fuel starvation causes boostless limp mode?

[an nguyen]

Before my final solo trials autox run of the day, I noticed fuel gauge close to E but the low fuel light wasn't on.  Being a clueless turbo newbie, I ran again.  Ppl told me black smoke came out (running rich to compensate) midway but I didn't know.  then I got fuel cutout/starvation.  Car/ecu shut engine off to my surprise; ppl said it was self preservation.  

I restarted and fuel gauge showed an impossible 1/4 tank.  From this point on, car has 0 boost and it can't go beyond ~2000rpm.  Also, sometimes it now stalls when idling.  All hoses seem connected still.  Race friends say the car could be in limp mode.  I got some help and gas and was able to crawl home.  I think fuel gauge is showing the proper fuel level again at least.  

I was advised to try disconnecting batt for a day; maybe ecu would reset from limp mode.  Thanks for any help/tips!

[Fraser Cassells]

Have a close look at all your Intercooler hoses,

[Kimyee Lai]

I second Fraser.  Look for post turbo leaks/broken hoses.

[Mike Schmid]

The fuel guage misreading was probably to the float swinging around violently in the tank with no gas to damp it's movement.  It shouldn't be broken but that's probably how the reading got all jacked up.  You have to be careful running low on gas because the fuel pickup is only in one spot in the tank and will get dry under hard cornering causing a lean out situation.  That and once you move to a higher flow fuel pump they're easily damaged by running dry.  I try and stay abov a 1/4 tank all the time.

[an nguyen]

thanks again, apparently a hose popped off.  It was on the bov end of the hose going to intake manifold.

[Fraser Cassells]

For future reference, A DSM  "limp mode" home is called a "Tow Truck"