Rev Limiter? I thought you were jokin'!!!

[Dushkwoneshe]

I just got my car (2.3 n/a a4ld) a few weeks ago & haven't had much time to
play with it. The tranny shifts at 2500, so today I thought I'd "manually" shift
it. At about 2800, the motor just cycled between 2700 & 2800. Is this a rev
limiter? Is there anything I can do about it? The motor seems to have a lot
more power left, but I can't touch it right now.

I tried some searches, but couln't find my answer. Sorry if this has been
covered.

Thanks, j

 

[i4power]

No dude, your car shouldn't do that. The rev limiter is actually at 6250rpm. It sounds like something is seriously wrong.

 

[T3AL]

onmy moms saturn in 2nd gear the highest on the redline it will go is 7200 maybe thats the limit of that gear.

 

[i4power]

onmy moms saturn in 2nd gear the highest on the redline it will go is 7200 maybe thats the limit of that gear.

No, there is no limit of a gear, only the limit of how fast the engine will spin. Again, it sounds like there is a major electrical problem. possibly a governor of some kind.

 

[T3AL]

thats what i was thinking of

 

[Dushkwoneshe]

No dude, your car shouldn't do that. The rev limiter is actually at 6250rpm. It sounds like something is seriously wrong.

Oh I don't like the sound of this.

It belonged to some girl away at college. Her dad bought it for her. Maybe he
had somethin put on it. Any thoughts on where to look for a govenor or what to look for? Didn't see anything except this big box on the pass. fenderwell.
Have no idea what it is. Maybe I should trace out the wires tomorrow.

 

[Dushkwoneshe]

What about the 2500 shift point?

Is that normal?

 

[bhuff30]

2500 is normal for light driving, but for spirited driving, it may rev to 3-3500. If I really got on it, it would shift at 4500.
Looks like you have a problem to trouble shoot.

 

[Dushkwoneshe]

2500 is normal for light driving, but for spirited driving, it may rev to 3-3500. If I really got on it, it would shift at 4500.
Looks like you have a problem to trouble shoot.

I feel a sick day commin on for tomorrow.

Think I'll start by callin the previous owner's dad & the guy who worked on it
for him.

Thanks to all for the info.

j

 

[mr_woodster]

Hm, i think i remember something about if your airmeter isnt working or plugged in it will run , idle but not rev ...maybe that is only related to a vam?

 

[Dushkwoneshe]

I'm so slow I hafta clean bugs off the rear glass where they run into me

Hm, i think i remember something about if your airmeter isnt working or plugged in it will run , idle but not rev ...maybe that is only related to a vam?

F/I is somethin new to me.

I would never have thought to check the maf. Thanks

My last vehicle was a carbed 83 2.3 (mildly worked) Ranger & it ran great.

I sure hope this turns out to be a simple problem.

 

[MustangLXT]

Mine will shift at 5000 when i really push on it. I've never pushed it much past 5000 in nuetral or park though.

 

[Willy0314]

if your air filter is plugged, or your exhust is really plugged they could be a cause, but i've never heard of a motor that would be that held down. I'd run a compression check. She might be dieing

 

[Dushkwoneshe]

if your air filter is plugged, or your exhust is really plugged they could be a cause, but i've never heard of a motor that would be that held down. I'd run a compression check. She might be dieing

Nope

Air & exhaust are wide open

Don't know about the compression (it has 170,00 mi)

It sounds & feels strong--no nasty noises or smoking

Just when it reaches 2800, it's like you keep cutting the key off/on

I can still get 0 to 60 in around 11 seconds, which I thought was a fairly
normal time

I don't know

 

[MrKwik]

the black box you mentioned is the multifunction relay module or somesuch. It has relays for the fan, fuel pump and some other stuff in it. Have you changed the fuel filter? What happens when you get it in high gear and stay in it? Does it still cut out at 2800 or only when you do the manual shift thing?

 

[Dushkwoneshe]

the black box you mentioned is the multifunction relay module or somesuch. It has relays for the fan, fuel pump and some other stuff in it. Have you changed the fuel filter? What happens when you get it in high gear and stay in it? Does it still cut out at 2800 or only when you do the manual shift thing?

Mike

New f/filt---haven't run it past 75mph yet

If I put it in o/drive, it shifts at 2500 rpm, no matter how hard I punch it---
talked to a guy here who had an '89 like mine & he could get 4500-5000
out of 1st gear--other guys on here said the same thing

Shifted manually, I hit the 2800 wall

Park/neutral, will not rev past 2800

Picture this------at 2800, it's like something is cutting my fuel &/or ignition
off, then turning it back on at 2700-2750, then back off at 2800, then on...
over & over & over

j

 

[i4power]

Picture this------at 2800, it's like something is cutting my fuel &/or ignition
off, then turning it back on at 2700-2750, then back off at 2800, then on...
over & over & over

j

Yeah, that's what Ford rev liimiters do. Maybe your computer is messed up?

 

[bhuff30]

pull for codes on the computer. Is your check engine light on?

 

[Willy0314]

definatly sounds like a computer problem. I dontl know if it applies to these cars or not, but with some ford computers, if it gets certain codes, it will go into "Limp" mode. It pulls timing so that the motor dosen't hurt itself, or something like that. Maybe your computer is doin something along those lines, pulling timing or messing with the rev limits or something.

 

[Dushkwoneshe]

Oh, lovely! Just what I need! A flaccid computer!

definatly sounds like a computer problem. I dontl know if it applies to these cars or not, but with some ford computers, if it gets certain codes, it will go into "Limp" mode. It pulls timing so that the motor dosen't hurt itself, or something like that. Maybe your computer is doin something along those lines, pulling timing or messing with the rev limits or something.

I'm thinkin you're on to somethin here---goin in the shop on 11/22 or 29
to find out---I'd get it checked tomorrow, but if I wait till then, he'll check
it for free & I've got correct change for that

Brian--yeah, the ck eng lite is on---sorry i forgot to mention that---the guy
who worked on this car for most of its life said,"Yeah we need to see what
that is. Probably the o2 sensor."----IDK

Thanks, guys. You've educated me beyond my intelligence in this area.

I hope I can help someone with a problem at some point in the future

j