0.5 Bar Limp Mode?

[gwin]

Something funny happened to my car on the way out today.

I started to notice a severe powerloss and a very husky exhaust note when on full throttle. I then checked my boost meter and the max boost was only 0.5 bar (vs 1bar).

It felt like my car was limping, but no engine lights were on.

I do have a brake/clutch issue at the moment with the handbrake light on, but that shouldn't have anything to do with boost limp.

So my solution was to turn off the car, then restart. And walla! The boost limp was gone... WTF?

Anyone had this problem before?

[mad082]

does the ecu control the boost on the r32? if it is a seperate boost controller then most likely the boost controller was the issue and turning off the car was enough to reset whatever the issue was, and it most likely had nothing to do with the ecu or engine. it felt sluggish simple because you were onlt getting half the boost you normally had.

[gwin]

I don't have an external boost controller hmm... Maybe the stock solenoid is chucking a fits.

[mad082]

may be a slight blockage in it. when i had a turbosmart dual stage controller on my 33, occasionally when i changed gears the controller wouldn't release the pressure between it and the wastegate, so the wastegate would stay open a bit and it would hardly make any boost and feel like a slug

[bubba]

Maybe your cat has collapsed?

[Moodles2]

Give both AFMs a good clean with contact cleaner, and giving the ecu a reset shouldn't hurt either.

[gwin]

Could be related to my gearbox issue. I'll see how it goes

AFMs were cleaned recently and properly, ECU was also reset when new coilpacks went in.

I'm getting another ECU sometimes this week, we'll see if the problem still persists

[gwin]

Update:

OK the problem is still there after doing the clutch work.

I've started to pick up a pattern, it happens especially obvious after long start stop traffic. My car's acceleration/revving will hesitate badly, and the exhaust note changes to a husky metallic sound. There is severe powerloss, really bad boost and really hard to rev/unresponsive engine.

To cure this, I stop by the side of the road, power off the engine for around 20 seconds, and power back on. It goes away!

AFMS cleaned, new coilpacks.

I'm starting to think it's dodgy fuel pump related, as googling around symptoms typically relate to my situation. Some say due to fuel pump overheating, it starts to play up.

Can anyone confirm that they have had the same problem?

[Josh_r32]

i have the same problem mate, no idea why!

[gtr fan]

I did have the same problem about 7 years ago. Especially on cold nights. It would boost initially to one bar, then fall into limp mode and not go over 0.5bar. Then pull over turn off engine and start up again problem would go away.

I installed a blitz EBC hoping this would fix the issue but no luck.

I knew the ECU was chipped so then I bought a powerfc and this solved everything. Just use the check engine light as a knock sensor and back off when ever I have too (which is very rarely).

Given it goes away once you restart the car I would be betting it is ecu related.

Edited August 6, 2010 by gtr fan

[gwin]

Funny you should mention this hmm....

I switched to a Mines ECU recently, havent really had much of an issue since, actually none that I can remember..

Cheers mate,

Will continue to see how I go