No check engine light although it is in some sort of limp home mode, not drastic like a bad MAF but power is definitely cut.When the car was restarted, the lights were off but the limp home mode remains. Disconnected the battery to keep the brake lights from draining it.

Brake fluid level is good, front pads are a year old. Only thing I have noticed is the brake pedal has been hard prior to starting my car on hot days. But otherwise brake pedal feel and braking are normal.

Search really didn't pull up anything because others who had similar issues never seem to reply back to the thread to say what fixed the issue. Wheel/ABS sensor or the brake pedal sensor seem to be the most common fixes.

 

If the actual brake lights on the car are on without your foot on the pedal I'd look into the brake switch at the top of the brake pedal, it's pretty flimsy and could have broken due to age. Disconnect the switch and verify it opens and closes with a digital multimeter. If something failed internally it could short the system and the ECU might limp mode the car. I dont know for sure if it CAN limp mode the car for a sensor failure, I've never tried.

 

It was the brake pedal switch. Because our cars are drive by wire, the ECU interprets this is brake drag and limits power to prevent damage to the braking system.

 

Awesome, thanks for conforming the theory.

 

Crazy how a simple sensor can trigger so many issues.

 

Makes sure you get it taken care of I guess.