Strange acceleration problem happened today

UnknownSpiritX5 · 08-07-2009, 08:53 PM

I was driving my 328i and stopped at a red light. Then when it was time to move again, I pressed on the gas as I normally do (no flooring it, nothing out of the ordinary), but then I realized the car was barely moving. At first I was confused as to whether I even pressed the gas or not, but I realized my foot was solid on the gas pedal. Then it finally started speeding, but there was a sign that kept flashing very quickly --I couldn't even tell what it was.

The car started accelerating normally again, but I was freaked out. It's the first time something like this happened. Any ideas what it is or what might have caused it?

VTECaddict · 08-07-2009, 09:00 PM

DTC/DSC most likely. Was the road wet or dusty/gravely?

darkphantom · 08-07-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

DTC/DSC most likely. Was the road wet or dusty/gravely?

+1

If it was slippery in even the slightest bit...you've just learned how the DSC in the car works!

jopa489 · 08-07-2009, 09:06 PM

Agreed with the above, that DTC was kicking in.

UnknownSpiritX5 · 08-07-2009, 09:29 PM

Not to burst your bubble or anything, but the road was dry as ever. It wasn't raining (hasn't in a couple of days) and it wasn't rough either. I mean it would have been understandble if I've never driven the car before in wet roads, but I have (in fact, I had a topic about "drifting my 328i in rain" a week or two ago. So it's definitely not because of rain.

I'm getting kind of scared now. The sad thing is, I couldn't even see the error sign. It was ghostly blink (like when it's sensing an error but the errors going away and coming back, so the sign wasn't fully lighted either). If I knew the error sign, I could have looked it up =(

EDIT:

I found this, could this be it? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2142335AApzXmC

VTECaddict · 08-07-2009, 09:43 PM

You could have set off on a manhole cover or something...

Error's don't flash quickly. They stay on for several seconds and are accompanied by a chime.

MrZ · 08-07-2009, 10:37 PM

This one?

UnknownSpiritX5 · 08-07-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrZ

This one?

Crap, I think so

(it was just coming on and off and I had to keep my eyes on the road, but most likely it was this)

What does it mean ?

VTECaddict · 08-07-2009, 11:24 PM

DSC

NiVeDh · 08-07-2009, 11:36 PM

This is DSC/DTC.

jopa489 · 08-08-2009, 12:23 AM

It's possible there was some gravel or sand on the road. If something was flashing as you were accelerating, then went away, there's really nothing else it could be.

vitologarcia · 08-08-2009, 01:14 AM

I like to have them inactive. It makes it so much fun when you HIT the gas pedal!! HAHA
You can easily very very easily make someone piss their pants, but hey that is just me!

Z22Z · 08-08-2009, 01:56 AM

the dsc/dtc on these cars are so sensitive that the slightest bit of traction can cause them to activate. usually for me, a small bump under my tire while accelerating will set it off.

persian54 · 08-08-2009, 02:03 AM

IMHO... it's tooo sensitive... i can't even accelerate unless i turn it turn DTC off.... i mean, sometimes when you wanna floor it and go and it breaks for you it can really throw you off and you can crash....

.:bHd:. · 08-08-2009, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z22Z

the dsc/dtc on these cars are so sensitive that the slightest bit of traction can cause them to activate. usually for me, a small bump under my tire while accelerating will set it off.

Thats why I drive with my DTC off.. its the perfect amount of slippage

MrZ · 08-08-2009, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnknownSpiritX5

Crap, I think so

(it was just coming on and off and I had to keep my eyes on the road, but most likely it was this)

What does it mean ?

Traction control. There was not enough traction with the road (at least that's what the car thought), so the car cut some power to avoid slippage.
Probably a bit wet road, some sand, uneven road, potholes, streetcar rails. As I said the light comes on instantly when there is not enough traction, so it might just stay on (i.e. starting in heavy show, and there is always not enough traction) or just blink (wet, bumps -> some areas with not enough traction).

Anyways, you'll see that a lot in winter =)

jmsent · 08-08-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnknownSpiritX5

Not to burst your bubble or anything, but the road was dry as ever. It wasn't raining (hasn't in a couple of days) and it wasn't rough either. I mean it would have been understandble if I've never driven the car before in wet roads, but I have (in fact, I had a topic about "drifting my 328i in rain" a week or two ago. So it's definitely not because of rain.

I'm getting kind of scared now. The sad thing is, I couldn't even see the error sign. It was ghostly blink (like when it's sensing an error but the errors going away and coming back, so the sign wasn't fully lighted either). If I knew the error sign, I could have looked it up =(

If you're in area with a lot traffic and it hasn't rained in a while, you can get a buildup of oil film on the pavement-especially at an intersection. One of the beauties of having ridden a motorcycle for years is you actually see the condition of the pavement. One of the first things you learn: be very careful at intersections.

