3.5L motor rpm limiter when not in gear?

Hi Group,
The son wanted to hear the motor sound at higher rpm, so when we got home, I put her in P and gave her gas. The engine did well when reving below 4000rpm, but when I tried to bring it higher it didn't go. As soon as the rpm goes pass 4000 it drops back by itself to about 3500rpm then goes up to 4000, then back, then 4000...on and on as long as I keep the gas peddle steady. This seems very much like there is an RPM limiter that cuts fuel automatically under circumstances. I wonder if there really is such a limiter or the engine has something went wrong. I have never noticed this before, and the car does well on the road with engine going over 5,500rpm with no problems at all.
Thanks for any input!

yea my 1998 Intrigue does the same thing. In additon the 2000 Ford Taurus i used to drive did the same thing at 4500. Both ran/run great and had no tranny problems. I think its pretty standard now a days but i can't really back that up other than personal experience.

Hi Group,
The son wanted to hear the motor sound at higher rpm, so when we got home, I put her in P and gave her gas. The engine did well when reving below 4000rpm, but when I tried to bring it higher it didn't go. As soon as the rpm goes pass 4000 it drops back by itself to about 3500rpm then goes up to 4000, then back, then 4000...on and on as long as I keep the gas peddle steady. This seems very much like there is an RPM limiter that cuts fuel automatically under circumstances. I wonder if there really is such a limiter or the engine has something went wrong. I have never noticed this before, and the car does well on the road with engine going over 5,500rpm with no problems at all.
Thanks for any input!


yes it is a rpm limiter. i have a 1999 with the 3.5 and does the same thing.My lumina also did the same thing. so dont worry there is nothing wrong with your car.

It does appear to have a rpm limiter.

I replaced my crank angle sensor several months ago and gas milaged droped from 28 to 22mpg Hwy.

I knew there was a procedure to re calibrate for the new sensor. This includes hooking the car up to the Scanner and performing a simple calibration procedure which involves increasing the rpm till you hit the limiter. I did this last week and don't know yet if it helped the gas mileage.


yea my 1998 Intrigue does the same thing. In additon the 2000 Ford Taurus i used to drive did the same thing at 4500. Both ran/run great and had no tranny problems. I think its pretty standard now a days but i can't really back that up other than personal experience.

yeah almost all the newer cars have a rev limiter, its to keep ppl from revving the engine too high under no load and harming it...such as youre attempting to do..please please dont do that, its really not good on the engine...if he wants to hear it, go find an abandoned parking lot, switch of the TC and let er rip..although thats bad on the tranny...so either way you lose.

yeah almost all the newer cars have a rev limiter, its to keep ppl from revving the engine too high under no load and harming it...such as youre attempting to do..please please dont do that, its really not good on the engine...if he wants to hear it, go find an abandoned parking lot, switch of the TC and let er rip..although thats bad on the tranny...so either way you lose.

Thanks for the input. Can you please walk me an extra mile and explain why reving the engine with gear in P or N is really bad to the car, and like how bad?

heres a nifty little article i found when i asked the same question http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/Is_revving_a_car_engine_bad_for_it
that and hearing all the stories of people who revved there engines all the time blowing them up..it was enough for me to take er a little easier...once in a while isnt gonna hurt, but i wouldnt do it all the time thats for sure.