Putting car under load while it's in limp mode

jyi · Thu, Jan-28-2010, 02:31:48 AM

Can the car be damaged (bending valves and whatnot..) if it's put under a load while the car is in limp mode (loss of power, won't go over a certain RPM)?

I ask because of this.

My car threw a CEL a few weeks ago and it turned out to be the coilpack. I got it replaced by the stealership. However, when my car was being towed to the stealers, I didn't have my tow hook with me so the tow truck driver just drove it up onto the flatbed while the car was in limp mode. Now I know that the car lost most of it's power because when the CEL initially came on, I was on the road and it was a slight uphill and the car was having trouble climbing that hill. The flatbed was at a very steep angle (at least 20 degrees). So I'm thinking the engine might have been lugged while in limp mode trying to get up that flatbed.

There is a slight vibration during cold start and once the car is warmed up, the engine sounds different especially around 3,000rpm under light to medium load. During WOT, it sounds fine.

Anyone know the answer?

**vmwerks** · Thu, Jan-28-2010, 02:38:01 AM

No limp mode is meant to protect the engine not enable further damage

jyi · Thu, Jan-28-2010, 02:44:20 AM

I understand it's meant to protect the engine from the source of the CEL. Well, an engine can be damaged by lugging it even if it isn't in limp mode. By putting a limp mode engine under load, that seems like the damage that might be caused by lugging the engine may be exacerbated due to the extreme lack of power.

but yea.. I hope I'm wrong on this one.

EricM06IR · Thu, Jan-28-2010, 02:48:17 AM

As far as i know also limp mode is meant to protect the engine and not do any damage.

jyi · Thu, Jan-28-2010, 02:52:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Em|06imolaredM3

As far as i know also limp mode is meant to protect the engine and not do any damage.

I think we've established that limp mode is meant to protect the engine from FURTHER damage that might result from whatever tripped it in the first place.

However, as stated above, the engine can be lugged whether it's in limp mode or brand new without any faults. So I'm just wondering if lugging the engine while in limp mode can accelerate the damage or make the engine more prone to damage due to lugging.

tkeane · Thu, Jan-28-2010, 03:07:04 AM

Yes, the engine probably was lugged down and that's not good for it, but it's not like you just took 50,000 miles off the life of it (or any for that matter). Lugging would affect the bearings/contact surfaces due to vibrations and it would take a lot to make any problems. Don't worry about the engine.

EricM06IR · Thu, Jan-28-2010, 03:02:30 AM

Well I think it actaully could and if your car threw a Light. Something is obviously probably wrong i would Think. I would take it in to have it get checked

Thu, Jan-28-2010, 02:31:48 AM	#1
jyi Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 260 Reputation: 0	Putting car under load while it's in limp mode Can the car be damaged (bending valves and whatnot..) if it's put under a load while the car is in limp mode (loss of power, won't go over a certain RPM)? I ask because of this. My car threw a CEL a few weeks ago and it turned out to be the coilpack. I got it replaced by the stealership. However, when my car was being towed to the stealers, I didn't have my tow hook with me so the tow truck driver just drove it up onto the flatbed while the car was in limp mode. Now I know that the car lost most of it's power because when the CEL initially came on, I was on the road and it was a slight uphill and the car was having trouble climbing that hill. The flatbed was at a very steep angle (at least 20 degrees). So I'm thinking the engine might have been lugged while in limp mode trying to get up that flatbed. There is a slight vibration during cold start and once the car is warmed up, the engine sounds different especially around 3,000rpm under light to medium load. During WOT, it sounds fine. Anyone know the answer?

Thu, Jan-28-2010, 02:38:01 AM	#2
vmwerks Valley Motorwerks Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 914 Reputation: 0 Location: Folsom	No limp mode is meant to protect the engine not enable further damage __________________ Walter Ford President Valley Motorwerks Pointsix Motorsports ___________________________________________ VF Engineering Stage 2 / Rogue Octane SSK / Rogue El Diablo Muffler / Rogue Section 2 with EVC / Bilstein PSS11's / Vorshlag Camber Plates / Turner Swaybars / Rogue FCAB's / Powerflex RTAB's / Rogue RSM's / MORR VS7 Alloys / Sumitomo HTRZ3's / FT 19x8.5 245/35r19 / RR 19x9.5 275/30r19 / Front Brembo 355mm / Rear Brembo 345mm / SS brake lines / Vorsteiner Lip / CSL trunklid / Black out gills / Black out kidney's / Smoked corners / OEM LED tails / Umnitza LED Halo's / Suede wheel / Suede shift boot / ZHP shift knob / Intravee IPOD / Custom NAV splash

Thu, Jan-28-2010, 02:48:17 AM	#4
EricM06IR Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,784 Reputation: 0 Location: Oregon	As far as i know also limp mode is meant to protect the engine and not do any damage. __________________ Dixis spirit\|Siebon CSL Trunk\|Tekarbon Diffuser\|Powerflex Rtabs/Fcabs\|CSL Splitters\|Khoalty LED angel eyes \| BBS RS-GT's \| KW V2 \|HPF Subframe Reinforcement Kit\| OEM CSL Headers \| OEM CSL steering wheel \| Evolve Tune \| Evolve Airbox \|

Thu, Jan-28-2010, 03:02:30 AM	#7
EricM06IR Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,784 Reputation: 0 Location: Oregon	Well I think it actaully could and if your car threw a Light. Something is obviously probably wrong i would Think. I would take it in to have it get checked __________________ Dixis spirit\|Siebon CSL Trunk\|Tekarbon Diffuser\|Powerflex Rtabs/Fcabs\|CSL Splitters\|Khoalty LED angel eyes \| BBS RS-GT's \| KW V2 \|HPF Subframe Reinforcement Kit\| OEM CSL Headers \| OEM CSL steering wheel \| Evolve Tune \| Evolve Airbox \|

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Thu, Jan-28-2010, 02:44:20 AM	#3
jyi Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 260 Reputation: 0	I understand it's meant to protect the engine from the source of the CEL. Well, an engine can be damaged by lugging it even if it isn't in limp mode. By putting a limp mode engine under load, that seems like the damage that might be caused by lugging the engine may be exacerbated due to the extreme lack of power. but yea.. I hope I'm wrong on this one.

Thu, Jan-28-2010, 03:07:04 AM	#6
tkeane Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 131 In the garage: '04 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: South Jersey	Yes, the engine probably was lugged down and that's not good for it, but it's not like you just took 50,000 miles off the life of it (or any for that matter). Lugging would affect the bearings/contact surfaces due to vibrations and it would take a lot to make any problems. Don't worry about the engine.