Engine Redlines unexpectedly -- HELP!

Sounds scary enough. Thanks for sharing. I have had my share of unintended acceleration on motorcycles and its 10x as scary, the key is to know in advance what to do to avoid personal harm. Worry about the engine later.

What can cause this?
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1. Your TPS (throttle position sensor) may as well be a cable in the sense it can malfunction at any point;
-a. Internally in the POTs (potentiometers) (there are two inverted POTs, one goes from low to high resistance, and one the other way, the ECU uses the two signals and makes sure their diametrically opposed)
-b. Cable / wires to ECU with connectors. Damage/water/whatever
-c. Internal to the ECU are ADCs (analog to digital converters) and they are semiconducting mixed signal devices and can go a bit crazy if;
--I. Operated outside of their voltage range
--II. Operated outside of their temperature range
--III. Exposed to large amounts of radiation (i.e. used on a satellite)
-d. The ECU also has software that has to interpret the data from the ADCs and do something, it could have needed a reboot. I always recommend the front kill switch for 5 min. In traffic 5 min == eternity

2. Your throttle bodies are also controlled from the ECU, have wires and connectors. They are servo drives and can be affected by a lot of things, mostly the same as the TPS candidates. Both would have to fail to create full HP, but if one fails you could get full RPM with 1/2 power.

3. Your pedal assembly could be mechanically malfunctioning, sticking, obstructed by foreign object or itself. Visually inspect it next time (after you are safe)

So what do I think was going on?
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I think your ECU was "likely" in an erroneous state in regard to the TPS -> Throttle Body system. Rebooting the ECU and/or car would be my first action. Key OFF->ON is not rebooting, but does solve issues often.

What should you do if it happens again?
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0. Dont panic
1. Pull both paddles sending the transmission to N. You will bounce off the rev limiter for seconds, no big deal.
2. Exit motorway ASAP but safely
3. Turn key to the ACC setting, one notch from ON. This will stop the engine without locking the steering. You can do this before leaving the motorway, but you will lose power steering and brakes, and if you turn too far risk locking the wheel. You could always turn it OFF completely then back on, leaving the engine stalled, but steering would not lock.
4. Change underwear
5. Reboot car via master switch

*Remember your brakes can stop your vehicle even at wide open throttle, as long as you dont drive like that long enough to damage your brakes or boil your fluid.

How can you diagnose issue yourself with no codes thrown?
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1. Keep a good OBD2 reader like the Innova 3130 in the car. After issue happens but engine is shut down; Plug it in to the OBD2 port. Put it in live data mode with the key ON, but engine OFF. Review TPS data. This will tell you where the ECU thinks the throttle pedal is in its travel. 0% = Idle - no foot on gas. 100% is Wide A$ Open.
2. If (1) shows > Idle, then you need to find out if its a TPS sensor, wiring/connector, or ECU issue. You can check the POTs with a meter in Ohm mode with the TPS unplugged. One pot should go from low to high resistance, the other will be the opposite.
3. If the OBD2 reader shows 0% TPS and a start of engine yeilds Redline, then you need a SD2/3 and the shop will just have to drive it until it happens again, or finds the issue. I would check/replace the pedal TPS assembly and check all of the electrical connectors.
4. If this does not work, then investigate the Throttle Bodies, but there is two of them, and one gone crazy will new a high revving engine but one with limited power because only 4 cyl will be making HP.

Make sure you tell FChat how this gets resolved.

 

I would bank on something in the DBW system, particularly the TPS and/or potentiometer. The advice above is a great start. I recommend on a day you have off driving it around (ideally a day when the shop is open) and letting them know you're going to be testing the car. Try a lot of slow stop and goes for a bit, then try some aggressive driving. If you can't replicate it, then maybe you had a problem in the tps that worked out or some grime in the electronics that cleared.

I agree its pretty scary, though I believe the rev-limiter will keep you from blowing the engine at least...

 

Hi there,

This is Alex Lin, thanks for sharing... My 2005 F430 3 pedals car did not happen this problem at all, however, my 2003 575M also 3 pedals car did happen exactly like your F430 did twice... And about 10 years ago, I had my first 1999 360 F1 (Sold Of course) in which also happened once...

The problem on the 360 years ago, the problem did not go away, and it was the accelarator`s TPS, replaced and the problem never came back till I sold the car... and I had no idea if the next owners encounter the problem again...

On my 575M, it happened exactly like you have described, coming to a stop in red traffic light, after green light, I just barely touch gas pedal, and the V12 wanted to go rev to the max at once.... I immidiately step down the clutch pedal, pulled stick back to neutral, and turned off the key to shut off the engine, hit the flasher emergency button... Rested for about one minute or two, There were barely no other cars on the roads, cause it was midnight 12:30am about... Turned the key back on, started the engine once again, and it immidiately revs up to the max again... very quickly I turn back the key to shut off the engine again.... waited another 5 minutes or so... same thing... So I pop up the hood, turned the main battery killer switch off, let all the electric power go off to rest a bit, and hopefully the car can reset itself... Meanwhile I got back into the driver seat... Repeatingly step the gas pedal down and let it go back and forth abotu 20 times... the gas pedal felt completely smooth and felt no sign of trouble... Some 15 minutes or more passed, I decide to turn back on the main killer switch, and give it the last try before I call the tow truck... (The 575 is the old fashion way to turn the key to start the engine... not like the 430 with the `START` button) I turned the key to start, but with all my alertness ready to turn it back down if I hear the engine rev started to rev high again... Well, Magic happened... the engine ran as it was normal at idling just right below 1000 rpm... I drove off slowly and carefully... and the problem seemed disappeared itself... I don`t know even up to today after some 4 years passed and 25K miles driven... was it the main battery power off and reset solve the problem... or the 20 times repeatingly gas pedal stepped... The problem seems solved....

