The story that leads to the question below (i.e. for the cliffs, just read the question):

So I've got the Targa top off today and am enjoying a leisurely cruise into work. I come to a stop light and am fiddling with the radio stations (thumb buttons on the steering wheel). That's when I noticed...I'm the only one at the light, the streets are empty, the speed limit on this particular road is 55....and I'm all by myself. Screw the radio, let's listen to a nice launch with that NPP M2W wide open!

Now, I'm driving with an A6 and I pretty much paddle shift all the time. My thinking was a nice solid launch (not spinning the tires or anything that radical) just a nice firm 0 to 55. Red line for 1st is 47mph, so I'll just let up when I hit the shift to 2nd and be right under the speed limit (smiling of course!). Now comes the mistake. I accelerate nicely (not pedal to the floor, just nice and solid with the tach zipping up toward the red line). The sound is of course awesome and beats the heck out of the radio....then for just a moment I think, "is my thumb on the paddle shifter or on the radio station changer button?" As you all know, if you hesitate and miss that lead time on the paddle shift....you're going to slam into that rev limiter. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....pbpbpbpbpbpb.

Now I gotta admit, it sounded pretty awesome. And I know that rev limiter saved me from potential engine damage. But the sound got me to thinking:

Question:

What exactly does the rev limiter system do to the engine to limit the RPM? Does it pull back the throttle? It didn't sound like that. Cut off some fuel supply? Stop some plugs from sparking? What? The sound is pretty awesome, so I'm assuming there's still fuel being fed in. Just what exactly does the rev-limiting system do to the car/engine when it kicks in?

 

From what I understand it cuts off the fuel supply, others can chime in but when the injectors are shut off electronically the system will not turn them on till the revs get back below the limit.

 

I believe this is correct.

 

I have heard the same thing.
I found it's too easy to hit in 1st gear if I'm not pay attention.

 

Shuts down the fuel to the injectors or stops the injectors from placing fuel into the intake.

 

Yes, timing the shift with the paddles in an A6 is a bit of an art. I thought I had it down to 2nd nature....but then one moment of hesitation and.....

 

I believe it tells about this in the owners manual.

Has anyone here not hit the limiter at least once doing this exact same thing

 

Yep. The owner's manual calls it "fuel shutoff".