Possible heat soak?

[LDetter]

Yesterday I was trying to drive to the mall and ended up in a huge traffic jam becasue of a fuel truck the wrecked. I was in stop and go traffic for like a hour hardly moving at all, the temp was around 80 deg outside. When i finaly got through all the traffic and went to get on it a little bit the car seemed very sluggish and wouldnt boost more than 5 psi. Boost built up very slow as well. As i was a little worried i might have developed a vac leak or something i pulled over to check things out. Everything seemed fine and my vac when i was idleing was at -22. So i pretty much ruled out it being a vac leak. After letting it sit for a few minuets i decided to continue on driving and the car was acting normal again. Im new to turbo cars and im curious was i experiencing heat soak from sitting in traffic for so long? I tried searching but am still a little unsure. Others with experience, what do you think?

[J-jizzle]

Sounds like limp mode in my B6. It does the same thing, no boost past 5psi and is very slow. Although I think I was in limp mode because I was running too soft of spring in my 004 bov. So maybe stop and go traffic could do the same. Idk

[LDetter]

I thought about limp mode too, but i dont understand what would have put it into it, also dont you have to clear codes or reset the ecu to get out of limp mode, not just shut of the car for a few minuets?

[bigphil]

What setup are you running?

Can't offer much help, but I can say from experience that my car HATES to be idled. Idling in 80 deg. weather for an hour would definitely make the engine sluggish; but it should go away once after 10-20 mins maybe once you got going again if it was just heat soak (speculation of course).

[LDetter]

What setup are you running?

All stock as of now.

[FLACO X3]

yes it is very possibly heat soak. When i run the car too hard in hot weather i get that(need a FMIC). It could also be limp mode, although to get out you have to clear codes.

[LDetter]

Thats what i thought. Im guessing it was heat soak then. I was just curious because i never expierenced it before.

[Nebone]

Heatsoak for sure. The air going to the motor has no way to cool and its temps actually rise thats why when you started moving it became better as cooler air was moving through the intercooler and radiator. The limp mode is possible because the ECU was protecting the motor since the intake temps went up so much.

Happens to me in hard traffic during heat. The car runs pretty weak and clutch feels like butter.

[J-jizzle]

I thought about limp mode too, but i dont understand what would have put it into it, also dont you have to clear codes or reset the ecu to get out of limp mode, not just shut of the car for a few minuets?

Since I drive a B6 it could be different but you don't have to get a CEL to be in limp mode and It can reset its self after a while. Mine did without turning my car off. My 2-cents

[LDetter]

Guess its possible that the temperatures being so hot through it into limp mode which would def explain the boost issues. I didnt have a CEL and i know you dont need one to go into limp. I didnt know that it can go back out of limp mode without clearing any codes or reseting the ecu.

[Jibberific]

i don't get it, i drive in 115 degrees every day and my car is fine.

but i'm still going to get a good FMIC soon

[LDetter]

I was sitting in stand still traffic for over a hour going only a few feet every ten minuets. Without air going over the side mount theres no real way to cool it down. I never had a problem yet besides last night and it has been a lot hotter.

[Naudi_Mat]

I know someone having the same issue. But it happens to him even when where driving up in the mountains on a cool night. He will get on it and then let of the throttle and you can just feel that somethings not right. Cause once he get's back on the throttle he only boost's at 5psi and it won't go past that. And none of us have any idea what it might be. Possibly his turbo? Faulty DV?

Any help with this would be great.

P.S. This problem will just come outta no where sometimes.

[mike-2ptzero]

Guess its possible that the temperatures being so hot through it into limp mode which would def explain the boost issues. I didnt have a CEL and i know you dont need one to go into limp. I didnt know that it can go back out of limp mode without clearing any codes or reseting the ecu.

When it is a "soft" limp mode the ecu will reset once the key has been turned off and then back on.

[LDetter]

Thanks for clearing that up Mike. Did not know that.

[im sofa king]

i don't get it, i drive in 115 degrees every day and my car is fine.

but i'm still going to get a good FMIC soon

Hey local! Im in tempe too and never have any heat soak problems. I-10 & Elliot here, where you located?

[Nebone]

If you guys from Tampe sit in traffic for an hour you'll get heat soak. Any turbo car will fall on its knees. No air flowing through cooling devices thus the turbo a hairdryer on a hot setting.

[Jibberific]

Hey local! Im in tempe too and never have any heat soak problems. I-10 & Elliot here, where you located?

hey whats up man. i'm living near mill and university at the moment, however next month i am moving to elliot & mcqueen.

you should get in on the group drive this saturday! go over to the AZ/NV forum to read about it.

If you guys from Tampe sit in traffic for an hour you'll get heat soak. Any turbo car will fall on its knees. No air flowing through cooling devices thus the turbo a hairdryer on a hot setting.

yeah i guess you're right, my work commute is 12 miles either way with tons of traffic lights but i'm never sitting still for too long. however after i move i'm gonna have to take the freeway to work so we'll see what happens during rush hour Racetec FMIC here i come!!

[Naudi_Mat]

When it is a "soft" limp mode the ecu will reset once the key has been turned off and then back on.

So How do you clear out "soft limp mode" ?

[ILoveT]

So How do you clear out "soft limp mode" ?

You quoted the answer....

[mike-2ptzero]

Soft limp resets when you turn the car off and then back on.