power LOSS at elevation
Thread Starter
Cruisin'
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 2
power LOSS at elevation
2006 TT
Experienced power loss on two occasions:
The first was on route to grand junction, CO. ~100 miles into the trip at ~11000 feet elevation. 6-7-2020. Cruising at highway speed in 6th gear power cuts out and sputters, downshifts to 5th, 4th, etc. Pretty much in limp mode sputtering at ~10-15mph to the next exit ½ mile up the road. Used roadside assistance to Prestige Audi/porsche for a scan- no codes other than previously known injector pump. After the scan and a hard drive around the block we headed home with no other issues.
6-24-2020- trip up pikes peak to evaluate elevation capabilities. Drove up to devils playground ~13000ft elevation and had no misfire/cut out, etc.
Our second instance of power loss, stuttering occurred this past weekend 6-28-20. En route to Breckenridge via hwy 24. ~95 miles into the trip and ~10500 ft elevation approaching the summit of hoosier pass @65 mph using cruise control the car begins sputtering, drops to 5th, 4th, etc. On the shoulder until the summit about ¼-½ miles. Start cruising downhill with no issues. Driving through blue river and into Breck with no issues. On the return home two days later we came over hoosier pass with no issues, but had only been driving for 30 minutes.
No issues since, no new codes besides pass side injector pump.
Thoughts??
Experienced power loss on two occasions:
The first was on route to grand junction, CO. ~100 miles into the trip at ~11000 feet elevation. 6-7-2020. Cruising at highway speed in 6th gear power cuts out and sputters, downshifts to 5th, 4th, etc. Pretty much in limp mode sputtering at ~10-15mph to the next exit ½ mile up the road. Used roadside assistance to Prestige Audi/porsche for a scan- no codes other than previously known injector pump. After the scan and a hard drive around the block we headed home with no other issues.
6-24-2020- trip up pikes peak to evaluate elevation capabilities. Drove up to devils playground ~13000ft elevation and had no misfire/cut out, etc.
Our second instance of power loss, stuttering occurred this past weekend 6-28-20. En route to Breckenridge via hwy 24. ~95 miles into the trip and ~10500 ft elevation approaching the summit of hoosier pass @65 mph using cruise control the car begins sputtering, drops to 5th, 4th, etc. On the shoulder until the summit about ¼-½ miles. Start cruising downhill with no issues. Driving through blue river and into Breck with no issues. On the return home two days later we came over hoosier pass with no issues, but had only been driving for 30 minutes.
No issues since, no new codes besides pass side injector pump.
Thoughts??
Last edited by Chas Saulsbury; Jul 2, 2020 at 01:02 PM. Reason: flow
Pro
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 533
Likes: 192
That's actually quite interesting. Turbocharged engines should not be affected by lower air density. But that of course happens only when there is positive pressure in the intake. If You were cruising there without boost, I guess the air could actually be thin enough to cause problems. Really only guessing here.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 318
Likes: 75
From: Mid Atlantic
I have a 2009 Base V6, but I had similar power loss at higher elevations last year. It would only happen at high elevations when the fuel tank was less than 3/4 full. No issue back in lower elevations even with running on reserve.
Had a check engine code (posted in my trip report thread, I don't remember exact code# off the top of my head). It was along the lines of low fuel pressure, which could be cause with half a dozen things, like one of 3 fuel pump(s), or related fuel system components.
Anyway I replaced both fuel pumps, fuel pres. regulator, filter and HPFP replacement is on my to do list
I don't know if these will fix the issue, since I don't know when I'll be back to CO with my Cayenne.
How much petrol did you have in the tank when this was occurring? If it's happening when less than 3/4 full then Temporary fix would be to always keep the fuel topped off and carry a 5 gallon fuel with you.
Had a check engine code (posted in my trip report thread, I don't remember exact code# off the top of my head). It was along the lines of low fuel pressure, which could be cause with half a dozen things, like one of 3 fuel pump(s), or related fuel system components.
Anyway I replaced both fuel pumps, fuel pres. regulator, filter and HPFP replacement is on my to do list
I don't know if these will fix the issue, since I don't know when I'll be back to CO with my Cayenne.
How much petrol did you have in the tank when this was occurring? If it's happening when less than 3/4 full then Temporary fix would be to always keep the fuel topped off and carry a 5 gallon fuel with you.
