Re-post of F355 Spider Potentiometer Photos | FerrariChat

Re-post of F355 Spider Potentiometer Photos

Discussion in '348/355' started by Aeroengineman, Dec 7, 2006.

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  1. Aeroengineman

    Aeroengineman Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2003
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    Dave Tegeler
    #1 Aeroengineman, Dec 7, 2006
    Can someone re-post the Photos of the F355 Spider seat potentiometers given in earlier quotes? One of my Pots has failed and I want to take a wack at getting it fixed, but first I want to see its installed location and what other people have seen for wear on the Pot mechanism. I know this has been posted before but the photos on those earlier threads have expired.
     
  2. Ricambi America

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    #2 Ricambi America, Dec 7, 2006
  3. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #3 gothspeed, Dec 7, 2006
    I would like to see where they are located too. I currently have to move the seats forward with the switches. Then activate the top.
     
  4. Aeroengineman

    Aeroengineman Formula Junior

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    #4 Aeroengineman, Dec 7, 2006
    I'd like to see installation shots and proposed repair steps from people who have worked with these things.
     
  5. Aeroengineman

    Aeroengineman Formula Junior

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    #5 Aeroengineman, Dec 30, 2006
    Per prior threads, I am looking for the F355 power seat switch in the center console which can be used to activate the seat when the Potentiometer has failed. I need to move the seat to get access to the seat mounting bolts.

    Somebody please help me.
     
  6. Ricambi America

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    #6 Ricambi America, Dec 31, 2006
  7. Aeroengineman

    Aeroengineman Formula Junior

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    #7 Aeroengineman, Dec 31, 2006
    No - Not the passenger compartment. There are posts on here that refer to an override switch that is inside the console somewhere that can be used to move the seats which bypasses the potentiometer circuitry so that the seat mounting bolts can be exposed.
     
  8. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #8 gothspeed, Dec 31, 2006
    Are just trying to move your seats for mounting bolt access? As for where the "pots" are located, the drivers side is on the outboard rail. It is visible by looking under the front of the seat. If you have the 355 parts manual, it is part #88 on page 385. I have yet to figure out how to transfer pics from the disc.
     
  9. Aeroengineman

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    #9 Aeroengineman, Dec 31, 2006
    I followed a very early post. I will post photos later. The trick is to look under the front of the seat and find the white plug (This is the plug to the Potentiometer) Unplug the white plug only. Turn on the ignition, then activate the seat with the normal switch from the passenger compartment. Power to the seat motor must go through the black plug.

    What I just discovered is that to get a reading on my little Radio Shack OHM meter, I needed to set it on 20K OHMs to read the values in single digits.

    I was able to move the Passenger seat far enough forward to gain easy access to all the bolts however, as luck would have it the bolt underneath the seat belt reel kept twisting and twisting. I removed the seat belt reel to gain access for a flex joint and using an extension it used an impact lug wrench and it spun free.

    The bad news is the seat belt further retracted and I can't extend it to re-install it. I am going to have the seat re-dyed so maybe the seat guy will know how to extend it again.
     
  10. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #10 gothspeed, Dec 31, 2006
    Good deal! So let me get this straight, if the "pots" are bad the seats will not move with the console switches?
     
  11. Aeroengineman

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    #11 Aeroengineman, Jan 1, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Yes - Infact the indication that the Pot is bad is when the white plug is connected and the seats won't move. So apparently in my case I unplugged the white plug and the seats move back and forth with the console switches. This is a lot easier than messing with aligator clips trying to independently power the lead to the motor (black -two lead plug in photo next to the white connector) there is another black multipin connector under the driver seat only but I think it has something to do with the seat belt.
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  12. gothspeed

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    #12 gothspeed, Jan 1, 2007
    On my 355 I guess some one by-passed the pots, because I have to use the console switches to move the seats out of the way then bring the top down.

    I would like to "fix" it so it works like the factory intended. Because if I ever have to sell, I don't want some buyer getting all freaked out because its not perfect.

