Engine Failure at speed... |
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Engine Failure at speed... |
Cracker |
Oct 15 2017, 08:14 PM
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#1
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,148 Joined: 2-February 10 From: Atlanta (area) Member No.: 11,316 Region Association: South East States |
Well, it is not "if an issue will occur on a race track" but rather just a matter of when! Sunday morning was gorgeous at roughly 65 degrees and cloud cover. The grip was surprisingly good and the dense, cool-ish air enabled the engine to run really strong.
The night before, a few of us "walked the track", taking in the nuances that really can only be seen on foot, kneeling down and taking our time. More drivers should take advantage of this to become more familiar with details that are completely missed behind the wheel of a car. Anywho... We were discussing an asphalt patch that is on entry into the downhill section to turn 10a...specifically, how the patch had an elevated center with ramps on either side. A friend mentioned, "hitting that at speed would cause quite the jolt to the car and driver". Also of concern was the potential loss of grip and the unsettling of the chassis at such a critical point. He was correct as I bore out witness the next morning. We have still not found the smoking gun and only hope it is not internal; the top-end is fully functional with each of the valves operation correctly. The engine does not turn over quickly and that obviously is a cause of rather great concern. I have been doing track events for some time now, over 15-years, and have never encountered such a failure. I guess I can say...enjoy the failure at my expense. PS: Talk about cutting it close...lose an engine down the hill; try to jump start the engine at turn 10a and just BARELY make it up the hill over T11 to glide back to the hot pits. Whew - that was close! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Cheers! Tony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRvMJeXJxTQ My son came in from college - great memories at the track with him! |
Mueller |
Oct 15 2017, 08:46 PM
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#2
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 17,146 Joined: 4-January 03 From: Antioch, CA Member No.: 87 Region Association: None |
Glad no incident with blown oil all over the place.
Hope the damage is minimal. |
tygaboy |
Oct 15 2017, 08:52 PM
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#3
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,244 Joined: 6-October 15 From: Petaluma, CA Member No.: 19,241 Region Association: Northern California |
Nooooo! Sorry to hear about this, Tony.
Let us know what happened. Fingers crossed it's something simple. |
Rand |
Oct 15 2017, 09:03 PM
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#4
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Cross Member Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None |
I didn't hear any catastrophic noises and it went dead quickly.
The talk about the rough patches on the track, was that just setting up the story or you thinking a bump could have knocked something loose? I sure hope it electrical / ignition and not mechanical. |
db9146 |
Oct 15 2017, 09:04 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 953 Joined: 21-December 04 From: Atlanta, GA Member No.: 3,315 Region Association: None |
Wow Tony, that does seem odd. Sorry that happened but hopefully it won't be much to correct.
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Cracker |
Oct 15 2017, 09:16 PM
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#6
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,148 Joined: 2-February 10 From: Atlanta (area) Member No.: 11,316 Region Association: South East States |
Time will tell but it is weird as hell that the moment I hit that damn patch my engine cut represented by the shift lights. That is no coincidence - no way! I am hopeful that it just knocked the female clip in the fuseblock loose or something stupid like that - I am at least entitled to dream! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Thanks to you'all for your well-wishes! The engine was freaken' strong and that was my first hot-lap! I was gunnin for a record this morning (maybe it was good thing/Higher-Power at work)...to save my A$$! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) T I didn't hear any catastrophic noises and it went dead quickly. The talk about the rough patches on the track, was that just setting up the story or you thinking a bump could have knocked something loose? I sure hope it electrical / ignition and not mechanical. |
ConeDodger |
Oct 15 2017, 09:16 PM
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#7
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Apex killer! Group: Members Posts: 23,543 Joined: 31-December 04 From: Tahoe Area Member No.: 3,380 Region Association: Northern California |
Electrical?
Went quiet quick and no mechanical noises... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) |
Rand |
Oct 15 2017, 09:23 PM
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#8
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Cross Member Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None |
Deja Vu, Rob. Hope it's good news.
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jim_hoyland |
Oct 15 2017, 09:24 PM
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#9
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Get that VIN ? Group: Members Posts: 9,225 Joined: 1-May 03 From: Sunset Beach, CA Member No.: 643 Region Association: Southern California |
Electrical? Went quiet quick and no mechanical noises... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Electrical.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) |
Larmo63 |
Oct 15 2017, 09:39 PM
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#10
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,264 Joined: 3-March 14 From: San Clemente, Ca Member No.: 17,068 Region Association: Southern California |
We not only are living vicariously through your racing exploits, but we are also corporately sending good vibes via the Porsche Gods!!!!
