Fanatec Connection Lost During Racing — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

A mid-session disconnect means the PC lost communication with the wheelbase while you were racing. The wheel goes dead, the game pauses or loses input, and you have to replug or restart to continue. This is almost always a USB power or cable issue — not a firmware problem.

Affected Models

CSL DD
DD Pro
GT DD Extreme
Podium DD1
Podium DD2
CSL Elite Wheelbase v2

Common Causes

Windows USB selective suspend powering down the USB port during low-activity moments
USB cable developing an internal break that disconnects under vibration
USB port on PC not supplying consistent power during sustained use
USB hub between the wheelbase and PC losing connection
Wheelbase entering thermal protection mode and briefly resetting

How to Fix It

Disable USB Selective Suspend in Windows. Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings > USB settings > USB selective suspend setting > Disabled.

Windows puts USB ports to sleep during low-activity periods to save power. This can briefly cut the connection to the wheelbase mid-session, especially during slow corners.
Replace the USB cable with a high-quality one and plug it directly into a rear motherboard port — not a hub or front panel.

Cheap USB cables develop internal breaks over time, especially with vibration from force feedback. A new cable and a direct port solve most random disconnection issues.
If you are using a USB hub, remove it and connect the wheelbase directly to the PC.

USB hubs can lose connection intermittently under sustained load. Direct connection eliminates this as a variable.
Check if the base is overheating during the sessions — look for reduced FFB before the disconnect. If so, address ventilation and reduce FFB strength.

A thermal protection event can cause the base to briefly reset, which Windows sees as a disconnect. Solving the overheating stops the disconnections.
In Device Manager, find the USB Root Hub entries, go to Properties > Power Management, and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

This is a second layer of USB power management that can cause disconnects independently of the Selective Suspend setting.

When to Call a Professional

Mid-session disconnects are almost always USB or power related and fixable without professional help. If the base disconnects even with a new cable, direct USB port, and USB suspend disabled, contact Fanatec support. A hardware USB fault on the wheelbase is rare but possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my wheel only disconnect during races and not in the menus?

USB Selective Suspend is the most likely cause — it activates during brief moments of low input. In menus you are moving the wheel constantly, keeping the USB activity high. During a straight on track, low input triggers the power saving and cuts the connection.

My wheel disconnects after exactly the same amount of time every session — why?

A consistent disconnect at a fixed interval points to a Windows power management timer. Disabling USB Selective Suspend and the USB Root Hub power saving setting usually resolves this pattern immediately.

Could a game update cause disconnections that were not happening before?

Indirectly yes — some game updates change how they poll USB devices. A change in polling rate can interact with USB power settings in a way that was previously fine. Disabling USB Selective Suspend is still the fix.