But, the fear of starting the engine always remained even as of today... And everytime when I insert the key into the ignition, and the moment of turning it forward, I always must be ready to turn it back off if I hear the big engine rev sound...

Alex

 

Stupid problem but could it be your floor mat was jammed against the pedal and caused accelerator to rev?

It happened to me and I pooped myself but reacted quickly and figured it out.

 

I agree with Trent above...

If it happens to me in 6th gear on the highway... I think I'm going to roll with it toyota style.

 

Lucky you,

Unfortunately it was'nt my case... I am a semi pro weekend race drivers which I do about 12 races per year... I hate floor mats in my cars cause it bothers my 3 pedals and heel toe doing... all my 3 pedals Ferraris and Alfa Romeos and even the Automatic AMG CLK 63 Black Series and the Scuderia (the car did not even come with one), I took out all the floor mats...

Alex

 

I'm guessing floor mats as well, happens to me from time to time if I don't remember to slide the mat back once in a while.

 

Trent... as always, fantastic post.

Please do tell us what you find out... if anything, about the situation.

Very scary.

 

I bet this is it, happened to me once as well.

 

I know this is an old post, but I have experienced the same problem recently. Almost to a point of crashing into an intersection, that the car decided to do full throttle approaching a busy intersection, instead of slowing down from 70/80 km/h it just took off like a rocket. It almost ended ugly. Once got car stopped and off, tried twice to restart, and full rpms each time. Then car went into limp mode, but got it towed to dealer, and so far nothing.

Just wondering if there was any sort of solution found to this problem from others having same experience. Car has been reviewed and inspected by Ferrari dealer, and some how they cant find anything wrong, and no codes.

I have concern that Ferrari tech/mechanics just rely on computer to tell them what to fix, basically no code, no idea. Really? Just plug and play parts? No testing, trouble shooting, inspecting, probable cause? etc.... sorry I am just venting.

I need help, because this incident sort of made me loose all faith in this car. I don't feel comfortable to drive it anymore, and let alone have any of my family members in the car. I completely lost faith.
Also to mention, I do NOT have floor mats.

 

Call 60 Minutes and have them do another segment on unintended acceleration and Ferrari will pull out of the US just like Audi did many years ago -- JK. That was never proved and back then there was no drive by wire. Some old lady said it was like her car was possessed by the devil as she had her foot hard on the brake but it still accelerated -- purlease. Audi did widen the gap between the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal on later models.
Then along comes Toyota and even NASA scientists couldn't find any electronic glitches but Toyota did a recall and cut some material off the bottom of the accelerator pedal (my wife's Lexus got recalled and I couldn't believe what they had done -- taken a hacksaw to it).
So here we are again.
Alan

 

I don't remember this thread but I had it happen to my 360 and it was a short in the wiring harness.

 

+1 Trent's post. Its a good thing to keep in the back of your mind on what to do in situations like that.

Good luck.

 

Any idea where it shorted?
Alan

 

Man I wish I never read this post. This is scary stuff and will always be in the back of my mind now. I would love to know if the OP ever sorted this one out.

 

Not really. I think behind the passenger's seat. As I recall, it was causing a CAN bus error. When I was on the brake it would drop to idle. Off the brake was full throttle. Happened during startup so wasn't really an issue. Just had it toed and fixed. Didn't cost that much either so it couldn't have been that hard for them to find.

 

In my situation i was approaching an intersection, and not expecting this to happen. My first reaction was to jam the brake pedal down, while i cut into the left turn lane so i could make the left turn. The revs were red lining, car was fully torqued and pushing, tried to gear down but revved higher, didn't want to blow the gear. Killing the ignition was not on my mind, first thing was trying to access what was going on with traffic around me just in case i had to maneuver while always jamming the brake pedal to the floor. After completing the turn, i then killed the ignition. I had the pedal down so hard, that the brake smell was unreal, they were hot. Guy in another car behind me after i had stopped, smelt them.

Now i will always have this in the back of my mind, and will always be on the edge of my seat expecting this to occur again. Plus, now I'm paranoid to drive to close to the car in front of. I think being paranoid and expecting it to happen, then i will react much calmer and quicker.

Ferrari found nothing wrong with the car, at least with software. No glitches, codes, nothing.
Again, question that arose, could it have been the car mats?. I really don't think so, but who knows. Ferrari and other owners tend to lean towards car mats being the most likely culprit.

