Hey guys! So, let's get this out of the way first: my check engine light has been on for a while. I'm in my early twenties so naturally I'm too broke to fix anything so I just let it be until I had money to fix it. I just got a new battery after having to jump it more than a few times in the past few months. I also haven't gotten the free recall fix because I've been too busy constantly working to try and save to fix my car. Well this weekend it's been well into the negatives (-20 with windchill this is bullcrap) and it's been working fine; I even went out of town last night with it. However, this morning I went to start my car and it started...reluctantly. Whatever, I assumed it was because it's so cold outside so I let it run for a while and then I took it around the block once to see what it meant and I kept pressing on the gas but it only creeped up to fifteen mph, so I parked it for a bit and I noticed it sounded like it was revving. I wasn't pressing gas, but my rpm gauge was going up and down between 1 and 1.5. I drove it to my parents house across town and I got it to go 25, took it down a road going 20 and I took my foot off the gas and it held twenty like I had cruise control on. Any ideas on what's going on?

 

The CEL has been trying to tell something! It usually comes on when there is danger of killing the catalytic converter.

AutoZone/Advance etc. will read the codes for you. Once you get them post them here and we can try to help.

 

Welcome to the site.

A check engine light (CEL) means that your car has detected a problem and should be looked at. It does not mean ignore it simply because the car continues to run. Some CEL codes can even be a fore warning of major problems or even engine failure.
Steady CEL light=problem. Blinking CEL light=Bad problem

Since we don't have a clue what CEL code has been triggered on your car, it's hard to take a wild guess what your problem could be.
Your best bet is to get the codes pulled and find out what's going on. Most auto parts stores will pull the codes for free.

If you want some help then, post up the code numbers here. Ex P0001, P0002.
But code numbers only. The description of those codes that the scanners read are generally generic and can be misleading sometimes. Post up numbers only.

Fwiw. Always best to state the year, model and engine size when asking for help on a car forum.

 

Welcome to the site, have the codes pulled at your local AutoZone like parts palace.
This could be just the cold or it could be a dirty throttlebody, MAF sensor, condensation in the fuel, and the guess list goes on.
Post up the actual codes here the complete code like P0010

 

The OP's user name makes me wonder if it going to be a one and done.