Hello! As the title suggests, I had my first track day (on pavement) with the FiST yesterday, and spent almost the entire day in Limp Mode. I'll try to paint the picture of how the car performed throughout the day, and I'd love any help or theories for what might be going on..
Once I figure out some basic video editing, I'll include videos for research purposes lol
[The Day]:
The race was at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, MI.
It was a sunny, windy day with temperatures ranging from mid 50's to mid 60's.
[The Car]:
Gutted Fiesta ST, set up for stage rally/rallycross, but ditched the skid plates and donned some sticky boi tires (RE71R).
Stock radiator, no heater core, no A/C (but still have the A/C compressor and condenser installed)
Presumably stock turbo, stock thermostat, stock boost levels (18psi, with 21 psi overboost)
[The Situation]:
Heat 1: During the first 20 minute heat, the car performed fantastic (in the beginning). Handled well, full boost, was running down C5 Z06's in the turns, and passing 911s. However, after about 15 minutes of driving, the car suddenly went into limp mode.
Not surprising, we were beating the car pretty hard. So we assumed it was coolant temp, and pulled off the track for the rest of the heat.
Heat 2: After a 30-35 minute cool down, we were called again for Heat 2. Coolant temp was about 180F at start up, but as we approached the grid, we had to idle for about 10 minutes before being released to the track. Coolant temp was about 195F when we finally started on track.
First two laps, the car performed great, and coolant temps actually dropped (according to our gauge) to about 185-190F out on the track. But someone where in the 3rd lap, the car went into limp.
We tried a cool down lap, but it never seemed to come out, so we pulled in the pits.
~ After Heat 2, we decided to consult Uncle Google ~
Uncle Google suggested unplugging the battery for a few minutes, utilizing our kill switches. Googs also suggested checking for and clearing codes... using the OBD Fusion iPhone App, I pulled and cleared any associated codes(perhaps too many?). After a 40 minute cool down, we got ready for Heat 3.
Heat 3: Car fired up like normal, coolant temp about 170F. Feeling confident, we headed to grid behind a 2005 Viper Competition Coupe, ready to avenge ourselves.
Immediately after leaving the grid, the instrument cluster flickered. Right after turn 2, all power died, and the car (like our avenging aspirations) crawled to a halt.
They had to remove all cars from the track while we were towed behind a flagging station. The epitome of embarrassing...
After sitting in the grass for about 15 minutes, the car fired right up(Perhaps it unintentionally reset the ECU and its codes?), and drove completely fine back to the paddock.
With a tow car shortly behind, we left the track and drove around on the highways and city streets near the track, with the hood off, for over an hour. The car had all power, all boost, and ran completely normal.
Perhaps thinking intake air temps may be a suspect, we stopped at O'reillys and threw a fresh K&N filter at the car. Because us, like the crazed toilet paper buying patrons of 2020, were desperate to do something that felt like progress.
We drove the car for another 30 minutes, and with all signs pointing to "OK", returned to the track to attempt another heat.
Heat 4: This time, we ran with the hood off, just as we did around town, thinking that intake air temp was perhaps the culprit.
"Immediately" out of the grid, prior to entering the course, the car was already in limp mode. Coolant temp was about 185F. Intake Air Temp was about 110F
Despite being in Limp Mode, we decided to keep running the car. It obviously was an obstruction off the side on the straight aways, but it kept pace for the most part in the turns. So we felt we weren't a detriment to other racers. There was only about 5 cars on the track at this point also (thanks to an Audi that spilled it's oily guts on the back straight just before this).
After our 5th of 6th lap, turning out of turn two again, the car died. All power gone. And we crawled to a halt at the exact same corner station as earlier in the day. We pulled off into the grass (per direction from the corner station), and sat defeated.
But after about 30 seconds, the car restarted, and we limped around to the pits and loaded the car up.
Driving it now, everything once again feels fine.
We are going to pull the condenser, just because, but what else should we be looking for??
Thanks in advance for the help!
*TLDR* : LIMP Mode issues cause by either (Heat soak/cooling issues, ECU codes, G-load on lose connections, faulty sensors, etc.)
