This past weekend we ran an autocross in the rain and my co-driver did the big spin. Started around clockwise, he almost caught it, it snapped back and went around counterclockwise. I was in the car and I still couldn't say whether we went around once or twice.

Car wouldn't start after multiple tries. He turned the key off and back on numerous times. Finally an S2K owner up in grid had the announcer tell us to remove the key from the lock and re-insert it. That did the trick. It started.

I have been reading old threads all morning looking for an explanation of what happened and why it took removing the key to reset the fault. I have seen/heard everything from there being a rotation sensor that cuts off the engine after XXX degrees of spin to rolling backwards forces the engine to turn backwards and forces exhaust gasses into the injectors.

Does anyone out there actually know what happens, what fault is detected, and why it takes removing the key from the lock to reset it? So far everything I have seen ranges from borderline plausible to totally ludicrous. I would appreciate a real explanation that is understandable.

 

I'm curious, too. I was in the back seat of an E36 M3 that spun onto the freeway perpendicular to oncoming traffic (traction control was on, too!). A Semi almost jacknifed into us as my coworker (who was driving) tried to start the car numerous times with no success. Seems like the inherent dangers of not being able to move your car out of the way after a mishap is far more dangerous than the chance of engine damage.

 

I've always been told it's due do a lack of fuel pressure after spinning the motor backward and it just takes a while to repressurize. This might explain why removing the key and replacing it would prime the fuel pump and allow the car to refire.

But this is strictly conjecture.

 

I have no idea what causes that, but I can tell you that there's nothing in my car which causes the engine to cut out in a spin; I've spun any number of times (especially in wet autocrosses); the first time, I had to turn it over a while before it caught, but I didn't have to take the key out; after that, I learned "both feet in," and it's never even stalled. I don't think that I've ever done more than a 180, though.

I have heard the "exhaust in the cylinders, too, and give it some credence.

I did lose power assist on the brakes the time I did a quick 180 at about 85mph. But the adrenaline rush as the tire wall approached at 85mph was enough to make up for that.

 

Weird, my gf did the same thing in her S. She stalled it and franticlly tried to turn the key and started freaking out going the car won't start, the car won't start. Finally I said, sweetie you have to push the button

 

the spin doesn't stop your engine from running. not getting the clutch in, in time is the cause.

I've heard lots of ideas why the car won't start right back up. I'm not sure which is the true answer tho.

 

Yup. Both feet in. It can be a really important safety concern to keep the engine running (as some people in this discussion have mentioned).

The difficulty restarting it could be for many reasons, including good old-fashioned vapor lock.

 

yeah you learn that quickly when you're racing (atleast I did). Last thing you want is to be stalled on the line in the middle of a race.

Then again, I've mostly stopped spinning

-Ry

 

Same thing happened to me when I went AutoXing a couple weeks ago, If you press the clutch in and keep the engine from stalling, it saves you lots of time
Although I have no clue why the engine won't start.

 

fuel starvation is the cause..... you have to prime it again to restart.