Limp mode
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Registered User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 77
From: Dallas, TX
Rep Power: 19
Limp mode
Ok guys, I have a call into Austin @ GIAC and an appointment with the dealer, but want to get some board opinions as well.
Quick refresher, 08tt bought last October. Discovered it still had upgraded turbos, LWFW, GT2 clutch and previously had AM exhaust, coolers and a GIAC tune. I bought a fabspeed exhaust, new version GT2 coolers and had the previous GIAC flash reinstalled. Dyno'd over 630hp and 700+ tq on pump gas. (Btw, I drove it daily for about 4 months before installing the exhaust, coolers and tune and the only issue was having the MAFs replaced under warranty. The dealer thought they were fouled by too much oil on the AM filter)
Right after the flash was installed I promptly went to my first DE where the car proceeded to chew up the track like nothing I had ever driven. Ran fine the whole weekend until the very last run on Sunday when the power suddenly reduced and the car went into limp mode. Symptoms: no air conditioning, hard to start, and will not rev above 3800 RPMs.
Dealer diagnosed blown exhaust gasket (if I remember correctly) and repaired that under warranty, but the car remained in limp mode. The dealer ultimately decided they felt the DME had gone 'bad' due to 'too many flashes'. They said they attempted to flash it back stock with no success, so I dropped 2k+ on a new DME and everything seemed resolved.
I, of course, immediately had the GIAC flash installed onto the new DME and all seemed well the past few months...until, bam, back into limp mode this week.
EXACT same symptoms as before which makes me 'think' the actual problem was never resolved. I was suspicious of the 'bad' DME hypothesis because it just seemed like a guess, but it 'seemed' to be what fixed it. Now I fear the dealer is going to say it is the DME again and are going to blame the flash - but this exact same tune was on the car for years and many track days before I ever purchased it, so I think the problem lies elsewhere. I don't want to keep dropping 2k on DMEs if it isn't necessary.
Thoughts or ideas based on my symptoms?
Quick refresher, 08tt bought last October. Discovered it still had upgraded turbos, LWFW, GT2 clutch and previously had AM exhaust, coolers and a GIAC tune. I bought a fabspeed exhaust, new version GT2 coolers and had the previous GIAC flash reinstalled. Dyno'd over 630hp and 700+ tq on pump gas. (Btw, I drove it daily for about 4 months before installing the exhaust, coolers and tune and the only issue was having the MAFs replaced under warranty. The dealer thought they were fouled by too much oil on the AM filter)
Right after the flash was installed I promptly went to my first DE where the car proceeded to chew up the track like nothing I had ever driven. Ran fine the whole weekend until the very last run on Sunday when the power suddenly reduced and the car went into limp mode. Symptoms: no air conditioning, hard to start, and will not rev above 3800 RPMs.
Dealer diagnosed blown exhaust gasket (if I remember correctly) and repaired that under warranty, but the car remained in limp mode. The dealer ultimately decided they felt the DME had gone 'bad' due to 'too many flashes'. They said they attempted to flash it back stock with no success, so I dropped 2k+ on a new DME and everything seemed resolved.
I, of course, immediately had the GIAC flash installed onto the new DME and all seemed well the past few months...until, bam, back into limp mode this week.
EXACT same symptoms as before which makes me 'think' the actual problem was never resolved. I was suspicious of the 'bad' DME hypothesis because it just seemed like a guess, but it 'seemed' to be what fixed it. Now I fear the dealer is going to say it is the DME again and are going to blame the flash - but this exact same tune was on the car for years and many track days before I ever purchased it, so I think the problem lies elsewhere. I don't want to keep dropping 2k on DMEs if it isn't necessary.
Thoughts or ideas based on my symptoms?
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,315
From: WA state
Rep Power: 197
I would take it to a good inde with late model experience and have them take a look. Dealers are terrible, Ive been down that road, and once you mod it you cant really blame them as all kinds of scenarios / culprits are possible with aftermarket turbos, coolers etc. Its odd no CEL's are showing up.
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Registered User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 77
From: Dallas, TX
Rep Power: 19
I spoke to Austin at GIAC and he has offered a credible theory. Says the only thing he has seen that can cause a DME to just suddenly fail like this is a short in the electrical system - might have even been caused by some wires getting rubbed/frayed during the exhaust and/or intercooler installation. I'm definitely going to have this possibility explored...
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,518
From: Corpus Christi, Texas
Rep Power: 351
That sounds like bs to me, the fact is ecu's can be bricked with a flash, sometimes unrecoverable.
There is probably an error in the flash, that's why the car went right back into limp mode.
There is probably an error in the flash, that's why the car went right back into limp mode.
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