Once I figure out some basic video editing, I'll include videos for research purposes lol
[The Day]:
The race was at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, MI.
It was a sunny, windy day with temperatures ranging from mid 50's to mid 60's.
[The Car]:
Gutted Fiesta ST, set up for stage rally/rallycross, but ditched the skid plates and donned some sticky boi tires (RE71R).
Stock radiator, no heater core, no A/C (but still have the A/C compressor and condenser installed)
Presumably stock turbo, stock thermostat, stock boost levels (18psi, with 21 psi overboost)
[The Situation]:
Heat 1: During the first 20 minute heat, the car performed fantastic (in the beginning). Handled well, full boost, was running down C5 Z06's in the turns, and passing 911s. However, after about 15 minutes of driving, the car suddenly went into limp mode.
Not surprising, we were beating the car pretty hard. So we assumed it was coolant temp, and pulled off the track for the rest of the heat.
Heat 2: After a 30-35 minute cool down, we were called again for Heat 2. Coolant temp was about 180F at start up, but as we approached the grid, we had to idle for about 10 minutes before being released to the track. Coolant temp was about 195F when we finally started on track.
First two laps, the car performed great, and coolant temps actually dropped (according to our gauge) to about 185-190F out on the track. But someone where in the 3rd lap, the car went into limp.
We tried a cool down lap, but it never seemed to come out, so we pulled in the pits.
~ After Heat 2, we decided to consult Uncle Google ~
Uncle Google suggested unplugging the battery for a few minutes, utilizing our kill switches. Googs also suggested checking for and clearing codes... using the OBD Fusion iPhone App, I pulled and cleared any associated codes(perhaps too many?). After a 40 minute cool down, we got ready for Heat 3.
Heat 3: Car fired up like normal, coolant temp about 170F. Feeling confident, we headed to grid behind a 2005 Viper Competition Coupe, ready to avenge ourselves.
Immediately after leaving the grid, the instrument cluster flickered. Right after turn 2, all power died, and the car (like our avenging aspirations) crawled to a halt.
They had to remove all cars from the track while we were towed behind a flagging station. The epitome of embarrassing...
After sitting in the grass for about 15 minutes, the car fired right up(Perhaps it unintentionally reset the ECU and its codes?), and drove completely fine back to the paddock.
With a tow car shortly behind, we left the track and drove around on the highways and city streets near the track, with the hood off, for over an hour. The car had all power, all boost, and ran completely normal.
Perhaps thinking intake air temps may be a suspect, we stopped at O'reillys and threw a fresh K&N filter at the car. Because us, like the crazed toilet paper buying patrons of 2020, were desperate to do something that felt like progress.
We drove the car for another 30 minutes, and with all signs pointing to "OK", returned to the track to attempt another heat.
Heat 4: This time, we ran with the hood off, just as we did around town, thinking that intake air temp was perhaps the culprit.
"Immediately" out of the grid, prior to entering the course, the car was already in limp mode. Coolant temp was about 185F. Intake Air Temp was about 110F
Despite being in Limp Mode, we decided to keep running the car. It obviously was an obstruction off the side on the straight aways, but it kept pace for the most part in the turns. So we felt we weren't a detriment to other racers. There was only about 5 cars on the track at this point also (thanks to an Audi that spilled it's oily guts on the back straight just before this).
After our 5th of 6th lap, turning out of turn two again, the car died. All power gone. And we crawled to a halt at the exact same corner station as earlier in the day. We pulled off into the grass (per direction from the corner station), and sat defeated.
But after about 30 seconds, the car restarted, and we limped around to the pits and loaded the car up.
Driving it now, everything once again feels fine.
We are going to pull the condenser, just because, but what else should we be looking for??
Thanks in advance for the help!
*TLDR* : LIMP Mode issues cause by either (Heat soak/cooling issues, ECU codes, G-load on lose connections, faulty sensors, etc.)
![[dunno]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_dunno.gif "Dunno [dunno]"){kind=icon}
![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]"){kind=icon}
![[nono]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_nono.gif "No No [nono]"){kind=icon}
