So I stop at a stop light, and the idle drops real low, the car chugs...I take off, and after a few seconds the CE light comes on along with the VSC and VSC OFF lights. Drives like normal, nothing smells, etc. Any ideas?

I know I need an oil change (5,000 miles since the last), but this seems excessive.

Its not a maintainence issue. Its an emissions issue. Get the code pulled and we'll know for sure what it is. Could just be an O2 sensor.

Have you cleaned the throttle body recently? It might be heavily gunked up. The drive by wire system has a ton of failsafes built into it. If it detects excessive resistance in the throttle plate, it will throw a code and if it's bad enough it will go into limp mode. I would check that out first and clean the TB if necessary when you have time.

car went into "limp mode" for a reason. you can try resetting the ecu but you should pull the code first. But yeah.. go ahead and change the oil (not that it has anything to do with the issue.. but it's time) and do the usual cleaning like others have said. Could be many reasons.. mine was a bad oil presser sensor which caused mine to go into limp mode.

Come back with your codes. You will need a "better" scanner to access the ABS/VSC system codes.

Or it could be your "Accelerator Pedal Sensor" because this had happened to me already and I just recently fixed it.

Dara

Codes pulled:

P1349
P1346

FWIW, this is what your codes show.. maybe someone can chime in that's experienced them before. Looking at it.. I am sure one issue is causing both codes to be thrown.

Code P1346: VVT Sensor/Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Range/Performance Problem (Bank 1)

Code P1349: VVT System Malfunction (Bank 1)

EDIT: from a little googling.. your timing belt jumped a tooth maybe?

Oil changed, and it runs/sounds a little different. I'll try pulling the battery cable, but I'm kinda thinking it might be the oil control valve(s)...which seems like a PITA on a 400. May try doing the Seafoam first!?!

When standing in front of the car and staring at the engine, which side is bank 1? Maybe that'll point me to which control valve is bad??

i had the exact same problem i didnt do an oil change till about 5000 miles and i had the same symptoms and codes come up. from what i researched was that p1349 was caused by the oil buildup on a small screen that is in front of the oil pressure sensor i believe, and it can read what it needs to. So i seafoamed my engine and flushed/changed oil and after a day or two it was gone and now my car is back to normal. just do a thorough tune-up and keep getting the code pulled and erased.

Yeah, I think that's what I'm gonna do. Just changed the oil yesterday, though, and read about the Seafoam option last night...I guess I'll hafta eat up another oil change, dammit. Still, if it works its cheaper than a new sensor, etc. I did the 1/3 in the gas tank and 1/3 through the vac hose, just gotta put it in the crankcase and drive 50-100 miles to the oil change.

HOLY CA-RAP. So I pour in 1/3 of a can of seafoam into the oil fill hole while she's running, and let 'er idle while we eat dinner (20 minutes?). I go back outside, take of the negative battery cable and let it sit overnight. In the morning, I reconnect the cable and start it up -- NO CE, VSC, or VSCOFF lights!! Idles smoother... So I let it run another 20 mins. Tomorrow I'll get the oil changed and should be home free! Maybe Seafoam again in a year?

EDIT: NEVERMIND, dammit. Started it up this morning and drove 20 minutes of my 23 minute drive to work, and the dash lit right back up, and its chugging again...

mine just threw those codes today..and it kinda loses power too..i need help with this i m havin bad luck with my new g ride lol..i also cleaned the maf sensor and tb and its still doin the same thing ..i even fileld up my tank and put in some lucas fuel injector cleaner ..is urs losin power like goin into limp mode for a bit then it goes?

If it is a cam issue it is not going to pump high enough into the upper valve area once warmed up.
Run seafoam in the oil drive for 20 minutes then flush.
letting the car sit after it heated up will cause sludge deposits as the oil will not keep dirt suspended.
The reason you got the light is the inside of your engine is real dirty , so when the oil was changed it cleaned the varnish off and it plugged the screen .

Run some more seafoam on the way to get you oil changed .