This is a really dumb question but does it hurt the engine to bounce off the rev limiter? After all, the purpose of having one is to make it idiot proof. I haven't been driving my car much lately but when I do find some time, I end up driving a little on the agressive side. PSE doesn't help much either. I got a CEL for about 2 seconds on startup yesterday and I have never seen that happen before. It turned off by itself without me having to restart the car.

 

If you are in gear (i.e. in 3rd, piling on revs) and hit the limiter, it's not too big of a deal. If you DOWNSHIFT and over-rev, it's possible to exceed the limiter. That is a bad thing...

Generally you don't want to hit the limiter, but like you noted, that's why it's there.

 

Happened to me a couple of times I'm afraid. Won't do any harm as Chris explained.

 

I did it a few times(5 or 6) on my last porsche with no ill affects. I am sure you are ok Robert.

 

As long as it's on the upshift you should be ok. Selecting a gear too low for the engine speed will result in a mechanical over-rev (money shift) and no electronic limiter can stop the motor's inertia from doing severe internal damage. Maybe you should get a Tiptronic

 

I suspect that the brief CEL was to congradulate you on driving the car the way it should be driven. Kinda like saying "it's about time". IMO, the limiter should be tested several times during every drive, whether it's a Honda or a Porsche. There should be a warning light that alerts the driver when the limiter has not been activated in more than 10 minutes.

 

Hey Robert,
I just got in from a spirited demo ride with my friend and bounced off of the limiter in 2nd. We are in the same boat.

On another note. As fun as the car is... it is not THAT fast, or I am used to it.

 

Isn't it true, the ecu stores each over rev in the computer?

 

I sure hope so. I'm going for the world record in the number of #1 limit busting tallies. Trying for 1 every 10 miles on average.



Yes they do. However, #1 over revs are not a concern to the dealer and will in no way void warranty.

 

The only way I could see that RPM logger affecting your warranty would be if you downshifted on accident and hit 10,000 rpm and blew your engine... Not a fun moment.

 

The dealer can screw you over for overrevs. Even if its not a money shift the computer might read it as one. I have NEVER EVER money shifted my car, the only time I hit the limiter was in neutral becuase i couldnt get it into gear. I took it to the dealer later for notchyness of the shifter they checked the computer and said I had some over revs and they cant open up the tranny or anything inless I pay... The computer they use is Bull**** and screws over innocent people.

 

Is this true ? That would be BS ! The rev limiter kicks in very fast when you are driving in a spirited way !

 

I think that it comes down to who the service manager is and your relationship with them.

 

I hit the rev limiter on almost a daily basis when up-shifting as I don't use the tach when I am doing spirited driving. It does not harm the engine.... In fact, I think the rev limiter is a bit on the conservative side on these cars. As others have mentioned, the main thing to avoid is downshifting to an improper gear, causing the engine to blow.

 

It is not true. The dealer cannot void warranty for #1 shifts. However, they do try and unless you push back, you get screwed. There is no documantation or warning that you cannot bounce off redline everytime you shift. Porsche themselves has accepted liability since they installed a safety at a specific rpm level for over reving and they have therefore freed you of any liability for over reving the car on upshifts.