Governed at 5000rpm...?

[S3Paulo]

A blue sky always promts me to get the S out for some sensible motoring and this morning was no exception... even took the top off to get that wind in my hair experience that we all know and love.
Wheeled it out of the garage and started her up..the new battery spun it furiously and she barked into life almost immediately. The roads were a tad wet so I applied my new rule of only accellerating hard when all the wheels are pointing in the same direction....wont get caught out on that one again...
Anyways...got the old girl thoroughly warmed up and started to give her some welly...long straight road, 4th gear, 4500rpm and rising...thought to myself..I'll just pip the 5000rpm mark and then ease her back....as the needle hit 5000 the whole engine shuddered and coughed...the power just fell away. It came back to normal sub 5000rpm so I suppose it's governed.

Is this standard for all S3's....I'd appreciate any comments chaps...

It drives ok now...so it hasn't blown up. Cheers Paul.

PS A t shirt and fleece is just not enough this time of year for that top down experience

[Roy C]

It sounds like the Rev Limiter. The Rev Limiter on my S2 cuts in at 6000rpm. I thought that the limit on the ECU for 2.9S was set around 6K revs, but I imagine it may be (electronically) adjustable. Anybody know?

[SS2.]

I had exactly the same symptoms last year - hit the gas, engine hits 5k revs and just dies.

I did solve the problem but I couldn't tell you what caused it in the first place. I had a number of other running issues at the time (lumpy and erratic tickover, for one) and I took an afternoon to clean out the Idle Speed Control Valve, replace the Throttle Pot and clean the internal wires on both Air Flow Meters. I tidied up some engine loom wiring at the same time. The sudden cut out at 5k hasn't happened since.

Might be worth running the car with the TP disconnected and see what happens at the 5k mark..

[GreenV8S]

I think 5k is too low to be the standard rev limiter (6k5 I think), but it's conceivable that somebody has fitted an aftermarket one.

[TimW]

Its a V6 it should rev much higher easily..

[Phil The Rep]

Try putting a timing light on it to see if there is an inttermitant miss fire, if so it may be the coil. I had a simular fault on my S2. It was the coil.

[doddze]

5000 rpm is definately too low.... mine will pull past 6000rpm and hits the limit between 6250 and 6400 ... not sure exactly where it is as I'm to busy changing gear to look!!

[SPIVVY]

Phil The Rep said:

Try putting a timing light on it to see if there is an inttermitant miss fire, if so it may be the coil. I had a simular fault on my S2. It was the coil.

i also had a similar problem and replaced the coil and seemed to cure problem

also i didn't know the S had a Rev limiter i must test it out soon and see if it works

[S3Paulo]

Ok chaps...thanks.....food for thought...I will investigate further....Paul.

[lwt]

I had a similar problem with an S2, cured by running redex petrol additive to clear the fuel injectors. Takes a couple of treatments to work. Ian.

[ijbd]

Had my rev limiter cut in once.
No bangs or shudders, just deceleration for 0.2 s, then acc for 0.2 s. Three times umtill I gpt the shift up hint:-) Got past the pesty Volvo T5 though, station car too...
So I think you have not seen your rev limiter yet.
Do not remember max, but it was as in the book, and 6000 or close.

Worked out the torque curve/gear ratios after that experience, resulting in torque at the wheels vs roadspeed in each gear: no reason for such rev's. But you do need 5250 for max acceleration (depending on which gear shift). At that rpm there is more torque at the wheels in th next gear. Cannot find the excel or lotus sheet I made at the time.

Before further tests, I would calibrate your speed indication with stopwatch and roadmarks.
Then work out rpm's at a certain speed from that.

mvg Boudewijn