Possible limp mode?

DinoJ · 08-10-2009, 03:23 PM

This is very strange it's never happened before and i'm worried it could be something serious.

Today I was driving for about 20 minutes casually, not speeding or anything strenuous. It started raining very heavily and I had to stop the car when I got home, get out and put some things in the boot of the car from the garage. I left the car running while I did this (maybe 3 minutes) and then I got back in and began to drive away.

As soon as I got onto the road and tried to put it into 2nd the car started jolting very hard back and forth, same with 3rd, and 4th. I realised it was happening any time I took it to around 3k RPM. Engine temp was fine, (below 220).

So I managed to get home anyway and it's sitting outside now, i'm waiting for it to stop raining before I go check it out.

Is this limp mode? or something else? I did do some strenuous driving last night for about an hour or so on the track but I didnt get limp mode, drove it home fine, it drove fine today, and the temp last night didnt go over like 225 ish.

Any ideas??

spearfish25 · 08-10-2009, 03:28 PM

Hard to say what's up but it's certainly not normal and not limp mode. The short answer is that it needs a trip to the dealer. Let's delineate things a bit more...

Does the car 'jolt' when you're rolling along at speed with the clutch depressed and shifter in neutral? (this would rule out a rear differential and e-brake issue)

When you're driving with the car IN gear, does it jolt or feel abnormal BELOW 3k RPM?

Is this something that happens when you reach or surpass 3k RPM with slow acceleration or is it elicited by an aggressive acceleration only?

Others, feel free to chime in with more questions or suggestions.

DinoJ · 08-10-2009, 03:33 PM

I didn't try to roll with the clutch in in neutral, but in gear below 3k it's completely normal.

It actually started because I was turning left at a red light and stalled when I took off. I then got it going but it seemed very odd, like I had to give it way more throttle than usual. I pulled up somewhere and turned the car off and tried to take off again and it was very hard to NOT stall, I can't pinpoint why though.

It's not to do with hard acceleration at all I drove it very smoothly and as soon as it reaches around 2.5-3k it jolts like someone who doesnt know how to drive manual would jolt when they start the car...if you see what I mean

m4a1mustang · 08-10-2009, 03:30 PM

See if it does it again when you start it up. Maybe unplug the battery and let it reset and see if it was some random electronics glitch.

Or just take it straight to the dealer!

Modshack · 08-10-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

See if it does it again when you start it up. Maybe unplug the battery and let it reset and see if it was some random electronics glitch.
Or just take it straight to the dealer!

Yeah...I would try a simple re-boot first..

DinoJ · 08-10-2009, 04:12 PM

Well the problem has seemingly vanished now, so I dont know wether to wait until my next sevice and oil change (1000 miles) or take it in this week.

Modshack · 08-10-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DinoJ

Well the problem has seemingly vanished now, so I dont know wether to wait until my next sevice and oil change (1000 miles) or take it in this week.

If they can't duplicate it, they can't fix it. I'd just document it and discuss at next visit.

m4a1mustang · 08-10-2009, 03:36 PM

Sounds like the engine might be starving for air/fuel. My old Mustang had a history of intake air control valve failures which would result in behavior similar to what you're describing. The car couldn't idle without help and it wouldn't really go.

DinoJ · 08-10-2009, 03:38 PM

also tried with VDC on, and off. no difference.

semtex · 08-10-2009, 03:38 PM

I wonder if this might be a residual side-effect of your accident. Like maybe there's a crack in the diff or something and water is getting in.

m4a1mustang · 08-10-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

I wonder if this might be a residual side-effect of your accident. Like maybe there's a crack in the diff or something and water is getting in.

Ooo, I forgot about that. Could be.

DinoJ · 08-10-2009, 03:45 PM

I'll go get it checked out by either the dealer, or the company that worked on my car after the accident. But I just went and tried it again and nothing, it all works fine now.

semtex · 08-10-2009, 03:47 PM

Is everything stock on your car?

DinoJ · 08-10-2009, 03:51 PM

yes everything except I put a shift knob in.

