I learned something new this weekend when I was out in Hitchcock, TX at a track event with the Supra guys. The tires weren't warmed up yet and I took it a bit too harsh around the first bend. So, I learned when you spin out, not just a little spin out, but pretty bad, the car will not only shut off, but it will be difficult to restart it again. I finally got it restarted - and then it choked at 2900-3000rpms and wouldn't go any more than that.

I drove around the track the rest of the way. I was thinking to myself, how the heck am I gonna get back to Austin (3 hours away) while keeping it under 3000 rpms?

I pulled it off the track and then just checked things under the hood. I put the key back in the ignition and it started up just fine. So, the ECU must have freaked, thought I was in an accident and refused to go anywhere. At least, this is the typical explaination from the Supra guys out there.

All is well, so if you spin out, turn off the motor, take out the key, put it back in and restart it.

If that doesn't work, you'll have to pull the ECU out to reset it, but simply taking the key out seems to do the trick.

btw, tomorrow I'll have pics up from the event. about 60 Supra's, a Z06, three S2000's (red, silver, yellow), two Lexus (or is that Lexi?), a BMW 3 series, a WRX, and even a Camry. A few other misc cars out there, but damn, it was a blast. That track ate up my tires so I'll be giving Conner a call sometime soon.

 

How far is Hitchcock from Austin?
That's sound like fun..how big is the road course?
I had similar experience with regards to spin-out and unable to run more than 3K RPM. The Check Engine light came on even after several restarts...I did not pull out the key, just simply turn off and on again. I unplugged the battery for 2 minutes to reset the ECU. Afterwards, everything is back to normal.

 

Here are the directions for next time.

 

Schatten,
I had a spin out on a recent track event and killed the engine. Just restarted and everthing was fine. Don't remember any other members here ever mentioning anything about startup problem after a bad spin.!!

 

Hmm Schatten, that's strange. I've spun the car a couple of times (during closed course events). Once the engine stalled, and once I got both feet down in time to keep the engine running. Neither time did the engine shut itself off or misbehave in any way after the spin.

 

Schatten,

Since I have NO earthly idea how most of that stuff is connected, this is a guess pulled out of my ass, but...could the fast spin have temporarily drained the fuel lines? If the ECU saw a lean fuel condition (is that right for detonation?), maybe it would shift into safe mode. Anyone?

 

On the autox circuit last year, I've had a couple of nice spins. In my experience, the fuel washes up out of the pump and lays along the outer wall of the tank. This starves the engine, and so it dies. Like any engine that fails due to lack of fuel, it takes a little while for it to be restarted. My pattern was spin, clutch in, wait for spin to stop, sigh, and mash the start button. The small amount of time I waited in between the spin and the start button resulted in enough time for the fuel to flow back into the tank. I usually ran with 3 bars of fuel, that way I only starved the engine if I spun, at which point my time was screwed anyway...

 

I had a similar engine-start problem the first time I deliberately spun my car. The reason was that I wasn't intending to actually spin, but to do a controlled slide (wet parkinglot, zero experience) After I came to a stop, I realized that I'd forgotten to put the clutch in. There was too many things to think about for my meager abilities, and I was using gas to break the back end loose. Best thing I can figure is that the car was rolling backwards in a forward gear, and I'd run the engine backwards for a brief period, and the ECU had shut some stuff down to save the engine. After a few tries, she started up again, and everything appeared to be ok (that was at least 1000 miles ago, so hopefully no damage <knocks on wood>). Could you have forgotten the clutch part by any chance?

 

nope, didn't forget the clutch. that wasn't the case. basically, it started, then died, waited a minute, started then died, waited a few minutes, started then died. When it finally started and held a not-so-good idle - then I took it through the rest of the track.

the tires were cold, and going around the sweeping left-hander, I spun left - let off on the gas (my big mistake), which threw the back end around more, put gas on to correct and then it swung right and then back hard around 270 degrees to the left again. It was pretty harsh, and I kept thinking I had control, but oh well - I didn't. it was fun though - and each time spin outs happen, you learn a lot about the limits of the car and the driver - this time it was about the limits of the ECU. luckily, at this course, when you spin out or fly off the track, you will only hit more pavement, no walls, no grass, nothing of the sort.

 

Happened to me too! I was in a parking lot having fun and spun out. She wouldn't start back up and I was freaking out. I took out the key and put it back in and still nothing...then I just waited a while and prayed. After a minute I put the key back in and she started fine. It was late and night when it happened too.