiter function as part of cruise control though.

 

[kevh]

Thanks very much to all contributors. I get the feeling that I've activated the speed limiter by mistake. First time I limped home (less than 1/4 mile) and the second time I stopped and switched the engine off and everything seemed OK. I guessed tuning the engine off also deactivates the speed limiter? I've not driven it since because I didn't want it to let me down. I'll give it a try today. Let's hope that this is one occasion where the remedy doesn't cost several hundred £s. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[LostKiwi]

If the limiter is enabled (whether in use or not) there is an orange light on the cruise/limiter stalk. Pressing the end of the stalk in will turn the car back to cruise mode (disabling the limit feature).

 

[kevh]

Jumped in the car a few hours ago. Checked the cruise stalk and the orange lamp was on. Pressed the stalk which extinguished the lamp. Managed to create the same problem i.e. set the speed limiter and then cancelled it. All sorted.
Thanks very much everyone. Regards Kev.

 

[L John]

Nice, so the problem was on the seat then

 

[00slk]

And it was a very cheap fix

 

[EmilysDad]