Help Needed From a 1996-1999 Challenge Car Owner

Hello All,

I am having some issues with my 1998 F355 Berlinetta. I need someone with a 1996-1999 F355 Challenge car, with a 5.2 Motronic ECU, which was Dealership-converted (not direct from the factory) who also possesses good photographic skills to photograph two (2) specific parts for me. I will pay the aforementioned individual at least $200.00 for this work.

I am desperately trying to solve a currently, purportedly unsolvable electrical-related issue. If solved, this will benefit a large number of F355 owners who have model years which utilize the accursed Bosch Motronic 5.2 ECU.

Please note that I do not want to discuss this issue in greater depth on an open-forum. Accordingly, I would like to communicate via PM or e-mail with interested parties.

My most sincere thanks in advance. In addition, please note that this is not anything nefarious or illegal in nature, merely trying to solve an electrical-based issue which has plagued many F355 owners.

Best regards,

Scott

 

Ah, my bad. Thanks for the correct information. From the parts diagrams, it appeared as though the 1996-1999 Dealer-converted F355 Challenge cars used two (2) simple jumper plugs to by-pass a certain major PITA "addition"*** to the Motronic 5.2 ECU (take a guess what the "addition" is - LOL). Then this means that the 2 parts I am looking for are only found on Ferrari F355s, 550s, and 575Ms bound for Brunei. The two parts are long NLA. However, good old Mike Seals (in Kuwait) is checking part suppliers in the ME for me. What a guy!

I sincerely appreciate the effort from those that posted (Rich and Jim) and you will be invited to my F355-based weenie roast.

Why didn't I buy a 1995 with a 2.7?


*** - think Immobilizer

 

Interesting. IIRC, the 360 uses the same PN for the Immobilizer ECU as the F355s with the Motronic 5.2.

After much cross-referencing and research I thought I found a potential answer. Please examine PNs 30 & 31 for the 575M taken from the Ricambi site. These two jumpers are used to remove the Immobilizer ECU out of the Motronic 5.2 loop for 575Ms bound for Brunei. You can see the leads which these jumpers plug into below in the same parts diagram. These same jumpers and PNs are also shown on the 1999 F355 Challenge car, hence my assumption. Unfortunately, every part supplier I have checked with has stated these two jumpers are NLA. I was hoping to get photographs of the two jumpers and fabricate my own (one has one wire lead and the other has two). This could save individuals with Immobilizer issues a Hell of a lot of money and trouble.

Let's keep in-touch if we find anything.

BTW, for those of you who are paranoid, the only way to get to the Immobilizer ECU is to drill out ten (10) rivets.
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Tim,

Thank you SO much for the offer. However, before wasting your valuable time I would like to ascertain: (i) do any F355 Challenges use a Motronic 5.2 and (ii) do FACTORY challenge cars utilize this jumper arrangement (see PNs. 30 & 31 in my post above) to bypass the Immobilizer ECU or do they, more logically, utilize a modified Motronic 5.2 ECU that already is wired to bypass the need for a signal from the Immobilizer ECU?

My battery died in my 1998 F355 - even with a Griot's Garage microprocessor trickle charger connected to the battery terminals - (even the battery in my alarm siren was drained by the Immobilizer). After installing a new Optima Red Top, my previously working Immobilizer ECU was toast. It would not respond in any way to the fobs (yes, with new batteries), nor would it even allow me to enter the PIN using the key. The starter will turn-over when I jumper the starter, so it is the Immobilizer ECU.

So many people and so much money has been wasted on these Immobilizer issues, a work-around must be found for those of us who do not want to spend >$2000 to re-install a system that is un-needed and nothing but trouble.

 

Mike,

I've already priced the Immobilize ECU and Alarm module - your talking about $2400 ($1800 for the Immobilizer ECU and $600 for the Alarm siren) for these two parts alone with no labor. I'm a reasonably good diagnostician and this is absolutely an Immobilizer ECU issue. I do my own work and a certain parts supplier is going to give me a great discount, but these are the prices. This is NOT a fob or a lost key code issue, as I stated in the quoted post. Go into the 348/355 section and do a search, many individuals have had issues with their Immobilizer units. The Immobilizer ECU is also a major "power hog" and drained my main battery and siren battery even with a Griot's Garage trickle charger connected directly to the battery terminals. Even with the battery disconnect switch off, the Immobilizer ECU still drains the battery via an inefficient reverse electrical current flow.

In sum my brother, it sucks BIG TIME! How the Hell can a dead battery fry an Immobilizer ECU? Obviously, I would never jump a Ferrari, so that's not an issue.

Mike Seals (the MOD) who lives in Kuwait kindly volunteered to check with his sources in the ME to try to find the jumpers. FYI, the PNs are: 165269 and 172673. If you look at the diagrams, one jumper has a single wire and the other has two, so it's not a complex "bird's nest" of loomed wires. But the question remains, to which pins are the wires connected?

I talked with a few Ferrari electrical gurus and as far as everyone knows, no one has cracked the Motronic 5.2 ECU code, as yet.

As you and Mike have stated, no F355 Challenge cars ran the 5.2, yet if you look at the parts diagram for the 1999 Challenge cars (which I assumed used the 5.2), you will see these two Jumpers are shown in the electrical diagram Tav. Weird, I just can't seem to understand this issue. F***in' Ferraris.

 

Rich,

My most sincere apologies for calling you "Tim". Senility seems to be coming on early.

Please read my post and ignore the incorrect name. I truly appreciate your offer.

Best regards,

Scott