Top won't go down - 1998 355 F1 Spyder | Page 2 | FerrariChat
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Top won't go down - 1998 355 F1 Spyder

Discussion in '348/355' started by Mike Phillips, Dec 29, 2014.

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  1. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 26, 2012
    3,821
    Tinton Falls, NJ
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    Bob Ferraris
    #26 drbob101, Jan 2, 2015
    Thank you for the bleed link. I'm going to spend somè time on a large screen and digrst that. I hope I'll never need it but it's great to know anyway.

    I would think that the loss if fluid which seems to occur regardless will at some point leave a thicker residue in the system which could him things up.
     
  2. Mike Phillips

    Mike Phillips Rookie

    Jan 9, 2006
    7
    Stuart, Florida
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    Mike Phillips
    #27 Mike Phillips, Jan 5, 2015
    ***Update***


    Was able to put the top down using the emergency switch. The seats are not moving forward on their own so we moved them forward after the beep when pressing the top down switch and holding it.

    I'm not sure the bows are collapsing all they way back.

    Later I'm going to remove the cover and check the hydraulic fluid level.

    :)
     
  3. Badabing!

    Badabing! Formula Junior

    Mar 30, 2014
    731
    NYC
    #28 Badabing!, Jan 5, 2015
    Glad you got it down.

    I'm sure I speak for many when I say we wouldn't mind seeing a bunch of pictures of the car and reading about your techniques and products used.

    Hint, hint.
     
  4. Mike Phillips

    Mike Phillips Rookie

    Jan 9, 2006
    7
    Stuart, Florida
    Full Name:
    Mike Phillips
    #29 Mike Phillips, Jan 5, 2015
    Just checked the fluid level, it's at the minimum mark...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    From reading here on Ferrari Chat looks like this is the recommended fluid.

    Mercedes OEM Febi/Bilstein ZH-M Hydraulic Fluid

    When holding the down button of the emergency switch the top goes down but the most forward bows don't retract all the way back.

    I checked the fluid level after trying to retract the top again so I don't know during the cycling if the reservoir tank is dropping all the way down or not.

    :)
     
  5. Mike Phillips

    Mike Phillips Rookie

    Jan 9, 2006
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    Stuart, Florida
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    Mike Phillips
    #30 Mike Phillips, Jan 5, 2015

    I looked for the forum rules and guess I'm getting old as I didn't find them. I don't want to break any forum rules and also don't want to step on my buddy Todd Cooperider's toes as he is a paid sponsor of this forum and I respect that and him.


    :)
     
  6. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    Bob Ferraris
    #31 drbob101, Jan 5, 2015
    Mike are the elastic straps there and do they appear to have a fair amount of elasticity to them as opposed to being flaccid?

    Bring the fluid up to the max line as well and yes it is that MB product.
     
  7. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
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    San Carlos, CA
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    Mitchell Le
    #32 yelcab, Jan 5, 2015
    You sometimes need to help the forward bow manually.
     
  8. Mike Phillips

    Mike Phillips Rookie

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    Mike Phillips
    #33 Mike Phillips, Jan 6, 2015
    I'll check this morning.



    10-4

    The nearest MB Dealership to us and the owner of this car is in Fort Pierce. I'll call Dave this morning and ask him to pick some up and bring it down.

    I also told Dave about the option to convert his top to a manual set-up and he was good with that too.


    :)
     
  9. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
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    Jun 11, 2004
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    #34 johnk..., Jan 6, 2015
  10. Mike Phillips

    Mike Phillips Rookie

    Jan 9, 2006
    7
    Stuart, Florida
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    Mike Phillips
    #35 Mike Phillips, Jan 6, 2015
  11. Gialllo uno

    Gialllo uno Formula Junior

    Jul 5, 2014
    348
    Reisterstown, Maryland
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    Mark
    #36 Gialllo uno, Jan 6, 2015
    Mike, I do not feel. Sorry for you in Sunny Florida..........we are having snow today here in Baltimore! I also am having a top issue on my F355 1998 top, so I was trying to bone up on everything. Great forum with dedicated members to help. Truly is a pleasure

    Mark
     
  12. frascati

    frascati Karting

    Mar 5, 2012
    110
    #37 frascati, Jan 6, 2015
    Feel free to post more pics of that Pozzi blue car. I have developed a thing for blue. I got a Swaters on navy but love the Pozzi too.

    Good luck - my top moves back just until it is time for it to start to fold back and get pulled downward. Adding fluid turned out to not be the answer unfortunately. Hope it works for you.
     
  13. Shootfighter65

    Shootfighter65 Formula 3

    May 13, 2014
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    Charleston SC
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    Randy..alluneedtokno
    #38 Shootfighter65, Jan 7, 2015
    Mine is manual. Easy as pie and no worries
     
  14. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    #39 drbob101, Jan 7, 2015
    Did you try to fix your top? What was not working?

    I have not had to do anything to mine but use it so I can honestly say I have no experience in fixing them other than changing the elastics and putting fluid in it.

    I am aware of the seat pot issues and have read the WSM many times to have a better understanding of how it works but that sure doesn't make me an expert in fixing them although I would relish the opportunity to do so so as to have a better idea of what goes wrong.

    I know and understand all the complaints about it being an overdesigned, blah , blah , blah mechanism, etc., but... We bought Ferrraris , not chevrolets and a lot of what makes these cars unique and cool are things that are a bit "over the top". (pun intended).

    There has been a ton of good DIY stuff posted in this forum and not so much on the tops or it isnt very centralized or in stickies. It would be great to go through troubleshooting and fixing some top issues and documenting the procedures to do so.
     
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