Limp Mode ON -- a travesty to be certain

[Xandria]

I have SmartieParts' cruise control, which works exceptionally well and has become even more important to me since I've been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (really limits my driving or rather the amount of pressure I can apply to anything with my feet). Any way...I pretty much DRIVE with the cruise from 80 Km/h on. And I like to drive fast. Also this week I had Steve remap my car with his splendid Spanish remap. Torque, baby, yeah!Leading up to...The other day I'm driving back from Abbotsford, just pulling onto the highway, kicking it up well over 100 Km/h, engage cruise and start leaning on it to go faster. Now I'm always twiddling with the cruise (up and down, up and down) rather than braking (see medical condition above) because most people can't drive consistent speeds. I've gotten pretty good at this.So I'm just starting to climb a hill, lean on the cruise's acceleration... and... I'm slowing down. A huge rig is coming up in my rear view mirror! How dare a rig try and go faster than ME! I've NEVER been pushed out of the fast lane. Ever... until the other day.I release the cruise and "floor it" only to watch my speed drop to 100 Km/h... and the rig get REALLY big in my rear view mirror. With wounded pride and a sorry example to all smarties out there, I pulled over into the *ewww* slow lane *ewwww*. This is a novelty for yours truly.While driving VERY SLOW with my foot on the floor I check the dash. No, I haven't been infected with Keith's Check Engine Light Syndrome. No, I haven't inadvertently set the limiter on the cruise. OMG, I can't drive past 100 Km/h! My life is over. Time to hand in my smart keys.With tears in my eyes and a prayer that Keith isn't cruising the highway right now (or any other smartie see me at my most pathetic), I call home. DEAN!!!! I can't go! My smart won't go!!!Right away I hear the keyboard going and Dean's typing a message to Steve. We're thinking something went weird with the remap. I'm thinking Dean (knowing of my leadfootedness) paid Steve off to add a limiter to the remap (ok, not really). But it wouldn't make sense that the remap causes these symptoms. I'm dying as I'm pondering the length of time it'll take me to get home doing 100 Km/h!!!!I decide to pull over (oh God, please, no one I know see me) with my four ways on and turn the car off. Dean's still typing to Steve. I'm thinking Steve's going to soil himself. It's the only amusing thought in my head at that time. I turn the car on and drive... and... WHOOP loudly as he manages to click past 110 Km/h (and keep going).The only thing I can think is that I freaked the cruise control out with all my twiddling and locked it at 100 Km/h OR somehow engaged the Limp Mode.I never want to go through that again.Yeesh. *so embarassed*

[Duck]

Don't worry, Xandria :)One other little quirk I noticed, thanks to the hills of West Virginia (Ontario is FLAT!): Let's say cruise is set at 100. You hit a big hill and dip to 95... as you crest the top of the hill, the car over-compensates and jumps to like 110, before finally settling back in at 100 halfway down the other side!-Iain

[Xandria]

Oh I love that roller coaster action!!! Once you know how the cruise reacts to different terrain, you can totally play with it. *ahem*Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[bilgladstone]

Yikes! This rash of sudden-and-unexplained power loss is more and more disturbing... Did you report it to your service department? Please do, because at some point MB/smart will have to twig to some common fault and (one hopes!) issue a company-wide service bulletin.As your experience illustrates, it's not just a nuisance - it's a safety hazard! Glad you overcame it in the end, Xan.Bil :sun:PS congenital osteoarthritis is my bane as well - proud owner of twin titanium hip joints!

[Xandria]

I'm reluctant to mention anything to MB for a variety of reasons, the least of which would be "Hi, I had this Steve guy install cruise and remap my car..." I can only imagine where the conversation will go from there. I have a theory regarding anything with electronic bits -- it gets a couple shots at fluke happenings. After a third unexplained instance, then I'll actually get concerned. After all, machines only do what we tell them to and frankly I'm surprised I haven't overloaded the cruise yet (hey, Steve, what's the warranty on these things?). ;-)PS 'tis a painful condition. ouch.

[Xandria]

So that's where you were! ;-)

[SMRTENUF]

I have had a similar situation happen to me. I have Steve's Cruise and a re-map. What I found (both times) was that in hitting the up and down twist knob the heel of my pam was hitting the end knob. In affect I was inadvertantly changing the mode from regular cruise to the limiting option. Now I am more careful and have not had a recurence for some time.

