Question for F1 owners

Steve- Good luck. Hope this fixes your problem. Very happy to have a late F1 system with a 50 amp relay, myself. Did not plan it that way, the Relay God just took care of me.

Thanks to guys like Juri and Paul Hill, plus Daniel at Ricambi, we all have so many more options that fix problems and do not break the bank.


Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Glad to hear that. I am sure that the relay will be fine in a stop-and-go traffick, as these new relays are designed to handle more continuous, higher frequency cycles.
However, if you start experiencing problems and the F1 light will start comming up again - I hate to say, but it will be a sure sign that your F1 pump is going south... and that you will need to replace it (or install a new electric motor for the F1 pump, at least).
Let's hope that everything will be OK, and that installing this new relay has corrected your F1 problem.
Cheers.

 

Any updates?

 

Maybe you can try also the following. When the gearbox light starts flashing look, to your speedometer. If the needle is jerking you most probably just have an issue with the speedo sensor. The resulting symptoms are quite comparable with a pump issue, the F1 gearbox switches automatically in security mode. The sensor is quite cheap (+/- 200 dollars) and available from Ricambi. Since I changed this speedo sensor, my 355 F1 Spyder is back to normal operation.
Good luck.

 

Anyone know the part number for this. For the first time, my car left me stranded. The speedo went dead and then the F1 light came on and it would go out of second gear. I assume it is the speed sensor but I can't find this part in the Ricambi catalog. Any guidance?

 

Speed sensor for F355, Ferrari part #162916
RicambiAmerica - $159.76 (Table 7, No. 22)
T.Ruthlands -$154.17
FerrParts - $116.15

Lots of other brands manufacture and sell similar part for much less (~$30).

Read this thread for an overview and cross-references for this part:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228857

 

It should be much easier to do this on a lift, of course. The location of this sensor is on the gearbox is shown in the attached diagram (number 22).
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I noticed that the 355F1 workshop manual says it's OK to go from Reverse to 1st & vice versa, but recommends that you select Neutral in between instead so I began to do that. Note that I haven't had any problems w/ the F1 system. FYI

 

Based on your description, the F1 relay works as it should. However, the "slow pressurization", as you called it, may be the sign of a failing pump or a presence of air in the hydraulic system.

There is another thing to consider: although I am not sure whether this also applies to F355, but several 360F1 owners reported that cleaning or replacing the gear position sensor may correct the problem of going into N, when rapidly switching gears.

Kind regards,
Juri.

 

I could find the following sensors in F355 diagrams:
#168729 - gear linkage sensor; which is most likely the one to check
#149095 - speedo sensor; it's a good idea to check it as well, just in case.

Other fellow Ferraristi with more expertise in F355 F1 transmission system, please comment as well.

 

It certainly does pay to shop around a little nowadays. I purchased the F1 relay from our local F dealer for $129. Located a second as a spare for $35 from a member here. Also purchased a pump motor and will rebuild my old one as a spare as well. Don't want to be caught away from home again.......I will have the "fix" with me for now on! (And the 30a fuse)

 

Most likely, it is your pump... However, if the problem is limited to R, then I would also check the corresponding solenoids using an SD3 or SD5 diagnostic tool, which can test their function.

 

Is all of your existing shielding intact? Engine bay panels, extractors, etc? Something seems awry, and finding the root cause will likely give more long term satisfaction. There are a lot of F355 F1 cars running in hot conditions.

 

I am having an overheating issue as well. Correct me if I am wrong, but if the pump overheats, it will shut down. If it no longer is pumping and no pressure exists, it will not select any gear at all and your trans light will be illuminated. Sadly, that is what mine is doing.

I am hoping to find an electrical reason for this, but I suspect the motor on the pump is on its last legs as it blew the 30 amp fuse....twice. Let it sit and cool for 15 minutes and it runs again. Pretty sure that is the failure mode you will need to see to know your pump motor is dying.

In order for the actuator to move it needs pressure. To not have yours select reverse, but yet positively engage first or second would indicate pressure exists and the pump is doing something to create it.

Could it be the solenoid contacts on the pump? I wonder what warning light you would get if a connection failed on the solenoid(s) that select reverse. Would that turn the transmission light on?

 

yes WATSON, my mechanic believes it is from the solenoid contacts
i put a new 360 pump with adapter, a new clutch, a new sensor, a new throwout bearing, and he still insisted we get a new solenoid for the clutch release

part number 12100035
and of course as you would expect, it only comes with the WHOLE friggin unit from ferrari ..

my car is still being configured, after sourcing one of those solenoids

yesterday when hooked to the SD3, it would not read how much % Clutch Wear is at (new one as mentioned).
it reads --- %

will report back on it when i receive it

 

no, there is no shield that is supposed to go there from ferrari

 

Unless the problem is due to either the 3/2 on off valve or a proportional valve in the pressure distribution manifold, it should be as easy as just changing the electric motor. There are several electric motors that can be fitted into the same coupling plate using just 2 screws. I am currently working on this ...