UnknownSpiritX5 · 08-08-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmsent

If you're in area with a lot traffic and it hasn't rained in a while, you can get a buildup of oil film on the pavement-especially at an intersection. One of the beauties of having ridden a motorcycle for years is you actually see the condition of the pavement. One of the first things you learn: be very careful at intersections.

i was suspecting it might have been due to oil. Well in any case, i'm glad it was just the dtc/dsc doing its job and that nothings wrong with the car.

adelphi_sky · 08-08-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmsent

If you're in area with a lot traffic and it hasn't rained in a while, you can get a buildup of oil film on the pavement-especially at an intersection. One of the beauties of having ridden a motorcycle for years is you actually see the condition of the pavement. One of the first things you learn: be very careful at intersections.

talk about oil. When I was driving my passat about 5 years back, made a left turn down a hill at an intersection and swa a car in front of me slide and hit the curb. Then my car started sliding and I had the wheels turned completely away from the curb. Luckily my tires caught before I hit the curb. This was in the middle of summer on a dry day and you couldn't see any evidence of oil.

UnknownSpiritX5 · 08-08-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

talk about oil. When I was driving my passat about 5 years back, made a left turn down a hill at an intersection and swa a car in front of me slide and hit the curb. Then my car started sliding and I had the wheels turned completely away from the curb. Luckily my tires caught before I hit the curb. This was in the middle of summer on a dry day and you couldn't see any evidence of oil.

Oil, the hidden enemy O_o

Z22Z · 08-09-2009, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .:bHd:.

Thats why I drive with my DTC off.. its the perfect amount of slippage

doesnt it get annoying having to turn it on every time you get in the car? for me the dtc button is what keeps me from screwing around too much.

08-07-2009, 08:53 PM	#1
UnknownSpiritX5 Drive till Infinity 33 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 07 328i (E90), 2020 X5 40i (G0 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	Strange acceleration problem happened today I was driving my 328i and stopped at a red light. Then when it was time to move again, I pressed on the gas as I normally do (no flooring it, nothing out of the ordinary), but then I realized the car was barely moving. At first I was confused as to whether I even pressed the gas or not, but I realized my foot was solid on the gas pedal. Then it finally started speeding, but there was a sign that kept flashing very quickly --I couldn't even tell what it was. The car started accelerating normally again, but I was freaked out. It's the first time something like this happened. Any ideas what it is or what might have caused it? __________________ Drive till Infinity \| '07 Jet Back 328i \| Sport-LESS ._. \|
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08-07-2009, 09:00 PM	#2
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	DTC/DSC most likely. Was the road wet or dusty/gravely? __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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08-07-2009, 09:06 PM	#4
jopa489 Major General 122 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Agreed with the above, that DTC was kicking in. __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
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08-07-2009, 09:29 PM	#5
UnknownSpiritX5 Drive till Infinity 33 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 07 328i (E90), 2020 X5 40i (G0 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	Not to burst your bubble or anything, but the road was dry as ever. It wasn't raining (hasn't in a couple of days) and it wasn't rough either. I mean it would have been understandble if I've never driven the car before in wet roads, but I have (in fact, I had a topic about "drifting my 328i in rain" a week or two ago. So it's definitely not because of rain. I'm getting kind of scared now. The sad thing is, I couldn't even see the error sign. It was ghostly blink (like when it's sensing an error but the errors going away and coming back, so the sign wasn't fully lighted either). If I knew the error sign, I could have looked it up =( EDIT: I found this, could this be it? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2142335AApzXmC __________________ Drive till Infinity \| '07 Jet Back 328i \| Sport-LESS ._. \|
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08-07-2009, 09:43 PM	#6
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	You could have set off on a manhole cover or something... Error's don't flash quickly. They stay on for several seconds and are accompanied by a chime. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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08-07-2009, 10:37 PM	#7
MrZ Second Lieutenant 19 Rep 278 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	This one? __________________
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08-07-2009, 11:24 PM	#9
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	DSC __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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08-07-2009, 11:36 PM	#10
NiVeDh Major General 422 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	This is DSC/DTC.
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08-08-2009, 12:23 AM	#11
jopa489 Major General 122 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	It's possible there was some gravel or sand on the road. If something was flashing as you were accelerating, then went away, there's really nothing else it could be. __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
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08-08-2009, 01:14 AM	#12
vitologarcia Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 259 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Alpine White M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA iTrader: (2)	I like to have them inactive. It makes it so much fun when you HIT the gas pedal!! HAHA You can easily very very easily make someone piss their pants, but hey that is just me!
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08-08-2009, 01:56 AM	#13
Z22Z Lieutenant 33 Rep 536 Posts Drives: WRX Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Glendale, CA iTrader: (0)	the dsc/dtc on these cars are so sensitive that the slightest bit of traction can cause them to activate. usually for me, a small bump under my tire while accelerating will set it off.
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08-08-2009, 02:03 AM	#14
persian54 Lieutenant General 923 Rep 15,818 Posts Drives: M760/G83M4 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Valley, SoCal iTrader: (298)	IMHO... it's tooo sensitive... i can't even accelerate unless i turn it turn DTC off.... i mean, sometimes when you wanna floor it and go and it breaks for you it can really throw you off and you can crash....
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