What does it mean that an ecu is in safe mode? Would reprogramming be the only way to get it to work properly again?

 

Safe or limp mode is what the ECM runs under when it detects a problem that could potentially damage the engine if it were to operate under the normal fuel and ignition maps. Limp mode usually runs excessively rich and pulls ignition timing. Some things that could cause you to run in Limp mode would be a bad O2 sensor or VTEC system malfunction. Assuming you've taken care of the problem(s), you can reset the ECM and it will run normally again.

 

thanks....