Nitrous + 604 = ?

[Reaper1]

The first part of your story makes sense. It happens quite a bit and isn't uncommon...even other manufacturers have this issue. That is why it's so important to take your car to a shop that can actually scan the TCM and see what codes it's throwing before coming to the conclusion that the tranny itself is dead. A604's more commonly go "bad" from sensor failiers or connector issues than people think.

The second part of your story: if this did actually happen, then I'm glad you're OK and that nothing else bad happned.

However, there are several things that throw a red flag. #1..the transmission WILL NOT shift to 1st gear unless the car is going slow enough to do it, unless there is a MAJOR mechanical or hydraulic failier. Limp mode is 2nd gear, and the car CAN sustain that speed in 2nd without overrevving the engine. Been there, done that. Secondly, this is a FWD car...it is VERY difficult to spin them out, even on purpos,e unless you're doing something extremely dumb. Been there, done that too! I don't buy that by the tranny downshifting that it caused you to spin out. There's only a few instances where I can even concieve this happening(and even then it's a FWD car...still VERY hard to do!): either it was snowing, or raining(in either case the road was slick) and if that was the case, then maybe 70mph wasn't the safest speed to be going. I don't know, I wasn't there...

[TimTona]

it could have been 1st or 2nd im not sure all i know is the motor revved extremely high and the tires suddenly locked and the car spun around untill i threw it into neutral as i was doing the first 360, i had 2 people with me that can vouch for this and yes the road was wet but it wasnt raining at that time and to top it all off i was running 17 inch wheels with hoosier z rated tires! but this was after i lowered it and before i got an alignment so the negative camber could have been part of it but definately not the whole reason it did what it did you can believe me or not but im just telling you a true story of what happened to me you can call it improbable or even impossible but i know differently maybe 70 wasnt the safest to be going but i wasnt ever in my wildest dreams expecting THAT to happen

[RoadWarrior222]

My guess is that it didn't actually drop gear, but aquaplaned on one side, the revs went straight to redline (giving the impression of a downshift) with the diff giving 100% to the spinning wheel, then all of a sudden it found grip again and flung the back tires around on the water that aquaplaned the front. Wider tires can aquaplane on less water depth than stock tires, especially if they are unsiped "summer" tires and not all season radials.

Tips for all those who'd like to avoid such situations, develop a feel for steering feedback, (goes real loose) and seat of pants feel (kind of a shiver/shimmy) so you know the instant you're aquaplaning. Then lift off the gas slow and keep the steering straight, even if you seem to be headed towards the guardrail. Sometimes you can lightly coax it back, but don't over-react. It woud be better to just grind the side on the guardrail than to punt it with one end or other of the car, and have it bounce you into traffic. Often though, you'll feel the grip come back in time to avoid anything, it doesn't usually last long unless you power into it, or panic and hit the brakes or throw the wheel over hard. If you find yourself needing to make a drastic manoeuvre, like your lane just came to a standstill ahead and you're aquaplaning towards it, if you've got room still, cadence brake, which can break through the water film, though be real careful to do it in a straight line and get ready to catch the back end. (This is one sitch where ABS sucks unless you've got lottttttts of room, coz it won't set up the pitching that might break the plane, it just keeps letting the wheels roll, it's fine if you've just got a wet road with a puddle or two, but if you've got like a sheet of water over the road, it can screw you up) If you really, really need to try to swerve, which is highly inadvisable, 8 times out of 10 you'll just spin, give it a quick flick, in the direction you need to go, very small steering movement, 1/8 of a turn or less at speed, then flick it back the other way immediately, if you wait until you feel the back end begin to come too far round, it's usually too late and you'll have to wait until you've gone right round and hope you've got the grip to flick it out when you're about 7/8 of the right way round again. Best plan of all though, go to a skidpan where they have instructors and get a lesson or two. Get some friends together, make an event of it, will probably work out cheaper in a group.

[TimTona]

i suyppose its possible but the roads werent bad really just a little wet from a couple hours earlier and it definately felt like both of the wheels locked ,i had an intrepid one time that did exactly what you explained except it had traction control and one wheel stopped or slowed down while the other spun and it sent me into oncoming traffic but i countersteered it luckily and just took out a mailbox i dont like traction control it hinders burnouts also

[mwinkle353]

Then I guess I'm a glutton for punishment then. I'm turbocharging a mini with the 3.0L/A604 combo. Hoping to put it through the test of a lifetime.

[TimTona]

that outta be a nice little powerhouse are you gonna have to make any firewall or shock tower modifications to stuff it in there and what are you going to do about axles and wiring?