I recently had a very strange thing happen and wanted to see if it ever happened to anyone else. I was racing a WRX off the line and my car powered down on me. I was in drive and not manually shifting. I had the traction control off and gave it 80% power off the line. I chirped the tires and then floored it. The car went all the way until it redlined and then powered down. I took my foot of the gas and then the power jumped back up and I continued the chase.

I tried it again (floored it off the line) and it redlined and powered down again. Ever happen to anyone else? Is something wrong?

By the way, I took him once I kicked into 3rd... Inexpererinced driver with a manual.

 

It sounds like the traction control is just doing its thing since you can't completely turn it off using the manual switch. Think of it as "big brother" looking over your shoulder.
Or it's your rev limiter kicking in, but you did say you weren't shifting manually, so your tranny should be shifting itself well before the rev limiter kicks in.

 

Something isn't right about that...it shouldn't cut out like that.

BTW, with the auto stick, there is no rev limiter.
It doesn't matter if your in auto mode or manual mode, the car will still shift itself once you hit redline before hitting the rev limiter.
I've done it many times....try it some time, down shift it to put it into manual mode, then stomp on the gas and let it go to redline...and it will shift on its own, they made it dummy proof.

 

Eracer76, I would try it, but I have a 6 spd.
So which is it? First you say there is no rev limiter, then you say it shifts "automatically" before hitting the rev limiter.
In other words, are you saying that the "fail safe" program in your tranny that makes the shift for you automatically (just in case you accidentally take it too far) does in essence, take the place of an actual rev limiter?
In the manual shift cars, you aren't supposed to be able to free rev them over 4,000 rpm with the clutch depressed without the rev limiter shutting you down. (I suppose to keep you from gernading the clutch, and or damaging the transmission internals). I just assumed the automatics had the same "dummy proof feature.
Anybody care to test it out?

 

You got me there...what I meant was, there isnt really a rev limiter when in gear, because the car will automatically up-shift no matter what. It doesn't matter if its in manual mode or auto mode.
There may be a rev limiter while its in park or neutral, I've never tried that though.

 

I probably shouldn't even comment on anything that happens to the automatics since I don't have one. But the situation that "Defrostyman" mentioned really just sounded like the "traction control kicking in" to me.
One night an older Camaro "IROC" started to get frisky next to me, and I down shifted into 2nd. gear and started pulling away when I hit a rough section of road while under full throttle. Instantly (thanks to the momentary loss of traction) my RPM's dropped, and of course the Camaro drove right past me. I had my traction control turned off, but as we all know. Big brother is always looking out for us. That is, until we pull his fuse.

 

I'm going to test out a few of the scenarios that were pointed out and will report back. I'll try traction control on, traction off, as well as redlining using the auto stick. I'll report back shortly. I appreciate the feedback. There may be something wrong with my trans or maybe my rev limiter. Who knows.

 

On my SRT6, I have taken off at a stop light and the traction control
will virtually shut engine down and brake so hard that it will
throw me forward in my seat. I hate when that happens.
Turning off traction control helps considerably but the system is in place
for a reason. I'm sure it has saved my butt more than once.
That was from the line. It has not happened to me during full throttle
toward red line. It doesn't sound like traction control...

Have you been able to duplicate??

 

If you can duplicate the problem, try unhooking the sprint booster. Keep us informed on the progress!!

 

I have not been able to duplicate the problem. I am guessing it was the traction control kicking in. It happened once in the past without the sprint booster and once with it. I guess I should be thankful it never happened again. I will make sure the traction control is off in the future if I am really getting on it.

Thanks for all the posts...