430 FI problem...any clues from afar?

After about half an hour my car is coming up with the slow down warning light which is really odd since it has not been driven anywhere near hard and then the transmission will kick into neutral and the car doesn't go anywhere.
Despite all attempts to drive it off in auto or using the paddles it just sits there which I feel can be really dangerous in heavy traffic.
It has come good after trying everything in about a minute or so which seems an eternity in traffic.
It has just had the second yearly service (terrific).

A service tech I have spoken to suggests that this has happened before on 430's and may be a case of the hydraulic pump not getting pressure up to change the gears.

Has anyone experienced this similar situation?

 

Yes. lack of pressure caused by a failing F1 pump will cause exactly those issues. What year is your car? they changed the pump design, i believe the 2005 cars up to early 2006 still had the early pumps used on the 360.

 

It's a very late 2007.
Thx for your imput.

 

I've had it cut two months with my 355, exactly the same problem. The problem was one Solenoid Pump Hydraulic F1, the solenoid pressure. He made the pump works all the time,''she tired of it''and could not handle the speed. But as the 355 not selling separate the solenoid pump, I bought the complete pump.
After about 20 minutes to use the car, pull over somewhere and try to engage the reverse gear, get into, neutral and try to play again, and so on, then write the result here. If the symptom appeared.

But his case may be the pump or the solenoid

 

I have since been advisd that it did this with the original owner 3 or 4 times and they replaced the trunk switch and rubber seal.
If this is not closed correctly or the fit not 100% right, then the logic system indicates to the computer that the hood is not secure and shifts to neutral....hmmm.
Maybe it's not right again?
Who knows? Further checking required.

 

You can test that theory for yourself. Just simply umplugging the microswitch will take it out of the system. If you open the back and look at the bonnet catch, you will see it bolted to a black metal box mounted to the middle of the grille. Reach inside you will feel a plug. It's black with two wires going into it. Remove the plug, shut the lid then go for a drive.

 

It's actually the front bonnet where the suitcases go....different terminology from downunder.

 

When you open the car door you hear the pump activating?
The problem only appears after a while you walk with the car? he can not resist a little accident?

In my opinion, or is the Solenoid pressure pump or the pump.

Explain better what happens ..
the march did not enter? and is going in Neutral?

 

How much is the cost of hydraulic pump ?

 

Here in Brazil, the 355 is a fortune, the Ferrari charge $ 45,000.00.

I believe the pump of the F430 will be $ 10,000.00 of $ 20,000.00 in USA

But it was what I said, maybe the problem is only in a solenoid, and not the pump

 

This is a prime example of why some techs just need to do more homework.

Fact 1) Any sudden movement, in theory could triger a maladjusted swith, however this would cause the compartment open symbol, not a slow down light, but would throw the car into neutral.

Fact 2) should it be the switch, letting it sit for a minuite will fail to reset the system, that particular switch does not sit above the trigger point, but faces it from beneath? Gravity determines should the switch move while the car is motionless, it would open further, thus the car would remain in neutral and the open compartment symbol would be displayed in the center square.

Tell the service center to submit a warranty claim based upon actual findings or sensible theories, not the easy route because it is a problem that seems to go away. I vote either split pipework to the accumulator, kinked EV pipe or pump faulty.


Mike

 

Good points Mike and sounds very logical.
It is under a further year of factory warranty.
I have to wait until next month before they can look at it with holiday season and all.
In the meantime I am not driving it as I think it can be too unsafe...could end up getting hit from behind when unexpectantly stopped and can't get it to move forward.

 

The Ferrari service tech I spoke to today who had attended this problem some time ago for the previous owner noticed a rubber grommet missing on the engine lid.
This was replaced but the problem still happens.

The tech seems to think it may be something very simple like a door lock or something that has these micro switches which are pretty sensitive to adjustment thus causing the neutral shifting postion for safety.
He asked if it happened over a rough road and I reported no.

I'm hoping that a diagnostic report in the new year may shed some light on it.