[Speedie]

Xan - the up down (gain) of the system may be more pronounced now your Shetlands have been traded in for Clydesdales. I would try the exercise again - with out the cruise (maybe get someone else to drive if your feet are bugging you) - see if you can cruise at 100 - then engage the cruise. I haven't noticed any issues with mine (Steve's cruiz and a VMap) and have used it quite a bit - I do the speed adjust thing with the controller too. If you can see your LED for the cruise control - I believe it changes colour when it is in speed limit mode. Here is the scoop from the user manual:

Press Set/Minus button to turn the MaxSpeed function on, preventing you from going faster than the current speed. The LED will shine red to indicate the speed has been set and MaxSpeed is active

While Moving (over 25 kph) with the MaxSpeed ONPress Mode/Cancel button to turn the MaxSpeed off.Press Continue/Plus button to increase maximum allowed speed by 1kph (press several times or hold for greater increase).Press Set/Minus button to decrease maximum allowed speed by 1kph (press several times or hold for greater decrease).The LED will flash red when you reach your set speed limit.Pressing the brake pedal (optional – can be programmed to ignore brake), shifting to N or R, or falling below 25kph (for example a steep hill) will turn MaxSpeed off.

Cheers,Cameron

[SmartieParts]

Xan, it sounds like you somehow got the limp mode to go. So far, the only *known* causes that I've heard of are over-boost (turbo working too hard) and EGR valve clogging. Could the cruise do it? I'm honestly not in a position to say, having left my fake engineering degree at Mal's house. My only thought is... we'd have more complaints ("we" meaning my customers and the hundreds and hundreds in europe). Could it be the remap? Again... just don't know for certain. The timing was obviously suspiscious, but coincidences do happen.Keep an eye on it. If it happens again, see if you notice any sort of pattern and I'll certainly work with you to help rule it out. If it is indeed caused by one of the mods, then removing the mod will fix it... no big deal. I don't think it is (just from a numbers perspective) but anything is possible. In any event, I've got you covered.How long is the warranty on the cruise? If you got a faulty one darlin... don't you worry about something as trivial as time.Cheers! - Steven

[Gent]

There is some variation from car to car. Exactly the same remap imposed on one smart can cause safe mode on another - not even counting the diferences in the cars that Eddy has seen from year to year - including the Grandstyle, which required a different remap than a similarly equipped smart of the same year. It's wacky, but there does seem to be a need for fine-tuning with some of our cars.

[Xandria]

I have had a similar situation happen to me. I have Steve's Cruise and a re-map. What I found (both times) was that in hitting the up and down twist knob the heel of my pam was hitting the end knob. In affect I was inadvertantly changing the mode from regular cruise to the limiting option. Now I am more careful and have not had a recurence for some time.

Thanks for the comment, but as mentioned in my original post, I checked to make sure I didn't inadvertently set the limiter. I've done that before and (a) the car didn't quite feel like that and ( the red light we have wired to indicate the limiter wasn't on. The red light does work, however, as I checked that in case it was burned out (which is why I pulled over to check to see if the check engine light might have been burned out and it wasn't). The first time I accidentally kicked the limiter on I so panicked though! ha ha.

Speedie: I'll try experimenting again for sure -- thanks for the support. I honestly think it was just one of those flukes. I'm a firm believer that all electronics will eventually glitch at least once. Being in the IT industry as I am, I don't concern myself unless something is repetitious (like Keith and Seymour Mountain and his check engine light, although that could be attributed to divine forces that I'd rather not second guess as to their message to Keith).

Steve: I seriously seriously doubt the limp mode activated due to the mods. For one, as you say, there'd be more evidence if that were so. My money's on either (a) glitch, ( EGR, or © my near magical effect on electronics and the over-twiddling of the cruise (you should see what I can do to light bulbs and monitors). I was also teasing about the warranty ;-) I won't be concerned unless it happens again and again and even then I'd put more money on the EGR valve clogging.

Cheers.

[Speedie]

Good luck with it Xan - one question - was the footwell area very wet when you noticed this (all our liquid sunshine lately)? Just wondering if the "stock - smart supplied - non-third party" accelerator pedal was maybe being grumpy or the connection a bit loose (they are sealed and stick in there pretty good though). Cheers,Cameron

[Xandria]

Good luck with it Xan - one question - was the footwell area very wet when you noticed this (all our liquid sunshine lately)? Just wondering if the "stock - smart supplied - non-third party" accelerator pedal was maybe being grumpy or the connection a bit loose (they are sealed and stick in there pretty good though).

