Spider seats don't go forward with top switch? | FerrariChat
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Spider seats don't go forward with top switch?

Discussion in '348/355' started by hjp, Jun 6, 2016.

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  1. hjp

    hjp Formula Junior

    Feb 23, 2013
    591
    Kansas City, Mo.
    Full Name:
    Jerry Peterson
    #1 hjp, Jun 6, 2016
    The last time I put my top up, everything worked fine. Windows came down a couple of inches, both seats moved up, top went up and both seats moved back to there original position just like everything is supposed to.

    Yesterday, when I tried to put the top down, after the top was released, the windows came down but neither seat moved forward. The "beeping" just continued. The seats were not getting power through the top switch but work just fine with the seat switches. I didn't try the emergency switch yet but I'm pretty sure it would work. However, since I'm about to do some other work on the car I would prefer to just fix whatever is wrong while I'm at it.

    I know about the potential problem with the seat pots but would just one of the pots going bad stop both seats from moving? Could this be related to the top ECU? I believe my hydraulics are fine and I know the system is full of fluid so it would seem to me it has to be either the pot(s) or the ECU. If there is a bad pot, rather than trying to glue the old one, does anyone make an aftermarket metal replacement for the offending ball/gear assembly? If it turns out to be the ECU, where is it located?
     
  2. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,573
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    #2 yelcab, Jun 6, 2016
    It is your POT, bad, broken, and needs to be repaired. there is no after market better part. You fix it with factory stuff, used stuff and suffer the eventual failure. Or you bypass it.

    The ECU is right behind your right elbow, inside that leather "blob" of a center console
     
  3. Raiden

    Raiden Karting

    Mar 13, 2015
    52
    #3 Raiden, Jun 6, 2016
    My spider has had a similar problem lately on the driver side seat. So I just drop both windows, manually adjust the drivers seat full forward and then hit the top button and let it do its thing. When the passenger side seat returns to the proper spot I let go of the switch. It has worked for me in the short term, when I have time I will get it fixed the right way. Just to busy right now. Give it a try.
     
  4. k17har

    k17har Karting

    Sep 3, 2009
    144
    london, uk
    Full Name:
    kayer
    #4 k17har, Jun 6, 2016
    Sounds like either your seat pot or the micro switch on the convertable frame, when folding down. basically it works in synchronise mode' first the 2 switches on top of the windsheild frame, (makes a beep) tells the switches on the window, then when the top is ready to fold, the switch then tells the seats to go forward. That's what I have been told when I had issues with mine, but mine was the seat pot. Just have a look at the micro switches that are visible around the frame, before you take the seats off, it might be an easy fix. And there is plenty of those switches on that frame!There is a thread on DIY post, for seat pot fix. Good luck.
     
  5. janders82

    janders82 Karting

    Nov 26, 2014
    180
    Atlanta, GA
    #5 janders82, Jun 7, 2016
    most likely the seat pots...

    However, i recall having a similar issue last year. Constant beeping and no movement with the top. I found a blown 30A fuse under the cover where the fluid reservoir and motor for the top sit. replaced the fluid and fuse and everything was right with the world.

    good luck!
     
  6. hjp

    hjp Formula Junior

    Feb 23, 2013
    591
    Kansas City, Mo.
    Full Name:
    Jerry Peterson
    #6 hjp, Jun 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2016
    I suppose its possible one of the seat pots is bad but they were both repaired with hot glue just before I bought the car. Although that's not likely to be the problem, it still can't be ruled out. By the way, if one pot is bad, would that prevent BOTH seats from going forward?

    I know about the micro switches above the front window frame. These lower the windows about 2" and they are working fine. Are you saying there is another pair of switches located somewhere in the top frame itself that when the top is pushed back far enough to "beep", these allow the seats to move forward and then top motor to begin to lower the top? There was a resent thread about the micro switch behind the LH side of the driver's seat located at the main hydraulic ram connection that controlled something (can't recall just what but think it was the hydraulic motor itself, not the seats). Could this somehow be at fault?

    One of the things I did just before attempting to lower my top was to replace the 2 elastic bands, one on each side, that automatically pull back the first top frame behind the front window. To do so, you have to remove the rubber "bumpers" and pull the frame loose from the top on each side. Could I have displaced one of the micro switches somewhere near this while I was doing this? I sure didn't see any in this vicinity but wasn't really looking for any. Exactly where are these other micro switches located?
     

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