    I will try to figure out the wiring configuration to acomplish this. These threads are great help and any one with some pertinent knowledge please do post!! :)
     
  13. Aeroengineman

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    #13 Aeroengineman, Jan 1, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Note there is very slender TORX bit holder required to fit through the Transmission mount frame in the seat. There is an access hole but it is a very small diameter and covered up by the Potentiometer. I got lucky and found the slender TORX bit holder in my junk drawer - or I would have been dead on this project as the frame will not allow you to put a TORX bit on the screw any other way. I also had to buy a 1/4 universal and 1/4 inch extensions to remove the Potentiometer mounting screw which also requires the same Torx bit. You cannot get to the hole in the frame until you remove the Potentiometer and slide it on the shaft away from the Transmission mounting frame. See how the shaft from the motor to the Transmission bends allowing you to remove the opposite end of the drive shaft from its mount, so you can remove the Potentiometer. You need a #20 TORX bit.
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  14. Aeroengineman

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    #14 Aeroengineman, Jan 1, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This is a series showing the splice of the Ricambi Pot onto the "White Ferrari connector" It also shows the installation of the mounting screw and how you will have to remove the screw with a TORX bit #20 and a 1/4 inch universal joint. I had to spice the White connector from the old Pot onto the new Pot from Ricambi. The new Pot from Ricambi didn't have the same wire color code so I suspect it is a similar spec but it had:

    White wire = Brown (Ferrari)
    White w/Yellow Stripe = Yellow (Ferrari)
    White w/Black Stripe = Pink (Ferrari)

    Here are some OHM readings made from my good (Driver's Seat) Pot:

    Full forward Position:
    Yellow to Brown = 0.51 KOHM
    Yellow to Pink = 4.40 KOHM
    Brown to Pink = 4.63 KOHM

    My driving Position:
    Yellow to Brown = 1.78 KOHM
    Yellow to Pink = 3.05 KOHM
    Brown to Pink = 4.63 KOHM

    Full aft Position:
    Yellow to Brown = 4.09 KOHM
    Yellow to Pink = 0.79 KOHM
    Brown to Pink = 4.63 KOHM

    Ricambi Part set to roughly the same proportions as the Ferrari Pot

    Full aft Position:
    Yellow to Brown = 3.90 KOHM
    Yellow to Pink = 0.66 KOHM
    Brown to Pink = 4.42 KOHM
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  15. j. Coimbra

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    #15 j. Coimbra, Jan 19, 2021
    Hello.Does anybody here know if the pot has to be programmed or will reset itself ? Thanks
     
  16. Qavion

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    #16 Qavion, Jan 19, 2021
    The system is normally recalibrated with specialist Ferrari workshop tools.

    If only one seat potentiometer was repaired, you may be able to measure the potentiometer resistance of the other seat at the fully forward and fully aft positions (or perhaps where the automatics position the seat during roof operation) and try to match the seat position and potentiometer resistance on the repaired seat. However, I have quite big differences between my seats. e.g. fully forward, the resistance measurement between the yellow and black wires on the potentiometer was 543 ohms (passenger) and 1028 ohms (driver).

    Check the range of your potentiometer off the car. The resistance across the red and black wire should remain constant. The resistance between red and yellow (and yellow and black) should vary.

    Maybe you could post the values here?
     
  17. Qavion

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    #17 Qavion, Jan 19, 2021
    Sorry, I must be colourblind. The colours should be pink and yellow (and yellow and brown).
     
  18. Qavion

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    #18 Qavion, Jan 19, 2021
    Not colourblind... Just checked my car and the wire colours are different. I think pink, yellow and brown may be standard, however.
     
  19. Aeroengineman

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    #19 Aeroengineman, Jan 25, 2021
    The pictures in this thread are all i have:
     
  20. johnk...

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    #20 johnk..., Jan 25, 2021
    The potentiometer should read about 4.4k ohm between the pink and yellow wires when the seat is all the way forward.
     
  21. Qavion

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    #21 Qavion, Jan 25, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2021
    The white claw on the pots usually fails, not the resistive surface of the pots. Why the pot surfaces don't fail more often is surprising. The centre tap which slides on the resistive surface is very hard and almost like a needle on a record but pushed down with considerable force. If you open up the pots, I would add some kind of lubricant.

    I don't have any pictures of the resistive surface, but a few random shots of the interior from a variety of sources.


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    The components include:

    White claw (which usually breaks). There are various workarounds, although 3D printed replacements are offered on eBay (much cheaper than a whole new potentiometer even if you can find a new one)
    Wavy washer (that needs to be mated with a particular half of the plastic case). This part usually falls out during disassembly, so you have to be very careful to note which side it comes from. From the photos, it looks like it is on the side of the case with the forked mounting lug.
    Circular clip (which maintains the grip of the white claw).
    Cog
    Cog drive
    potentiometer/circuit board

    While the potentiometer is off the seat, I would renew the tape on the harness.
     

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