I'll get a backfire when T/C kicks in on the street sometimes; that's most certainly what you heard as well.
Newbie Drag Strip Fail - What the Hell Was THAT???
So. After owning muscle cars off and on for 25+ years, I finally got myself down to the drag strip with an equally inexperienced car friend. I had my `08 DHG Bullitt and said friend had his built `08 SRT Challenger. On our very first run, I committed a major oversight and forgot that the damn traction control was on (never had that problem with my `60's and 70's rides). Anyhow, when I launched (~3000 rpm), I heard a loud BOOM from the back of my car and the traction control idiot light came on in the dash. Once the car rebounded I managed to run an astounding 16.636.....
My question is this: what the hell could that boom have been? Was it an exhaust backfire? Something in the TC system kicking in? Here are two separate videos of that embarrassing race clipped together, so you can hear the sound I'm talking about for yourselves (it's easier to hear in the first video). Any thoughts would be appreciated. I couldn't care less about running the 16.6; I'm more concerned that I may have damaged something on my car. For context, the car seems to be running fine, and in fact I made two more passes, on the first of which I ran a 14.925 (again, I'm a newbie and my Bullitt is 100% stock with ~6600 original miles on it) with a reaction time of .255.
I've searched the IMBOC forums and found several threads discussing traction control, but no one specifically mentions the sort of experience that I had in an 08/09. In fact, some people here seem to leave the traction control ON when they race, although I would prefer NOT to have done so. Heck, is there a way to set the traction control to default to OFF??? Sheesh.
Much appreciated folks.
My question is this: what the hell could that boom have been? Was it an exhaust backfire? Something in the TC system kicking in? Here are two separate videos of that embarrassing race clipped together, so you can hear the sound I'm talking about for yourselves (it's easier to hear in the first video). Any thoughts would be appreciated. I couldn't care less about running the 16.6; I'm more concerned that I may have damaged something on my car. For context, the car seems to be running fine, and in fact I made two more passes, on the first of which I ran a 14.925 (again, I'm a newbie and my Bullitt is 100% stock with ~6600 original miles on it) with a reaction time of .255.
I've searched the IMBOC forums and found several threads discussing traction control, but no one specifically mentions the sort of experience that I had in an 08/09. In fact, some people here seem to leave the traction control ON when they race, although I would prefer NOT to have done so. Heck, is there a way to set the traction control to default to OFF??? Sheesh.
Much appreciated folks.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Thanks much for the insight B3NNETT. If you've had your car backfire when the TC kicks in, then that's probably what happened in my case. My car never backfired before this incident, although I've triggered the TC more than just this once. I simply never remember it's there until I stand on the go-button. I think I'll have to make a habit of just turning it off every time I get in the car!
I'll second this, had it happen once driving under an overpass when I hit a particularly rough section of road and BANG when the TC kicked in.I'll get a backfire when T/C kicks in on the street sometimes; that's most certainly what you heard as well.
Good work getting her out to the track. I have to ask seeing as you have 6,600 original miles... Have you changed your tires out recently?
Thanks much for the insight B3NNETT. My car has never backfired before, although the TC has triggered on me before. I just can't get used to having to turn it off before I stand on the go-button. I think I'll have to make a habit of just turning it off every time I get in the car!
And yes, Bullitt5989, I did swap the original tires out last year (still have them in my garage). I have Firehawk Indy 500's on her now. Thanks for asking!
Wow, I never realized that TC would cause a car to backfire like this. Still, I'm glad to hear that I didn't cause something catastrophic to happen. I just need to make a habit of always turning off the TC every time I get in the car (I never drive in rain or bad weather anyhow, so I don't think I'll ever "need" TC).I'll second this, had it happen once driving under an overpass when I hit a particularly rough section of road and BANG when the TC kicked in.
Good work getting her out to the track. I have to ask seeing as you have 6,600 original miles... Have you changed your tires out recently?
And yes, Bullitt5989, I did swap the original tires out last year (still have them in my garage). I have Firehawk Indy 500's on her now. Thanks for asking!
I think it all depends on how the TC system works. Some systems are brake-based, some cut fuel, some cut timing, some cut boost, some cut throttle. I don't know for sure, but I would suspect ours is a throttle cut, and when you're on it hard and hit that abrupt throttle cut, all that fuel has no place to go so it all goes bang.Wow, I never realized that TC would cause a car to backfire like this.
That makes total sense to me. I just wish there were a way to make it default to off!I think it all depends on how the TC system works. Some systems are brake-based, some cut fuel, some cut timing, some cut boost, some cut throttle. I don't know for sure, but I would suspect ours is a throttle cut, and when you're on it hard and hit that abrupt throttle cut, all that fuel has no place to go so it all goes bang.
I dont go to the track but I will start the car and turn off TC automatically. yeah it would be nice to default off then turn it on.So. After owning muscle cars off and on for 25+ years, I finally got myself down to the drag strip with an equally inexperienced car friend. I had my `08 DHG Bullitt and said friend had his built `08 SRT Challenger. On our very first run, I committed a major oversight and forgot that the damn traction control was on (never had that problem with my `60's and 70's rides). Anyhow, when I launched (~3000 rpm), I heard a loud BOOM from the back of my car and the traction control idiot light came on in the dash. Once the car rebounded I managed to run an astounding 16.636.....
My question is this: what the hell could that boom have been? Was it an exhaust backfire? Something in the TC system kicking in? Here are two separate videos of that embarrassing race clipped together, so you can hear the sound I'm talking about for yourselves (it's easier to hear in the first video). Any thoughts would be appreciated. I couldn't care less about running the 16.6; I'm more concerned that I may have damaged something on my car. For context, the car seems to be running fine, and in fact I made two more passes, on the first of which I ran a 14.925 (again, I'm a newbie and my Bullitt is 100% stock with ~6600 original miles on it) with a reaction time of .255.
I've searched the IMBOC forums and found several threads discussing traction control, but no one specifically mentions the sort of experience that I had in an 08/09. In fact, some people here seem to leave the traction control ON when they race, although I would prefer NOT to have done so. Heck, is there a way to set the traction control to default to OFF??? Sheesh.
Much appreciated folks.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
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