Let me re-explain... I am not surprised by it going into limp mode, I have heard that does occur from time to time, especially with higher boost requests.
My surprise is that it set no CEL (and yes, my CEL light does work, checked that). And that it didn't clear with engine on/off/on.
It happened at a CRAPPY time, my wife had just left for a 3000 mile / 1 week trip. I had checked EVERYTHING with the car prior to her leaving, no codes in any of the controllers. She got about 300 miles and called me to say the car had no power. She described it as revs building, but car not going any faster. No CEL, and it did NOT clear after turning engine off/on twice. So I was fairly sure it was not limp mode and so I was left assuming that it was a torque converter issue.
Result was her turning around and me renting a u-haul dolly and heading ~150 miles to meet her. Plugged in VCDS expecting to find a transmission slip code, but nothing. Just P0299, which when cleared put the car immediately back to normal, wheel spinning RC1+ power.
End result, she was now too late to make her appt in NC, and so we ended up with a $600 flight and a $300 rental car. Not impressed... but I guess I should be happy I am not buying a new transmission/TC !
So... how do you clear limp mode without VCDS ? all I have read says engine on/off/on clears it, but that didn't work. I would like to not have to keep VCDS and laptop in her car to clear it !?
And I drove it, the limp mode was REALLY bad, no power at all, not really safe to drive on a Texas freeway !