If I hit the rev limiter while accelerating in my MCS it goes straight into 'limp home' mode rather thatn just cutting off fuel or limiting the spark (whichever it is supposed to)

This behaviour has only started since I did a Shark Injector install and Jim Conforti claims
a) he didn't do anything which would have caused this ( I tend to belive him due to who he is), and
b) no one except me has ever reported this.

I 'heard' that there had been other people and I know there were some early problems similar to this with other ECU reflashers so I would love to hear from anyone who has a Shark, with or without the pulley, who has had this happen to them.

Thanks

 

Sorry to here your still having trouble. I don't have a shark so probably can't offer anything but sympathy.
I thought I read on Randy's sight that this was a issue, so your right to think your not the only one. Here's a stab in the dark, what version of the MINI software did you load the Shark over ? If it's newer or very old the Shark could be interacting in a way that is different than what Conforti saw or expects. Just a thought.

Or did your car get over revved by a miss shift previously and needs something cleared ? I am guessing that when you set the car back to non-shark it behaves normally ? You could install v36 then have your Shark updated for that version. If know update is available, or if the updated one behaves the same way, a full refund would seem to be in order. :smile:

 

>>Sorry to here your still having trouble. I don't have a shark so probably can't offer anything but sympathy.
>>I thought I read on Randy's sight that this was a issue, so your right to think your not the only one. Here's a stab in the dark, what version of the MINI software did you load the Shark over ? If it's newer or very old the Shark could be interacting in a way that is different than what Conforti saw or expects. Just a thought.
>>
>>Or did your car get over revved by a miss shift previously and needs something cleared ? I am guessing that when you set the car back to non-shark it behaves normally ? You could install v36 then have your Shark updated for that version. If know update is available, or if the updated one behaves the same way, a full refund would seem to be in order. :smile:
>>Those are good thoughts

I am on an early (I have a 6/02 build) version of the software and, as I havn't ever had problems with stumble or yo-yo have not let the dealer upgrade.

maybe I'll see if i can get a v36 and do as you suggest.

 

GordonD,

If you don't have the stumble or the yo-yo, proceed with caution.

I will at times, make half baked suggestions, just so knowledgable people will be infurated and make a comment they may not have otherwise felt compelled to do.

It's hard for me to think of better options for you, since the manaufacture of the shark seems baffled. Most of the reports of v36 have been pretty good. But I would be compelled to chop off my fingers if introduced the yo-yo or the stumble into a otherwise healthy car.

From a laymens standpoint, It would seem that all the other ECU updates basically take certain pieces of the code, update certain parameters, and return it to be loaded in your car. Since you don't download anything to be sent back, either the recompile of your software is happening in the shark, or the shark is writing out prestored parameters based on a certain version of the code, without changing your actual version number. If the precompiled parameters that he is loading are from a different version, it is very conceivable that the rev limiter is seeing some different info than what it expects, because that part is not updated and reacting in the way you see. It's possible the limp home mode is the default behavour for out of spec info, on your version, but not later versions. Make sense ?

This is something that John Conforti should know about, or be able to recreate in simulation. So please contact him, and see, if this all crap, if a update is available, or even neccessary if you go to v36.

 

>>If I hit the rev limiter while accelerating in my MCS it goes straight into 'limp home' mode rather thatn just cutting off fuel or limiting the spark (whichever it is supposed to)
>>
>>This behaviour has only started since I did a Shark Injector install and Jim Conforti claims
>>a) he didn't do anything which would have caused this ( I tend to belive him due to who he is), and
>>b) no one except me has ever reported this.
>>
>>I 'heard' that there had been other people and I know there were some early problems similar to this with other ECU reflashers so I would love to hear from anyone who has a Shark, with or without the pulley, who has had this happen to them.
>>
>>Thanks
>>

Just as another point of reference, I spanked the rev limiter (not too hard) in a bad shift moment. I have no ECU upgrades, no mods at all. This was at about mile 4 of a 33 mile mostly hi speed highway commute. She went into 'limp home' mode right away. The "Service Engine Soon" light came on but I made my way up the highway and at about mile 30 or so, the light still stayted on but the 'limp mode' went away and she had all the power back.

I got the MCS back to the dealer and they reset the ECU and the mech asked me if I eran her low on fuel, but this happened on a full tank. They said that there was a misfire on a cylinder.

So, there's your additional point of reference about hitting the rev-limiter and 'limp home' mode. I hope it helps.

 

Have you tried resetting the ECU ? I think that removing the battery or ECU for a certain period of time, say a hour maybe, will clear some if not all of the stored data. Somebody who has done this, please help him out.