Hoping it's something simple. |
Krieger |
Oct 15 2017, 11:41 PM
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#11
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,685 Joined: 24-May 04 From: Santa Rosa CA Member No.: 2,104 Region Association: None |
Dang your car is fast! Well, you couldn't have had a better and safer exit off the course. You get it fixed, hopefully inexpensively...
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Mikey914 |
Oct 16 2017, 12:21 AM
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#12
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The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,622 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
Looked electrical, could't see all the gauges, but could be an inexpensive fix. Hopefully
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wndsrfr |
Oct 16 2017, 05:37 AM
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#13
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,427 Joined: 30-April 09 From: Rescue, Virginia Member No.: 10,318 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
Geez I miss RA....mine's still in the $hop with mechanical....not electrical.
Looks to me like the fuel pressure gauge stayed powered til you switched off the fuel pump, so prolly start looking at ignition power circuit at the first connection. If you're on MSD, there may be an in-line fuse that can shake...after all that has solid power a wild guess may be the crank position sensor just gave up on you. |
Cracker |
Oct 16 2017, 07:12 AM
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#14
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,148 Joined: 2-February 10 From: Atlanta (area) Member No.: 11,316 Region Association: South East States |
Again, thanks for well wishes! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
John: My electrical circuit isolates each particular "leg" so the engines ECU could be affected and have no bearing on my switch box or dash. The tach-signal, which the shift light is getting its power from, is provided by the ECU - I did not have this video until last night or we might have been able to get the car back on the track. PS: I failed to mention this but my good friend "SixAddict" aka Terry O'Toole was there all weekend doing a great job with his Six! One session, he was black-flagged for a "sagging (stinger) exhaust; he came in and replaced the missing bolt and STILL finished the damn session! Amazing and crazy 914 gumption on display - love it! He even overcame a larger obstacle earlier on Saturday but I don't want his head to swell - it was impressive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Tony |
campbellcj |
Oct 16 2017, 07:24 AM
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#15
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I can't Re Member Group: Members Posts: 4,536 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California |
Yikes! I hope the ultimate cause/fix turns out to be straightforward and not too costly!
My last "oh crap, what now" moment luckily was just a fuel pump power connection that "mickey mouse" hadn't wired very well...took a while to isolate that sucker though |
Cracker |
Oct 16 2017, 09:13 AM
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#16
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,148 Joined: 2-February 10 From: Atlanta (area) Member No.: 11,316 Region Association: South East States |
Chris: Thanks. The dynamic I find interesting with these issues is even though I lost an entire day on track - you grow to understand that when cars are pushed on track (especially 47-year old teeners!), crap IS going to happen. There was no crying, temper-tantrums, or other ridiculous behaviors on display...even if the engine is blown. After many, many years of doing this track-thing - much like yourself - you mature in the hobby. It is all still worth the thrill and cost of admission - to me! Cheers.
Tony Yikes! I hope the ultimate cause/fix turns out to be straightforward and not too costly! Here is the still-shot from another video immediately prior to the failure...I had to get off throttle at this point but without that damn bump I'd carry throttle to the billboard on the right. Pucker Factor = Yep! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) |
Mark Henry |
Oct 16 2017, 09:16 AM
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#17
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that's what I do! Group: Members Posts: 20,065 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Port Hope, Ontario Member No.: 26 Region Association: Canada |
I didn't hear any bad mechanical noise, here's hoping for electrical as well.
Customers and the few I've blown the explanation was always "there was a bad, bad noise". |
burton73 |
Oct 16 2017, 09:49 AM
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#18
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burton73 Group: Members Posts: 3,457 Joined: 2-January 07 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 7,414 Region Association: Southern California |
Hi Tony,
Thanks for the posting. As one of the guys said I live the excitement through you. I will say as a person that has blown 2 water cooled engine’s over my life that my bet is this is minor and not a hard engine part. I hope you get lucky. Bob B |
My 914 |
Oct 16 2017, 11:54 AM
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#19
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Casual Member Group: Members Posts: 560 Joined: 23-April 16 From: Massachusetts Member No.: 19,928 Region Association: North East States |
I would also like to venture that the lack of a mechanical noise is a good thing. I would also like to chime in about the importance of walking or at least driving slowly around the track to become familiar with the nuances as you mention. Its a good reminder to bring up once in a while.
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Justinp71 |
Oct 16 2017, 02:13 PM
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#20
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,582 Joined: 11-October 04 From: Sacramento, CA Member No.: 2,922 Region Association: None |
Sorry to hear, hope its a quick fix. But man you have one BadAss 914! |
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