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> Engine Failure at speed...
Cracker
post Oct 15 2017, 08:14 PM
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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


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My son came in from college - great memories at the track with him!
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Mueller
post Oct 15 2017, 08:46 PM
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Glad no incident with blown oil all over the place.

Hope the damage is minimal.

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tygaboy
post Oct 15 2017, 08:52 PM
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Nooooo! Sorry to hear about this, Tony.
Let us know what happened.
Fingers crossed it's something simple.
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Rand
post Oct 15 2017, 09:03 PM
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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.
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db9146
post Oct 15 2017, 09:04 PM
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Wow Tony, that does seem odd. Sorry that happened but hopefully it won't be much to correct.

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Cracker
post Oct 15 2017, 09:16 PM
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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

QUOTE(Rand @ Oct 15 2017, 11:03 PM) *

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.
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ConeDodger
post Oct 15 2017, 09:16 PM
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Electrical?

Went quiet quick and no mechanical noises... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
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Rand
post Oct 15 2017, 09:23 PM
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Deja Vu, Rob. Hope it's good news.
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jim_hoyland
post Oct 15 2017, 09:24 PM
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QUOTE(ConeDodger @ Oct 15 2017, 08:16 PM) *

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)
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Larmo63
post Oct 15 2017, 09:39 PM
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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.
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Krieger
post Oct 15 2017, 11:41 PM
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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
post Oct 16 2017, 12:21 AM
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Looked electrical, could't see all the gauges, but could be an inexpensive fix. Hopefully
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wndsrfr
post Oct 16 2017, 05:37 AM
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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.
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Cracker
post Oct 16 2017, 07:12 AM
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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
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campbellcj
post Oct 16 2017, 07:24 AM
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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
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Cracker
post Oct 16 2017, 09:13 AM
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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

QUOTE(campbellcj @ Oct 16 2017, 09:24 AM) *

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)
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Mark Henry
post Oct 16 2017, 09:16 AM
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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".
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burton73
post Oct 16 2017, 09:49 AM
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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
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My 914
post Oct 16 2017, 11:54 AM
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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
post Oct 16 2017, 02:13 PM
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Sorry to hear, hope its a quick fix. But man you have one BadAss 914!
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