 

I posted this before, but perhaps you missed it. Although it is acomparison, there is a desfinite reference to the problem you mentioned.

Shark comparison

 

Hmmm,

So they all do that, still ? That seems fishy. Why wouldn't he just leave stock rev limiter were it is, sell it for half the price, and call it a Dolphin.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I havn't tried the ECU reset but I am now in direct contact with Jim Conforti and he is being helpful. He says that they have no other reported instances although through this post there are at tleast 2.

I need to get the codes read and may buy the Peake tool so i can do it without going to the dealer. BTW Conforti says the v36 software currently around is a beta version and the final one will not be out till January. His advice is to wait for that before making changes.

I will go back to my factory settings and see if the problem clears itself. If not then I will probably go to the dealer get their response and try v36.

there seems to be a small number of vehicles where the rev limit = limp home and it may be a sensor or somesuch. I don't run the tank really low and definately on the track day it wasn't but maybe a hard corner caused the fuel to all go away from the pick-up?

In the mean time I'll just need to learn to keep my foot out of it a bit, shift earlier or get a Honda S2000

I'll keep posting as i get any more info.

 

Great,

I'm glad your getting qualified help.

 

>>I need to get the codes read and may buy the Peake tool so i can do it without going to the dealer.

I can recommend the scantool.net ELM-ISO tool for $85


It works on my 2002 MINI Cooper just fine.

 

>>>>I need to get the codes read and may buy the Peake tool so i can do it without going to the dealer.
>>
>>I can recommend the scantool.net ELM-ISO tool for $85
>>
>>
>>It works on my 2002 MINI Cooper just fine.
I'll look into that - thanks for the info

 

I didn't discuss it with Jim. But Josh knew about it because he was kind enough to walk me through the restarting issues on a weekend. I think it took five restarts for the engine to "heal itself," although I don't know if that's a magic number...

 

>>I didn't discuss it with Jim. But Josh knew about it because he was kind enough to walk me through the restarting issues on a weekend. I think it took five restarts for the engine to "heal itself," although I don't know if that's a magic number...

My understanding is the fault light clears after 5 restarts if it doesn't detect the fault any more.

Probably a lack of storage

 

If you can, post up the text of the fault code - I am curious to see what it is.

 

>>If you can, post up the text of the fault code - I am curious to see what it is.

Will do - I'm waiting for my Peake tool to get across the border

 

I also had a limp home mode experiece with my Shark Injected MCS. It was during an aggressive acceleration run on an upshift. I did not think that I hit the rev limiter, but I may have. It went into limp mode, I stopped and restarted the engine and it ran normally. The check engine light remained on for around 5 start cycles. It hasn't happened since, but I have been more carefull.

I sent an email to Josh inquiring if he or JC had seen this problem before. He responed that he has not. This was in Mid November.

I also have the Josh/Conforti pulley and am overall very pleased with the package. My MCS is a 7/02 build with the original ECU program. Never had the stumble. I have seen the various posts regarding relative HP increases for the Shark vs other ECU upgrades. From my view I was pleased with the Shark's improvement in acceleration and response. I installed the Shark about a week before I did the pulley. I don't think that it is worth arguing over a few HP, if others can detect the difference thay are better than me.

The car is in winter storage now, so I will wait until the spring to see what develops with these Shark Injector discussions. Driving a 325ix in the winter, loads of fun too.

 

95tii

thanks for the update - exactly the same experience as i have had. beginning to wonder if there is something in v32 of the software which doesn't like the Shark.

I will probably go to v36 early in the New Year and see what happens.

 

Finally got my Peake code reader and find that the probplem is
P1689 - Electronic Throttle Control Monitor level 2/3 torque calculation error.

I sent this of to Jim Conforti and I will let you know what transpires.

in the meantime I reverted to my factory (v32) settings and will be getting an upgrade to v36 next week. With the Shark uninstalled I can sit on the rev limiter with no problems so it is definately something to do with the Shark.

I find the drive with the 15% pulley and stock programme is not as harsh. If I get into it with the Shark I need both hands on the wheel and it seems to keep accelerating for ever - especially in 3rd - more linear without the Shark. makes me think that for pure street driving the pulley alone is prbably a good choice.

 

Didn't read all of the posts, so not sure if this was mentioned, but I had a similar experience. Same thing happened to me, but I don't have a tuned ECU. Turned out to be a faulty wiring harness, which the local BMW service center replaced for me... might want to have them check it out...

-Storer

_________________
03 IB/W MCS
Alta pulley and intake, Whalen Shift Machine, B&M SS