Hot day on the track
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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'14 ML BT
Hot day on the track
And the car didn't perform flawlessly. The funny thing is, I've only experienced this issue on this track. It was also a hot day when it happened previously.
It's the 3rd session of the day at Eagles Canyon, the air temp is 103. I'm in M with TC off, coming out of a turn heading into a short straight and I get a point by from the Mini Cooper, suddenly I'm worried that I'm not going to get past before the corner! I look down and see the tranny has kicked me into C mode although the TC is still off.
Push the button, no M, only D or C. Select D and go for broke except, power is down by 30 or 40%! The tranny is not responding to my paddle ups or downs. It's just in D, selecting what it likes with limited power.
This lasts for maybe a minute and then back to full power in D mode and the tranny accepts my paddle shifts.
This happened on the middle 5 out of 8 laps in session 3 and then the same on the 6 middle laps of session 4. As a reference, I could only hit 80mph on a 2,000 ft straight, when normally I would see 114 to 116.
This track is hard on brakes (okay, maybe it's the driver) and only requires gears 2, 3 and 4.
Is it possible the heat was too much for the trans cooler and the ecu hobbled things for safety?
Anyone have a similar experience?
It's the 3rd session of the day at Eagles Canyon, the air temp is 103. I'm in M with TC off, coming out of a turn heading into a short straight and I get a point by from the Mini Cooper, suddenly I'm worried that I'm not going to get past before the corner! I look down and see the tranny has kicked me into C mode although the TC is still off.
Push the button, no M, only D or C. Select D and go for broke except, power is down by 30 or 40%! The tranny is not responding to my paddle ups or downs. It's just in D, selecting what it likes with limited power.
This lasts for maybe a minute and then back to full power in D mode and the tranny accepts my paddle shifts.
This happened on the middle 5 out of 8 laps in session 3 and then the same on the 6 middle laps of session 4. As a reference, I could only hit 80mph on a 2,000 ft straight, when normally I would see 114 to 116.
This track is hard on brakes (okay, maybe it's the driver) and only requires gears 2, 3 and 4.
Is it possible the heat was too much for the trans cooler and the ecu hobbled things for safety?
Anyone have a similar experience?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Your car's TCU was talking to the ECU saying, "We gotta get this guy to knock it off for while"... and the ECU said, "OK"! 
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
DFW,
Havent' had that happen but had some limp mode issues with the ECU tunes.
If there was an overheating, the ECU would have thrown a code. Do you have a reliabile shop who can check the OBD11 and read the codes? Could be a bad temp sensor. Is your ECU stock or do you have a tune? I should have asked this question first. Was your oil temp high?
Sounds like the TCU had to do a reset but WHY. Shouldn't be too hard to figure this one out.
Jimmy
Havent' had that happen but had some limp mode issues with the ECU tunes.
If there was an overheating, the ECU would have thrown a code. Do you have a reliabile shop who can check the OBD11 and read the codes? Could be a bad temp sensor. Is your ECU stock or do you have a tune? I should have asked this question first. Was your oil temp high?
Sounds like the TCU had to do a reset but WHY. Shouldn't be too hard to figure this one out.
Jimmy
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
Yugo
I had the similar problem happen to me twice. As matter of fact, it was just 2 days ago when I was heading out to downtown LA the car kick to C from M. Lately the "valley" temp varies from 95 to 101 according to my car air temp. As you know that the LA traffic is a nightmare and my driving habit has changed a bit (high RPM) so it is hard to cool the engine down. I noticed the first time when the car kick to C from M the oil temp was around 131ish. This was prior to Service A. 2 days ago, the oil temp was around 135ish.. I was about to ask the fellow owners regarding this issue. How am I going to enjoy the car in M if the oil temp is high all the time? Maybe it's due to my bad driving habits?! I do drive this car daily and will put 25k to 30k miles in one year. Lately, I watch the oil temp all the time and when it's 129 then I switch to C for about 5-10 minutes so engine could cool down to 102-105 and then I switch back to M. It's very annoying.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
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CLK Black
And the car didn't perform flawlessly. The funny thing is, I've only experienced this issue on this track. It was also a hot day when it happened previously.
It's the 3rd session of the day at Eagles Canyon, the air temp is 103. I'm in M with TC off, coming out of a turn heading into a short straight and I get a point by from the Mini Cooper, suddenly I'm worried that I'm not going to get past before the corner! I look down and see the tranny has kicked me into C mode although the TC is still off.
Push the button, no M, only D or C. Select D and go for broke except, power is down by 30 or 40%! The tranny is not responding to my paddle ups or downs. It's just in D, selecting what it likes with limited power.
This lasts for maybe a minute and then back to full power in D mode and the tranny accepts my paddle shifts.
This happened on the middle 5 out of 8 laps in session 3 and then the same on the 6 middle laps of session 4. As a reference, I could only hit 80mph on a 2,000 ft straight, when normally I would see 114 to 116.
