Tracking a Tiptronic

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Cuda911
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Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by Cuda911 » Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:35 am

What? A tip on the track??? Heresy! Bezelbub!

I have been tracking Tips for 5 years. Why? Because everyone told me it can't be done. I know of only one other person who tracks a Tip. My friend David. He only tracks a tip because he was in a track accident in a Ford FSR and lost both his legs, so needs a car with full hand controls. David is amazing, still tracking a 996 Tip.

Thankfully, I still have both my legs. But I track a Tip anyway. Tracked my '03 996, my '03 986, and my '99 986. All tips.

Well, the point is not to boast, but rather is to prove it can be done. I hold the PCA track record for my class at Autoclub speedway in Fontana.

Here is what I have learned:

1. It is commonly stated that all Tips have the third radiator. This is not true. None of my three Tips had it.

2. If you don't have it, add the third radiator.

3. There is a transmission coolant bypass valve. Have tested it under various scenarios, but still can't figure out when it opens and closes. The rubber valve is in a cheap plastic housing that splits apart with age, spewing coolant everywhere. Replace this valve!

4. Never track in "D" mode. Always move shifter to "M" mode.

5. The trannys run hot. The motors run hard. Do not use Mobil 1, as it foams too much. Fine for street driving, but not track.

6. Shift at 6,200 RPM when accelerating. EXCEPT: If your club has Time Trials with several timed runs that determine your event standings, push it it 6,800 or so during the timed runs.

7. Learn how to "stack" downshifts. The computer will store multiple downshift command inputs.

8. Consider installing the Motorsport AOS.
Mike

'68 Ford Custom 500; '70 Plymouth Cuda; '71 Ford Econoline; 73 Porsche 914 1.7, '74 Porsche 914 1.8; '74 Suzuki TC185; '86 Suzuki GS450L; '88 Subaru GL104WD Turbo Ltd Edn;; '88 Subaru XT; '91 Lexus ES250; '93 Jeep Wrangler, '99 Porsche Boxster, '03 Turbo VW Beetle; '03 Porsche Boxster; '03 Porsche Carrera C2; '07 Porsche Cayman, '11 BMW 328i, '12 Porsche 991 S, '14 Porsche Cayman, & a mishmash of other vehicles.

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32wildbilly
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Re: Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by 32wildbilly » Thu Feb 01, 2018 8:08 am

How does the tip hold up in track use? Does it stop the "money" down shift? The "oh $hit" over-revs? Don't know anything about tips. Inquiring minds want to know...
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Dr_Strangelove
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Re: Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by Dr_Strangelove » Thu Feb 01, 2018 10:39 am

Does anybody from RennRun last summer remember the name of that lady from Vegas PCA who went on the drive with us to Valley of Fire? She was in a tip cabrio 996 with a roll cage. She said she was a track rat and local PCA members were vouching for her speed at Spring Mtn.
2003 Carrera: Dark Teal Metallic

Kalashnikov
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Re: Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by Kalashnikov » Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:26 am

Barbara Barron. ^^

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pfbz
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Re: Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by pfbz » Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:30 am

I tracked a Cayman S with Tiptronic that I had for a while...

Best mod I did was grafting Mercedes AMG paddle shifters onto the stock Porsche steering wheel. Much easier to grab an upshift or downshift then with the silly thumb buttons.

Again, this is a 9x7 gen Cayman, not a 996, but the same modification should work.

AMG paddles part #1712670046. I think they were about $120 when I did it.

In process:
Image

Completed project:
Image

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pfbz
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Re: Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by pfbz » Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:36 am

32wildbilly wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2018 8:08 am Does it stop the "money" down shift? The "oh $hit" over-revs? Don't know anything about tips. Inquiring minds want to know...
The Tiptronic will not allow a downshift that would cause an over-rev, and the ecu would of course stop a throttle over-rev.

The biggest thing that drove me crazy about the Tip was the preference for second-gear starts, not really an issue on the track.

In general, I found the Tiptronic a bit lazy and non-engaging for street driving unless you really nailed the throttle or went into manual mode. Even in 'sport' mode which modified tip behavio (Sport mode was part of the Sport Chrono package introduced with the 9x7 gen cars). Also different rear end gear ratio's driven by the tiptronic's five speed instead of the manuals six.

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Dr_Strangelove
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Re: Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by Dr_Strangelove » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:09 pm

Kalashnikov wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:26 am Barbara Barron. ^^
Thank you!! Now I have a name for the next members breakfast.
2003 Carrera: Dark Teal Metallic

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Cuda911
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Re: Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by Cuda911 » Thu Feb 01, 2018 5:18 pm

pfbz wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:36 am
32wildbilly wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2018 8:08 am Does it stop the "money" down shift? The "oh $hit" over-revs? Don't know anything about tips. Inquiring minds want to know...
The Tiptronic will not allow a downshift that would cause an over-rev, and the ecu would of course stop a throttle over-rev.

The biggest thing that drove me crazy about the Tip was the preference for second-gear starts, not really an issue on the track.

In general, I found the Tiptronic a bit lazy and non-engaging for street driving unless you really nailed the throttle or went into manual mode. Even in 'sport' mode which modified tip behavior (Sport mode was part of the Sport Chrono package introduced with the 9x7 gen cars). Also different rear end gear ratio's driven by the tiptronic's five speed instead of the manuals six.
Correct on the downshift issue. Yep, eliminates money-shift issue. The second gear start also is not an issue. But you do need to put it in Manual mode to drop it to first (for 1st gen tips). I completely agree that in automatic mode the car is lame. From a stoplight you will be in 4th gear before you have cleared the intersection. You need to keep in Manual mode for fun.

Oh, I suppose I should have discussed some differences between the first-gen Tip and the second-gen Tip. They are significant. But, this will have to wait for another day.
Mike

'68 Ford Custom 500; '70 Plymouth Cuda; '71 Ford Econoline; 73 Porsche 914 1.7, '74 Porsche 914 1.8; '74 Suzuki TC185; '86 Suzuki GS450L; '88 Subaru GL104WD Turbo Ltd Edn;; '88 Subaru XT; '91 Lexus ES250; '93 Jeep Wrangler, '99 Porsche Boxster, '03 Turbo VW Beetle; '03 Porsche Boxster; '03 Porsche Carrera C2; '07 Porsche Cayman, '11 BMW 328i, '12 Porsche 991 S, '14 Porsche Cayman, & a mishmash of other vehicles.

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Flat6BlahBlah
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Re: Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by Flat6BlahBlah » Fri Feb 02, 2018 12:13 am

Kalashnikov wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:26 am Barbara Barron. ^^

You gave a great memory, Kalash! I really enjoyed talking to her. She is a very cool individual. She also runs that cab in the Silver State Challenge.
This is her car directly ahead of me. You can barely see the roll bar through the rear window.
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Flat6BlahBlah
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Re: Tracking a Tiptronic

Post by Flat6BlahBlah » Fri Feb 02, 2018 12:14 am

Sorry for the thread detour, Cuda.

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