Hello, today I was driving my 02 GT-2, dash lights up and car goes into "protection mode". I had this a happen a few years ago, turned out the one of the turbo lines came disconnected. Assumed today was same, not the case. I checked code, came up 1508- MAF is what I suspected. I cleaned - cleared code and now car appears to be running fine. Will a failure in the MAF cause this? I've replaced MAF in the past but it was motivated by code and car didn't shut down and do this dance like today.

can someone fill me in if they know please?

Thank you

 

pull the MAF sensor connector and see how it runs... if it runs well likely a bad MAF, and continue to check for air leaks

 

Do a boost leak test too!

 

Thank you Both.

curious if anyone can confirm that car would shut down as described we MAF issue? I mention that I had it changed before because of code- but car didn't go into "protection mode" that time.

boost test good idea. car is driving now fine, issue is of course I am reluctant to drive to far and get stuck so ive just driven close to home and boosted through first and second.

 

yes bad MAF can cause a safe-mode, try driving the car normally with MAF unplugged and report back... should run fairly well

 

car runs fine with MAF on an disconnected- its as if it reset itself.

both time this has happened I have essentially floored the gas in 2nd at low rpm's. I don't get it but I don't have any confidence in car. going to do a data log with Cobb tuner hooked up and have reviewed.

maybe is misfired? over boosted? ( has 1 bar waste gates)

I just don't want to scatter the motor in this thing and of course drive it as I want with reliability

 

ok, just ran car at 2800 in third gear with data log (cobb)- sending info to someone to review.

car ran great- pulled hard and sustained 1.1 boost to red line
nothing broke!...very scary considering the history. car didn't shut down or blow the turbo hose off or mimic last malfunction and no codes.

I did notice however that on the second pass...seemed as if motor was spinning-rpm's raising and car not going any faster. Assume its clutch!

which could make sense considering its stock and car is running 500 hp to the ground. I have 35k miles, car is tuned. stock clutch which has been used a lot around town and pushed hard in gears 1-3 . I smelled it burning a little as well

so...if the clutch was not engaging completely-slipping- when car was essentially floored going up modest incline would this send car into protection mode?
cars going in shop in a few days to people who did work and tuned ( who I respect and confident with).

I'll take any insight- thank you

 

for a clutch to be shot at 35k miles? means someone's seriously abused it. assuming you know when a clutch slips or doesn't, makes that symptom very strange. the cars essentially just broken in at 30k miles and my car's last clutch lasted 100k miles with bolt ons, and about the same power level you mentioned.

i'd give it a few more runs up an incline in a taller gear and see if the clutch slips again. i sure wouldn't want to drop the box and inspect the clutch, unless i was sure the clutch was shot. also, a slipping clutch wouldn't put the car into limp mode either. aside from possible maf issues ( cleaning is half assed get a new one soon, they;re cheap ) tuned cars have a tendency to burn plugs and coils a bit more frequently than stockers do. you could well have fried plugs, a cracked coil etc. those will also cause WOT misfires every time for sure.

 

I agree, I don't think it is the clutch...and no, I don't know how to diagnose a bad clutch

 

the only way i know of to "diagnose" a bad clutch ( and you seem to also ) without looking at the condition of the plates/parts etc requiring 4 hours of disassembly and inspection, would be to stomp the throttle and see if the engine revs and "performance" seem disproportionately unequal. it's a "feel" thing. we all know a slipping clutch, if we have one.

simple test: mash the throttle going uphill or under load. if the engine *races*? but the car doesn't? it's your clutch. but again, only 35k miles on an oem sachs clutch? would be unheard of, unless the car was driven over the hill and dale of san francisco. any manner of abuse is possible there.

 

With 500hp to wheel, driven around town, hard 1st -3rd gear pulls, it certainly possible the clutch is toast.

 

that only supports the notion that anything is possible, if not probable. though, given the OP seems to be in NorCal? a place where much impossible, becomes probable.

who knows? perhaps clutches, are negatively impacted as well.

 

I would not be surprised, despite my friend Mark's allegation , at that power level, the clutch may be in the early stages of going bad. How long has it been at that level? Mine went at 40K with about 450 at the wheels.

 

This is the fool-proof test. Easy enough to do without spending big bucks. My OEM clutch lasted 100 K Miles (and still had 40% left), but it all depends on how you drive. I am never reluctant to mash the gas, but I never do it while slipping the clutch.

 

My car did this and codes isolated the throttle body potentiometer. Thoroughly cleaned it and did egas reset no issues since. Protective mode is scary as it just pops up.