This track is hard on brakes (okay, maybe it's the driver) and only requires gears 2, 3 and 4.
Is it possible the heat was too much for the trans cooler and the ecu hobbled things for safety?
Anyone have a similar experience?
It's the 3rd session of the day at Eagles Canyon, the air temp is 103. I'm in M with TC off, coming out of a turn heading into a short straight and I get a point by from the Mini Cooper, suddenly I'm worried that I'm not going to get past before the corner! I look down and see the tranny has kicked me into C mode although the TC is still off.
Push the button, no M, only D or C. Select D and go for broke except, power is down by 30 or 40%! The tranny is not responding to my paddle ups or downs. It's just in D, selecting what it likes with limited power.
This lasts for maybe a minute and then back to full power in D mode and the tranny accepts my paddle shifts.
This happened on the middle 5 out of 8 laps in session 3 and then the same on the 6 middle laps of session 4. As a reference, I could only hit 80mph on a 2,000 ft straight, when normally I would see 114 to 116.
This track is hard on brakes (okay, maybe it's the driver) and only requires gears 2, 3 and 4.
Is it possible the heat was too much for the trans cooler and the ecu hobbled things for safety?
Anyone have a similar experience?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
CLK Black
Brings up a really good point though. How hot is really too hot to track a car? Overheating is really one of the worst things you can do to a car. It screws with our engine, trans, brakes, differential......
Any of you true track junkies have an upper limit to when you will track you cars?
I have to think that 103 is getting close.
Any of you true track junkies have an upper limit to when you will track you cars?
I have to think that 103 is getting close.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,566
Likes: 7
'14 ML BT
DFW,
Havent' had that happen but had some limp mode issues with the ECU tunes.
If there was an overheating, the ECU would have thrown a code. Do you have a reliabile shop who can check the OBD11 and read the codes? Could be a bad temp sensor. Is your ECU stock or do you have a tune? I should have asked this question first. Was your oil temp high?
Sounds like the TCU had to do a reset but WHY. Shouldn't be too hard to figure this one out.
Jimmy
Havent' had that happen but had some limp mode issues with the ECU tunes.
If there was an overheating, the ECU would have thrown a code. Do you have a reliabile shop who can check the OBD11 and read the codes? Could be a bad temp sensor. Is your ECU stock or do you have a tune? I should have asked this question first. Was your oil temp high?
Sounds like the TCU had to do a reset but WHY. Shouldn't be too hard to figure this one out.
Jimmy
Brings up a really good point though. How hot is really too hot to track a car? Overheating is really one of the worst things you can do to a car. It screws with our engine, trans, brakes, differential......
Any of you true track junkies have an upper limit to when you will track you cars?
I have to think that 103 is getting close.
Any of you true track junkies have an upper limit to when you will track you cars?
I have to think that 103 is getting close.
Thanks guys.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,952
Likes: 4
From: Hollywood CA
2011 twin turboed prius
I had the similar problem happen to me twice. As matter of fact, it was just 2 days ago when I was heading out to downtown LA the car kick to C from M. Lately the "valley" temp varies from 95 to 101 according to my car air temp. As you know that the LA traffic is a nightmare and my driving habit has changed a bit (high RPM) so it is hard to cool the engine down. I noticed the first time when the car kick to C from M the oil temp was around 131ish. This was prior to Service A. 2 days ago, the oil temp was around 135ish.. I was about to ask the fellow owners regarding this issue. How am I going to enjoy the car in M if the oil temp is high all the time? Maybe it's due to my bad driving habits?! I do drive this car daily and will put 25k to 30k miles in one year. Lately, I watch the oil temp all the time and when it's 129 then I switch to C for about 5-10 minutes so engine could cool down to 102-105 and then I switch back to M. It's very annoying.
Wow,
I monitor my oil temps and honestly have never seen the 130's.
My car starts running crappy in the 120's I usually shut it down or go to C mode soon as I see 120.
You guys both are experiencing a form of "limp mode" While temp drops.
Looks like for the track some cooling mods may be necessary.
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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CLK 63 AMG Black
I just leave it in "S", and have never had a problem. I don't find that manually shifting improves performance. The car, in "S", downshifts itself under braking, and redline upshifts when the throttle is floored. T e delays in "M" feel counter-productive.
It is possible that too much low gear use in "M" is heating the trans. AS
It is possible that too much low gear use in "M" is heating the trans. AS
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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'14 ML BT
Very likely given the track and heat. Next time on this track I'll try S and see what happens.
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CLK 63 Black Series, 2009 S550, 2011 Range Rover Supercharged, BMW F800 GS Anniv Edition
I had this happen on a VERY hot day last Summer out at Streets of Willow (ambient temp ~ 110). Car would kick me out of M mode and lock into C. Pressing the mode button would do nothing. The only way to get it back into M was to get the temp down and/or shut it off and then back on.
I think this was simply another way of protecting the mechenicals from any serious damage.
I think this was simply another way of protecting the mechenicals from any serious damage.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
