Jay Leno on Ferrari maintenance

You nailed it for sure

I buy for the fun factor to beat the heck out of it
Not to park it wax it every week and worry about if it gets dirty
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Hilarious and true.

 

X2

He's so damn stubborn he's missed out on the greatest of cars, and he is no question the ultimate car guy. Poor dude, all the money in the world and he loves cars intensilly - yet due to his stubbornness misses out on the finest cars in the world.

Could you imagine the Ferrari collection he would have if he didn't have that chip on his shoulder.

 

Hey Krusty the Clown - still gives me nightmares.

 

Perhaps I read too much into his statement. But I wasn't saying he's not a real enthusiast. I don't think you can do what he has done if you don't have a real passion for it. Its just that we all have our opinions and sometimes those color our responses.

Very interesting that the LF doesn't have the 7 years maintenance program. I'm kind of glad because I think the program is far too basic.

 

I've seen a few videos (I believe it's the Lamborghini ones) where he talks about how when you go to Ferrari they don't give you the time of the day. I think that's what puts him off.

Regardless, I do agree he's missing out on some of the best cars ever due to that.

 

That clown looks like a child molester ... or one of our presidential candidates.

 

Exactly... Anyone who is singing the praise of 3D printing as the cure all is absolutely totally unfamiliar with the limitations of the process..

It's fine for making things like cleats for you boat or something that does not require precision, but as soon as you start talking about holding true machined surface tolerances it falls on its face.

In the real world it's a great process... so long as it's the only way in the world to make what you want to make. If you can make the part by any other process you'll do so in a minute, but if you can't possibly make it any other way 3d printing is the way to go... Oh yea, and for the pleasure of being able to print the part you also get the costs that are crazy expensive, and they'll never really come down. The reason is that printing one piece at a time isn't mass production and it never will be.

Pardon the rant, but I've actually made real jet engine parts with 3d printing and it was crazy expensive (think $50k) and had to deal with all of the post processing issues like tolerances and surface finish so I've been there and done that and have the bills to prove it.

 

No argument there; to diagnose and repair all systems on these cars requires the factory tools. This should really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. As an owner of an SD-2 tester, all of the factory "Diagnostic Sheets," breakout boxes and most of the factory hand tools, the investment to properly service these cars is considerably higher than one might expect. That said, to perform professional-level service on most brands requires far more than simple hand tools, a generic scanner and access to Google.

As you know as a shop owner, all of the German brands have expensive, albeit more affordable and accessible tools required for high level diagnostic work. Ferrari just makes things more difficult to do. Sometimes, it seems that diagnostic information almost elusive. It is very interesting to compare how little most code readers "tell" versus what the factory tools reveal. That said, Jay is fond of Lambos and their diagnostic system start at about $11K.

 

I will cancel my order then.

 

It looks like Preston Henn will be joining the Jay Leno fan club!

 

For those that are stating that it takes a ton of special tools and a $30K computer to work on a Ferrari, can you give examples of the type of work (other than the transmission) that requires all of these special tools and computer programs?

 

I don't know about 458 and on, but up to 430, you can change fluids, belts, etc. without the computer tools. With a cheap code reader, you can diagnose many things. F1 Clutch setting is the main thing you can't do without the computers.

 

Very short answer:
Climate control
Air bag system
Anti-theft system
ASR/ABS service and/or diagnostics
Convertible top diagnostics
Suspension diagnostics
Dash diagnostics
Component level testing of engine electrical components
Every possible engine parameter available
Tools: Many specialized tools for engine, gearbox, diff, suspension, etc.

 

To properly service the eDiff or do a F1 fluid change, an SD-3 is required. Same holds true to properly service the ASR/ABS....

 

We've got guys all over this forum doing all types of service to these cars without SD capabilities and doing it successfully. Obviously to handle certain ECU functions (ECU's of all types) the SD and equivalents are needed.

When I need that tool, I will buy the single model Leonardo.

And, regardless of an SD or not, servicing these cars or even my guitars for that matters is a serious investment in the proper tools but for many of us we are happy to invest, learn and do our own work as it's gratifying, convenient and often less expensive.

 

Good to know. Thanks for your opinion.

 

Dave, in no way shape or form and I disrespecting the investment you or other guys have made nor the extreme knowledge and experience you and said others have. We all know you forgot more today than most of us will ever know and that is a serious statement.

But, this is a car forum, a technical forum for all to participate with and it does get tiring to listen to some often discourage folks here from wrenching on their own cars.

I'm guessing you do plenty of tasks in your life instead of always hiring pros.

In my refinishing business, many guys like to DIY. Good for them and we have even helped those with some instruction documents, etc. We have plenty of business from the folks who do not want to DIY.

 

On my hot rod I built the entire car from parts and know everything about it. O n the TR I do most of the work myself. But the TR is simple compared to some of the later models.

 

Very short answer:
Climate control
Air bag system
Anti-theft system
ASR/ABS service and/or diagnostics
Convertible top diagnostics
Suspension diagnostics
Dash diagnostics
Component level testing of engine electrical components
Every possible engine parameter available
Tools: Many specialized tools for engine, gearbox, diff, suspension, etc.

You are correct, but many of these are very specialized items. Just like all cars today, when it comes to an item that may cost more to buy the tool than paying a professional to fix it, you bring it to the professional. Most of the most common items that fail on a Ferrari can be fixed without specialized tools.

 

3D printing of metal parts is still in it's infancy at the moment, and new methods, techniques and solutions are being found all of the time. Over the coming years/decades, it will improve greatly.

If you look at the history of CNC Machine Tools, you'll find that in the early days, they too were quite restricted in what they could do due to technology limitations. Today, their machining capabilities are quite mind blowing, and one day, 3D printing of metal parts will be the same.

I'll guarantee you that all of the big CNC Machine Tool companies are looking seriously into 3D printing because it will one day be a major threat to their business!




As for the Jay Leno aspect of this thread, you need to understand the full context of the conversation that he was having, and understand that he was giving a generalised view of how Ferrari technology has changed over the years.

You also have to realise that this interview was done 7 years ago, and the cheaper diagnostic's tools people are talking about using in this thread, probably didn't exist 7 years ago.


Jay Leno doesn't do Ferraris? - So what?

Here's a shocker - Not everyone likes Ferraris! Just as not everyone likes Lamborghini's or Porsches!

Does that make him a bad person? - No!
Does that mean he can't be a real car enthusiast? - No, there's no Law that says to be a true car enthusiast you have to like Ferraris!

Jay Leno not liking or owning Ferraris is hardly the end of the World! - How about the members of Fchat simply get over it and move on, rather than creating yet another Jay Leno bashing thread?

 

Wondering what the Right To Repair in states like MA will do to this problem.

 

Phill - yes, 3D printing has come along way and it will continue to improve and many metal cutting companies are starting down the path.

I think what is important to understand is it's a different tool and will always be. It's never going to replace metal cutting or other technology. It's a great additional technology.

I'm looking forward to the day when plastic parts can be done with great resolution as we are not there yet.

 

Funny I am not a fan of Ferrari at all, I simply like a few models. Not brand loyal or have good to say about the company itself

 

Is the high cost of diagnostic equipment/tools/etc a "planned" strategy? Protection for the Ferrari approved dealerships? The mechanical systems in a Ferrari can't be any more complicated than other exotics. Can it?

Another profit strategy to make it harder for the DIYs? I'm referring to the newer Ferraris.