weird behavior

KINGPIN 007 · 05-15-2012, 01:04 PM

Hey guys

Quick question about something that happened today while i was going to work. On my way to work, there is a huge downhill slope (about a mile long) that i go down everyday. Usually when i get to the top and start coming down, i throw it into neutral and just cruise down it all the way. I have been doing this everyday now for months. Today though, when I did it and put it into neutral, all of the lights and symbols popped up on my display and my steering wheel locked and i couldnt turn or do anything while in neutral. I put it back into drive and still couldn't do anything and the car was completely unresponsive. So i pulled over, turned the car off and turned it back on and it was fine all the way to work.

My question is, is it bad for your car to throw it into neutral like that and has this happened to anyone before? Or anyone know why it might have happened so I dont make the same mistake in the future. Any info would be appreciated, thanks!

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b16 · 05-15-2012, 01:11 PM

I wouldn't think it is a problem. Did the engine cut off as well?

Was this the Sunol grade?

KINGPIN 007 · 05-15-2012, 01:14 PM

Im actually not to sure, i think it might have gotten cut off because I didnt hear that low rumble my exhaust is usually giving me and everything was pretty quiet, and I couldnt move the steering wheel, and luckily i didnt have any turns ahead of me and was able to pull over to restart the car lol ....and yes, this was sunol grade

Why/how on earth did the car turn off?

PatSC23 · 05-15-2012, 01:25 PM

Im curious why you shift into neutral? I for one never change gears in motion - or driving modes as the Manual says not to.

KINGPIN 007 · 05-15-2012, 01:45 PM

I just do it for fun because its such a steep hill that I can usually just stay in neutral for almost 2 miles without hitting the gas but I guess I wont do it anymore to be safe.

b16 · 05-15-2012, 01:48 PM

I put it into neutral sometimes. I always change driving modes while driving. I can't imagine why it would be a problem. And if it were really a problem they would probably not allow you to do it via software.

CoolBDPhenom03 · 05-15-2012, 01:49 PM

If the manual says not to, why does the car let you?

PatSC23 · 05-15-2012, 02:13 PM

Im not saying that it's detrimental to change driving modes on the fly - but if the manual says not to I just don't. There's millions of things the C63 will allow u to do do that isn't good for it. I just don't use the rationale that if they allow us to do it, its ok for the car. I can remember one time in the beginning i did it and the car was about to shift, and it wasn't pleasant when the car lurched. I must have caught it in between a shift. So I just don't do it anymore to be safe. Besides, I can usually wait to get to a stop b4 i change driving modes.

otakki · 05-15-2012, 03:12 PM

Sounds almost like an engine stall but usually the steering wheel is working, although heavier, when that happens. Is the engine is running? Similar thing happen with my other cars and engine can always be restarted even when the car is moving as long as it's in neutral; then shift back into gear. This really sound strange.

By the way, has anyone ever restarted an engine in neutral while the vehicle is moving?

alrasheed1991 · 05-15-2012, 04:05 PM

Safety thing i think , any way some thing happen to me i had an ESP ISSUE that its all over MBworld but now fixed was doing 130mph + then the ESP ISSUE came up every thing is working instead of gas paddle i had to stop and turn off car then turn on , i said why dont i put it in neutral and turn off car while car in motion thats 130mph + and turn it on and it works i done 2 times had no problem

lucky i think

Thaa kiid Jlee · 05-15-2012, 07:48 PM

i believe this is called limp mode, but do not quote me on it

yazid · 05-16-2012, 03:52 AM

strange thing the ecu went into limp mode.. but you shouldn't go into neutral going down a hill.. especially when it is steep.. so as to have control of the car, rather than gravity takes control of it.. good to hear no harm was done..

AMGFTW · 05-16-2012, 09:27 AM

For what it is worth I have been changing the trans mode with my car in gear for the last 25k miles and have had no issues. That includes the 200+ passes at the dragstrip doing a burnout in "M" and switching to "S1" prior to staging.

