Help! Monaro tech advice needed!

[RedWings]

Hi guys

I went to look at a Monaro VXR500 today, car was fab in virtually every way and the seller seems like a really nice guy. There was just one thing about it I'm slightly unsure about, and wanted to double check before I buy.

Whilst driving, the car went into 'safety/restricted power mode' (can't remember the exact phrase, but it appeared on the dash), and the dash also said "check engine" with an engine management icon. Could anyone please advise what causes this to happen?

The owner explained that this can happen if you rev the car too hard when it's cold, which I can understand because I can see how it would have additional safety to prevent engine damage when it's prone from cold, but during the test run it did come on a bit later after it had fully warmed up, and happened after the car had been given a few revs, and didn't seem to go away again. Does anybody know what would cause the car to go into an extended safety/low power mode? I can't imagine this should affect 'normal' driving?

Thanks in advance

[Bonnie and Clyde]

I know they do it from cold if you go over the safety zone(although ours doesn't for some reason) Most do.
I not so sure about once its warm. Maybe with the VXR500 not being inter-cooled it may be a safety thing for the SC they have. Some one more in the know will be along in a mo i'm sure

[007 VXR]

when i had mine s/c by greens,who did the vxr 500 ...i was getting probs with this .dont realy know what they did to stop it but some o2 sensors are now turned of on my car ...this did stop it ..also had same thing when trottle body went..cost 491 with the fish or 1000 at a vx dealer

[ringram]

Its always good to mix fact and fiction
Yes there is a safety warning if you exceed something like 4000rpm when engine is cold. But its only for a very short time. Once warm it should not be there, it sounds like the Monaro probably has some issue or other.
It could be as simple as a dodgy O2 sensor which is common, or it could indicate another issue. The only way is to get it scanned and make note of the codes for decoding.
Where is the car? One of the workshops can scan it for you or someone with efilive should also be able to help.

[after_shock]

Mine doesnt do any of what you have said, would guess as said above an underlying issue may be a foot.

[RedWings]

Thanks for the replies. As it's not my car it's really in the owners hands, so for now I've not quite made it into Monaro ownership, but I'll get there soon

[S800VXR]

Mine does/did this occasionally and it was the O2 sensors. Never got round to replacing them however I do believe you can take them out of the equation and hence not get the fault code. As Rich says, get the codes read to see whats causing it...