Quote:
Originally Posted by jjaisli
So I live in North Jersey and just ran VIR & Road Atlanta back to back (driving to both tracks). I don't know how you guys in the southwest do it. I was literally dying out there with the heat and humidity. I think I managed 14 out of a possible 20 total sessions. And at least half of them I ran short. VIR was a high of 90* and Road Atlanta was 98* on the Saturday. Just brutal.
Anyway, the car was OK at VIR but I was continually getting a CEL at RA, 0351. The first time I contacted my shop and they confirmed that it was a coil pack and they had experienced it as well and it was OK to reset it. (In 20 track days over 2.5 years, it's the first time I EVER had the check engine light come on in the car).
However, after that, the check engine light kept coming on after 2-3 laps into every session. The same code 0351. One of the guys from Chin said they see it all the time with hot temperatures and it's likely just the sensors overheating and not necessarily the coilpack itself. The problem is likely made much worse because I'm running an Open Flash header (& stage II tune) which is unshielded and is likely causing a tremendous heat build up.
When the check engine light came on, the traction control light also quickly flashed, even though I had the TC off. And the car seemed to hesitate at lower RPM and generally felt a bit sluggish. The car ran fine on the road all the way back to NJ and the check engine light hasn't come back on. So my question(s) are:
1. Do those of you who do track events with ambient temperatures > 90* frequently pull a cel 0351?
2. Has this eventually (or ever) resulted in a failed coil pack?
3. This may be somewhat obvious but would you recommend having the header wrapped or coated? I'm running an oil cooler but the stock radiator.
4. Was I right to pit when the check engine light came on or just being over cautious? (Frankly, my body was telling me to anyway. How in the HELL do you guys drive in 100* temperatures). Bleuch.
My next two events are Watkins Glen and Mont Tremblant so I doubt I'm going to see those kind of temperatures again but one never knows.
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1. Some people do, but it's an issue that can be permanently fixed. A nice temporary fix is to just carry an extra coil pack, and swap it when it happens again. They're not too expensive (~100 bucks)
2. Your coil pack is already degraded; that flashing slip light is your car repeatedly tripping a CEL, from misfiring. You'll also feel hesitation in your power delivery, and can see it in logs.
3. No need, but wrapping the header can marginally improve power.
4. Absolutely. Preserve the car. Although you're not racing, remember, in a race, if you don't finish, you're last.
You should see the 120+ temps we get out here in California
Also, get rid of that OFT, and get a proper tune.