KINGPIN 007 · 05-16-2012, 03:45 PM

Thanks for all the info guys. I think it might have been some sort of safety feature but im still not sure. Car hasnt had any problems since and i hope it stays that way, appreciate all the feedback from everyone

gthal · 05-16-2012, 05:53 PM

The other issue is that coasting in neutral burns gas (the engine has to use fuel to keep the engine running as it isn't connected to the wheels) but coasting in gear burns no gas at all... coasting down hills in gear is a great way to save fuel if that matters to you. Yes this is counter intuitive but true... coasting in neutral burns gas... coasting in gear and the engine cuts all fuel and the car burns nothing as the wheels are connected to the engine and they keep the engine running without the need for fuel.

b16 · 05-16-2012, 06:46 PM

Good point.

noodleman · 05-16-2012, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolBDPhenom03

If the manual says not to, why does the car let you?

i'm sure the manual also tells you to drive safe and don't do burn outs, and i'm sure the car lets you

cavisboung · 05-16-2012, 10:12 PM

I can't imagine why it would be a problem.

CoolBDPhenom03 · 05-16-2012, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodleman

i'm sure the manual also tells you to drive safe and don't do burn outs, and i'm sure the car lets you

I thought that was just the fine print in the commercials

05-15-2012, 01:25 PM	#4
PatSC23 MBWorld Fanatic! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,424 Drives: 2009 C63	Im curious why you shift into neutral? I for one never change gears in motion - or driving modes as the Manual says not to. __________________ 2013 F10 M5 For sale - OEM C63 diffuser, two sets of AMG centercaps, OEM Chrome AMG plate frame- F10 M5 on the way Gone but not forgotten... 1998 Nissan Maxima SE 2000 E46 330ci 2002 E46 SMGII M3 2007 Range Rover Sport S/C 2009 C63

05-15-2012, 01:49 PM	#7
CoolBDPhenom03 MBWorld Fanatic! 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 3,371 Drives: Vivid Racing '09 C63 AMG	If the manual says not to, why does the car let you? __________________ --DT =============== My other ride is a Ducati. "Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary...that's what gets you." "Sure the M3 has got a top notch weapon in it, but this is a nuke." - Jeremy Clarkson YouTube - C63 AMG by Vivid Racing HRE \| Vorsteiner \| H&R Coilovers \| Agency Power \| Velos Designwerks

05-15-2012, 02:13 PM	#8
PatSC23 MBWorld Fanatic! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,424 Drives: 2009 C63	Im not saying that it's detrimental to change driving modes on the fly - but if the manual says not to I just don't. There's millions of things the C63 will allow u to do do that isn't good for it. I just don't use the rationale that if they allow us to do it, its ok for the car. I can remember one time in the beginning i did it and the car was about to shift, and it wasn't pleasant when the car lurched. I must have caught it in between a shift. So I just don't do it anymore to be safe. Besides, I can usually wait to get to a stop b4 i change driving modes. __________________ 2013 F10 M5 For sale - OEM C63 diffuser, two sets of AMG centercaps, OEM Chrome AMG plate frame- F10 M5 on the way Gone but not forgotten... 1998 Nissan Maxima SE 2000 E46 330ci 2002 E46 SMGII M3 2007 Range Rover Sport S/C 2009 C63 Last edited by PatSC23; 05-15-2012 at 02:15 PM.

05-15-2012, 04:05 PM	#10
alrasheed1991 Super Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia Posts: 543 Drives: 2011 C63AMG P31	Safety thing i think , any way some thing happen to me i had an ESP ISSUE that its all over MBworld but now fixed was doing 130mph + then the ESP ISSUE came up every thing is working instead of gas paddle i had to stop and turn off car then turn on , i said why dont i put it in neutral and turn off car while car in motion thats 130mph + and turn it on and it works i done 2 times had no problem lucky i think __________________ Dad's Carbon Hood Dad's Carbon Trunk Brabus style Grill MHP Blower Tune MHP Long Tube Headers MHP Mids pipe MHP Catback Exhaust MHP 180F Thermostat MHP Carbon Fiber Airboxes with High Flow Filters Weistec Blower HRE R43 Custom Wide body kit Renntech Front Rear strut Brace Vorsteiner Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser Evosport rotors Wiestec Ice Tank

05-15-2012, 07:48 PM	#11
Thaa kiid Jlee Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dix Hills Posts: 341 Drives: 2011 c300 4matic	i believe this is called limp mode, but do not quote me on it __________________ 2011 c300 4matic CHECK IT OUT! v My Build Thread: http://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w2...011-build.html

05-15-2012, 01:11 PM	#2
b16 Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 496 Drives: 2009 C63, 2000 ML 430, 1994 Del Sol Vtec	I wouldn't think it is a problem. Did the engine cut off as well? Was this the Sunol grade?

