Failsafe Mode

Hi and welcome to our site!

Sorry it took the dreaded 'Limp Home Mode' to bring you here... BTW you have nothing to worry about!

It has to do with your CAI and tune/-r. Ford will probably not be able to help you if they don't tune cars? I had this happend to me and it was the torque limitor... Do a search on here (under limp home mode or fale safe mode, think I posted under engine fail safe mode...)

In short, your computer senses something is wrong. It might be the air / fuel but more likely the TQ limitor. I had my tune corrected to alow for more TQ on the drivetrain... It was allready moved but not enough, also under hard driving remember to turn off the TCS as that's what sent the error code in my case...

You'll coul see a professional tuner to have this corrected. The best would be if you could go there with the error code up... also get a better tune at the same time! :happyhapp Or, C&L/Predator should have a file for the fix now... call C&L and/or where you bought it from and they should be able to e-mail you the fix, or even download it from C&L or Predators websites...

Ken at www.modulardepot.com took care of mine but he's mostly an SCT guy... maybe a good time to get a better tuner (both the part and the guy! )

I am currently experiencing a nasty encounter with Fail Safe as well. I installed the C&L CAI with Predator tune about 3 weeks ago without any problems. Immediately noticed the improved throttle response like everybody else has but was disappointed that I would still randomly get the throttle surge and\or hesitation problem some have reported here as well. One thing to note, on one thread somebody mentioned how they "calibrated" the throttle by having the key on, engine not started, and slowly depressed the accelerator to the floor for about a second duration. I only did it once, but I never encountered the surging problem again. Ok, off topic a bit, but here's the "rest of the story".

Last Friday, with no prior symptoms displayed, I jumped in the car to run an errand and could hardly get it started. After repeated try's I was finally able to, but in Fail Safe Mode. I turned it off, waited, restarted, same result. This was done more than once. The smell of gas was very strong and black smoke to boot.

Plugging in the Predator and going to the Dianostics mode, it indicated one Unknown error and two errors for the O2 status sensor "locked, burning rich", both banks. Thinking I may have a system glitch or stuck bit, I reflashed the computer with the performance tune. No change. I then disconnected the negative cable for the battery for about 30 minutes; reconnected, attempted to start, still no change. Lastly, I pulled off the C&L, reinstalled the factory air box, restored the original Ford program...NO CHANGE! Didn't know what else I could do at this point, so brought it to the dealership this AM on the back of a tow truck. Let me tell you, nobody wants to see the joy of their life on the back of a tow truck! It killed me!

Haven't heard from the dealership yet, but have a pretty good relationship with them so hopefully they will get it figured out ASAP.

Btw, I bought my 5 speed GT on December 3, 2004. I now have over 39K miles on it. The only other mods I have done to it are FRPP Strut tower brace and coil springs, and Saleen short throw adapter.

Anybody else out there have a similar experience?