It was dry, actually (good point, though). Everything felt fine except for the fact that I couldn't drive like I normally do ;-) I drive him pretty hard, and as odd as it sounds, I think most of us get a zen like connection with our vehicles and can "sense" when something just isn't right. And while my first instinct was to curse Steve's name ;-) I knew that logically it made no sense and my boy was just misbehaving. Hopefully this is the only incident. But it's something to keep note of. Maybe Chilliwack is my Bermuda Triangle or something.

[SmartieParts]

Chilliwack... oh well, that explains it then. You poor car was just gagging from the smell. hehe That pungent combination of chickens and mushrooms.I very much appreciate you not blaming (and in fact defending) the remap But the timing can not be ignored, so just in case please keep me informed if anything else should happen. If need be, I'll come down and remove it and see if the problem goes away. I agree with you though... most likely nothing serious (glitch that needed the 30 second reboot) or is the EGR issue. Still... if we need to investigate the possibility of the remap (or cruise - but I find that harder to believe) I'm here for you.I don't mind coming down there... but don't invite Danny again unless he brings that olive loaf thing he was describing! *drool* - Steven

[bilgladstone]

I am coming to highly suspect overboost as the culprit.I wonder if Keith can make his car 'go limp' again on Seymour again while watching the MAP gauge to see?

[Xandria]

I am assuming that you were in automatic mode?If so, do you remember if it was shifting back and forth between something like 5/6?Heading uphill, if it were to flip back and forth between 5 and 6... With the pedal down...It could have triggered an overboost.And maybe on the exact same stretch it might give you the three bars of death if retried.Not sure as I don't have softouch to see how it handles accelerating on hills...Even without a check engine light though, I think it might store a code. Tell Keith (read: make Keith) drop by your place and check for a code with his ScanGauge. It might shed some light.Eddie

Now you're talking. Yes, I was in auto, and it's likely it was shifting between 5/6 due to acceleration and hill! The overboost is an excellent theory too.We're getting a ScanGauge which will actually reside in my car, so we'll have to have a peek once we install it!Thanks, Eddie.

[Dang]

Xandria...I see you are already suspicious of my guess, the dreaded 3000 rpm/EGR problem. I guessing 100kph in 5th would have been right around the correct rpm.You pulled over and turned your car off right? That could have in the short term cleared it. The good news (sort of) is if that's the problem, it most certainly will re-appear. My two cents are I would probably wait to see if it ever happens again. If so, at least get the dealer to scan it.Good Luck!Dang

[bilgladstone]

Xandria...I see you are already suspicious of my guess, the dreaded 3000 rpm/EGR problem.

If this is the cause, what's the repair?B:sun:

[Speedie]

hmmm..... Was this right by the Chilliwack airport area? May be a block or so further west or by Chilliwack Mountain? I don't want to say anything until the location is clear - there may be a trend or there may not be a trend.Cheers,Cameron

[Dang]

Xandria...I see you are already suspicious of my guess, the dreaded 3000 rpm/EGR problem.

If this is the cause, what's the repair?B:sun:

A new EGR valve, which at the rate these suckers are dieing Mercedes should just "change" at one of the service intervals.So far mine hasn't died, which I attribute to, uh, pure luck!Later! DangP.S....and it's pretty sad when "Engine won't go above 3000/rpm" has it's own menu item in the DAS....

[Xandria]

I'd like to thank those who have shared my witticisms in this thread, but I'd also like to really thank those who have offered up relevant opinions, speculations and experiences. While my car is modified, I think it valuable to have replies that involve non modified parts of my car.I concur that if the General vehicle operation area of this forum is restricted ONLY to non modified cars, then what's the point? Why does there have to be a split? Just because a car is modified does not mean that any atypical operational issues are related to the mod. I'm very puzzled by such thoughts and frankly, I don't think this forum needs to indulge such ideologies.Believe it or not, I pondered the placement of my original post very carefully. THIS, to me, seemed the most likely locale -- I'm sorry that some of you disagree (and hey, guess what, if you disagree, you don't have to read this thread -- how about that for a concept?). Granted, perhaps I should have stemmed my humour, but come on, a sense of humour is a good thing to have.Aaaany way...

[TFM]

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