05-15-2012, 01:14 PM	#3
KINGPIN 007 Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 79 Drives: 2010 c63	Im actually not to sure, i think it might have gotten cut off because I didnt hear that low rumble my exhaust is usually giving me and everything was pretty quiet, and I couldnt move the steering wheel, and luckily i didnt have any turns ahead of me and was able to pull over to restart the car lol ....and yes, this was sunol grade Why/how on earth did the car turn off?

05-15-2012, 01:45 PM	#5
KINGPIN 007 Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 79 Drives: 2010 c63	I just do it for fun because its such a steep hill that I can usually just stay in neutral for almost 2 miles without hitting the gas but I guess I wont do it anymore to be safe.

05-15-2012, 01:48 PM	#6
b16 Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 496 Drives: 2009 C63, 2000 ML 430, 1994 Del Sol Vtec	I put it into neutral sometimes. I always change driving modes while driving. I can't imagine why it would be a problem. And if it were really a problem they would probably not allow you to do it via software.

05-15-2012, 03:12 PM	#9
otakki MBWorld Fanatic! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,538 Drives: W212 E63 M156 non-pano 18" P2 ParkT NightV	Sounds almost like an engine stall but usually the steering wheel is working, although heavier, when that happens. Is the engine is running? Similar thing happen with my other cars and engine can always be restarted even when the car is moving as long as it's in neutral; then shift back into gear. This really sound strange. By the way, has anyone ever restarted an engine in neutral while the vehicle is moving?

05-16-2012, 03:52 AM	#12
yazid Super Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Brunei Posts: 520 Drives: C63 AMG P30 + OE Tuning	strange thing the ecu went into limp mode.. but you shouldn't go into neutral going down a hill.. especially when it is steep.. so as to have control of the car, rather than gravity takes control of it.. good to hear no harm was done.. __________________ 2008 C63AMG P30 + OETuning

05-16-2012, 09:27 AM	#13
AMGFTW Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Everywhere Posts: 204 Drives: C63 AMG	For what it is worth I have been changing the trans mode with my car in gear for the last 25k miles and have had no issues. That includes the 200+ passes at the dragstrip doing a burnout in "M" and switching to "S1" prior to staging.

05-16-2012, 03:45 PM	#14
KINGPIN 007 Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 79 Drives: 2010 c63	Thanks for all the info guys. I think it might have been some sort of safety feature but im still not sure. Car hasnt had any problems since and i hope it stays that way, appreciate all the feedback from everyone

05-16-2012, 05:53 PM	#15
gthal MBWorld Fanatic! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,292 Drives: 2012 C63 coupe	The other issue is that coasting in neutral burns gas (the engine has to use fuel to keep the engine running as it isn't connected to the wheels) but coasting in gear burns no gas at all... coasting down hills in gear is a great way to save fuel if that matters to you. Yes this is counter intuitive but true... coasting in neutral burns gas... coasting in gear and the engine cuts all fuel and the car burns nothing as the wheels are connected to the engine and they keep the engine running without the need for fuel. __________________ Current: 2012 C63 AMG coupe \| Obsidian black \| Red/black interior \| Performance Package Current: 1996 BMW M3 \| Estoril blue \| Track car \| Heavily modded for the track but still street legal... barely Previous: 2011 M3 coupe \| Jerez black \| Fox Red interior \| Competition Package \| M-DCT

05-16-2012, 06:46 PM	#16
b16 Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 496 Drives: 2009 C63, 2000 ML 430, 1994 Del Sol Vtec	Good point.

05-16-2012, 11:56 PM

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05-16-2012, 10:12 PM	#18
cavisboung Newbie Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 10 Drives: volvo	I can't imagine why it would be a problem. __________________