(side-story; I took it to a drag strip on friday, and after a few runs my shifter kind of got stuck in the middle, in neutral, I couldnt put it into 1st or 2nd, and couldnt get it into reverse. I did eventually jimmy it out and it hasnt happened since, but that was odd too.)

and I have a double din pioneer head unit.

I have the base non sport pack.

MJM33067 · 08-10-2009, 03:50 PM

You mentioned that it was raining heavily. If you went through any standing water it could have caused the problem.

08-10-2009, 03:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
DinoJ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 87 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 263	Possible limp mode? This is very strange it's never happened before and i'm worried it could be something serious. Today I was driving for about 20 minutes casually, not speeding or anything strenuous. It started raining very heavily and I had to stop the car when I got home, get out and put some things in the boot of the car from the garage. I left the car running while I did this (maybe 3 minutes) and then I got back in and began to drive away. As soon as I got onto the road and tried to put it into 2nd the car started jolting very hard back and forth, same with 3rd, and 4th. I realised it was happening any time I took it to around 3k RPM. Engine temp was fine, (below 220). So I managed to get home anyway and it's sitting outside now, i'm waiting for it to stop raining before I go check it out. Is this limp mode? or something else? I did do some strenuous driving last night for about an hour or so on the track but I didnt get limp mode, drove it home fine, it drove fine today, and the temp last night didnt go over like 225 ish. Any ideas??

08-10-2009, 03:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	See if it does it again when you start it up. Maybe unplug the battery and let it reset and see if it was some random electronics glitch. Or just take it straight to the dealer! __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

08-10-2009, 03:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	Sounds like the engine might be starving for air/fuel. My old Mustang had a history of intake air control valve failures which would result in behavior similar to what you're describing. The car couldn't idle without help and it wouldn't really go. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

08-10-2009, 03:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 54 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 33	I wonder if this might be a residual side-effect of your accident. Like maybe there's a crack in the diff or something and water is getting in. __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

08-10-2009, 03:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 54 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 33	Is everything stock on your car? __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

08-10-2009, 03:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	Hard to say what's up but it's certainly not normal and not limp mode. The short answer is that it needs a trip to the dealer. Let's delineate things a bit more... Does the car 'jolt' when you're rolling along at speed with the clutch depressed and shifter in neutral? (this would rule out a rear differential and e-brake issue) When you're driving with the car IN gear, does it jolt or feel abnormal BELOW 3k RPM? Is this something that happens when you reach or surpass 3k RPM with slow acceleration or is it elicited by an aggressive acceleration only? Others, feel free to chime in with more questions or suggestions.

08-10-2009, 03:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
DinoJ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 87 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 263	I didn't try to roll with the clutch in in neutral, but in gear below 3k it's completely normal. It actually started because I was turning left at a red light and stalled when I took off. I then got it going but it seemed very odd, like I had to give it way more throttle than usual. I pulled up somewhere and turned the car off and tried to take off again and it was very hard to NOT stall, I can't pinpoint why though. It's not to do with hard acceleration at all I drove it very smoothly and as soon as it reaches around 2.5-3k it jolts like someone who doesnt know how to drive manual would jolt when they start the car...if you see what I mean

08-10-2009, 04:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
DinoJ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 87 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 263	Well the problem has seemingly vanished now, so I dont know wether to wait until my next sevice and oil change (1000 miles) or take it in this week.

08-10-2009, 03:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
DinoJ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 87 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 263	also tried with VDC on, and off. no difference.

08-10-2009, 03:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
DinoJ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 87 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 263	I'll go get it checked out by either the dealer, or the company that worked on my car after the accident. But I just went and tried it again and nothing, it all works fine now.

08-10-2009, 03:51 PM	#14 (permalink)
DinoJ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 87 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 263	yes everything except I put a shift knob in. (side-story; I took it to a drag strip on friday, and after a few runs my shifter kind of got stuck in the middle, in neutral, I couldnt put it into 1st or 2nd, and couldnt get it into reverse. I did eventually jimmy it out and it hasnt happened since, but that was odd too.) and I have a double din pioneer head unit. I have the base non sport pack.

08-10-2009, 03:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
MJM33067 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 32 Drives: 09 370Z PW M6 Rep Power: 17	You mentioned that it was raining heavily. If you went through any standing water it could have caused the problem.

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