My suggestion to everyone, get rid of the car mats, if it does happen, then you know it is definitely the car to blame, no excuse. My personal opinion and experience, there's a glitch with the car.

I repeatedly started the car twice after i got it stopped. Both times the rpm's redlined. I then pressed gas pedal 3-4 times in a row, cycled key on/off 2-3 times. Then i gave it one last shot to start, turned key, dash said OK, hit the start button not long enough to get it to start, pressed again quickly right after, car started in " limp" mode. I understand this occurred because i hit start button twice in a row, i was suppose to turn key off/on before each time the start button is pressed.

Didnt bother driving in in case, i just got it to Ferrari to thoroughly check it out.
Thats my story. If it happens again, back to Ferrari, and back to this chat.

 

My 360 has the hooks in the floor by the seats to retain the mats so it would be unlikely that they can slide under the accelerator pedal. It is very unreal that no CELs were thrown. I did a search at NHTSA and there is no information on unintended acceleration issues. Strange that none of the owners with this issue have bothered to file a complaint with them. I would urge those to do so.
Alan

 

I just got a 2006 F-430 and on the way home after about an hour of pretty normal driving as I went through a toll booth I opened it up a bit going thru 1,2,3,and 4th gear in the manual mode and all at once the car seemed it had a mind of its own where it just wanted to go faster and faster, after figuring out what was going on I tried to up shift to keep up with the revs but going too fast with no control to slow down on a busy highway decided to downshift while having my foot on the brake pedal almost going thru the floor board. The smell of either the brakes or clutch ,not sure at that point, was noisating. Finally I was able to pull over on the shoulder about a mile further on the highway figured out just to shut down the engine I think i had down to 2nd gear by then.
I gathered my wits tried to start it again and it went straight to redline , I immediately shut it down. Waited about 20mins tried calling local ferrari dealer service but was closed on saturday. Banged on the 2 throttle assemblies, shook a few wires started it again one last try, before the state trooper woud call tow company, and revved normal decided to move on but not revving no higher than 3500-4000rpm. Made it home 45min later. Got home everyone is excited about the new car decided to take a friend for a ride , 4hrs after I got home, once again thinking that possibly carbon might of being stuck in the throttle bodies from lack of use, decided to show my friend a liitle power pulling 1,2,and 3rd and the same started to happen once again a lot of smoke not sure from where brakes, clutch, or possibly engine oil. Pulled over stopped ,shut down tried to restart after a few minutes car had a hard time starting and the car running erratic at idle. Decided to get home less than a mile car stalls at the only traffic light , started right up as soon as i would put it in gear or 1 it would die under the load, after about 8 tries barely made it home.
Thats my story on the first day of my new car, very depressed, but optimistic that the problem or issue hopefully can be resolved. Any help on this will be greatly appreciated.

 

I just got a 2006 F-430 and on the way home after about an hour of pretty normal driving as I went through a toll booth I opened it up a bit going thru 1,2,3,and 4th gear in the manual mode and all at once the car seemed it had a mind of its own where it just wanted to go faster and faster, after figuring out what was going on I tried to up shift to keep up with the revs but going too fast with no control to slow down on a busy highway decided to downshift while having my foot on the brake pedal almost going thru the floor board. The smell of either the brakes or clutch ,not sure at that point, was noisating. Finally I was able to pull over on the shoulder about a mile further on the highway figured out just to shut down the engine I think i had down to 2nd gear by then.
I gathered my wits tried to start it again and it went straight to redline , I immediately shut it down. Waited about 20mins tried calling local ferrari dealer service but was closed on saturday. Banged on the 2 throttle assemblies, shook a few wires started it again one last try, before the state trooper woud call tow company, and revved normal decided to move on but not revving no higher than 3500-4000rpm. Made it home 45min later. Got home everyone is excited about the new car decided to take a friend for a ride , 4hrs after I got home, once again thinking that possibly carbon might of being stuck in the throttle bodies from lack of use, decided to show my friend a liitle power pulling 1,2,and 3rd and the same started to happen once again a lot of smoke not sure from where brakes, clutch, or possibly engine oil. Pulled over stopped ,shut down tried to restart after a few minutes car had a hard time starting and the car running erratic at idle. Decided to get home less than a mile car stalls at the only traffic light , started right up as soon as i would put it in gear or 1 it would die under the load, after about 8 tries barely made it home.
Thats my story on the first day of my new car, very depressed, but optimistic that the problem or issue hopefully can be resolved. Any help on this will be greatly appreciated.

 

Congrats on the car! Sorry about the issues, get it resolved and enjoy your new car! If you bought from a Ferrari dealer, although as-is they often stand behind the cars they sell and will take care of you or work with you. That has been my experience... If you bought from an independent dealer it depends on their "approach", but I would at least talk to them, and if you bought from a private party you are most likely on your own. Regardless, I would not run car anymore, have it towed to experience F-car service place, independent or dealer.

 

Wow. How many miles on it? Has it been in for maintenance yearly? Really would love to know what causes this.

 

My bet is a short in the wiring, not a physical/mechanical issue. You need access to an SD to see the errors.

 

Im going to have the have the local dealer take a look. I will keep everyone posted