355 - No suspension light? How do I determine if it's working? | FerrariChat
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355 No suspension light? How do I determine if it's working?

Discussion in '348/355' started by squid, Dec 7, 2022.

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  1. squid

    squid Karting

    Oct 5, 2006
    153
    #1 squid, Dec 7, 2022
    So I hear there's supposed to be a light on the dash when you click the little shock switch on the center console?

    I have no light, no matter the position. So either:

    a) the switch isn't doing anything

    or

    b) the light is burned out

    How can I determine if the system is working properly?

    Of note, the switch isn't illuminated. I checked, and the connector to the switch is attached under the dash.
     
  2. Shorn355

    Shorn355 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 13, 2011
    6,859
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #2 Shorn355, Dec 7, 2022
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  3. squid

    squid Karting

    Oct 5, 2006
    153
    #3 squid, Dec 7, 2022
    It doesn't, there's no light. Other lights in that cluster work, and I confirmed the switch is connected. How do I confirm that the switch is working?
     
  4. Shorn355

    Shorn355 F1 Veteran
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    Jan 13, 2011
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    Colorado
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    Scott
    #4 Shorn355, Dec 7, 2022
    I just realized I may have insulted your intelligence - apologies - I am quite sure you checked the owners manual so didn't mean to insult you.

    If you are not seeing the #2 light when you put the switch into Comfort mode then I would try the rear fog light switch and see if the #1 light comes on (or let the fuel level get low enough to trigger the #3 light but that is a bit risky) - that way you know if or if not that bank of lights has power - I don't know if each light has its own bulb or not (apologies) but if the other light up and the suspension light does not then (to your point) either the bulb is burned out or the connection from the switch to the suspension to the light is interrupted - or the sensor on the active suspension is not working.

    FWIW for normal driving I cannot tell the difference between sport and comfort on my 355 - I can definitely tell the difference between normal and "Bumpy Road" on my 458. I drove my 355 for 9 years before even even messing with the switch and only tried it because I was using the Bumpy Road option in the 458. Flipped the switch - Light came on in the 355 - drove a while - no noticeable difference (to me at least) and turned it back off.

    Just saying this because I realize you want everything to work but might have to balance the time/expense of tracing down an issue versus the benefit of being able to run in "Comfort" mode.

    Good luck - Cheers :)
     
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  5. squid

    squid Karting

    Oct 5, 2006
    153
    #5 squid, Dec 7, 2022
    It's ok, if I was smart I wouldn't have spent good money on a 28-year old Ferrari ;)

    I noticed last night the switch wasn't illuminating at night while all the others in that bank, do, so today I confirmed it's plugged in. Yup, it's connected at the switch. Fog light comes on in the dash when turned on, so the bank of lights is connected.

    I checked the fuses but didn't see a listing for suspension.

    I just had the idea to turn the key on and see if the lights come on during the ignition check, but the whole left bank is not illuminated during startup. Hope my low fuel light works!

    I guess if it doesn't do anything I really SHOULD ignore it, but I'm a bit OCD and want everything to work as intended :)
     
  6. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
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    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    #6 Qavion, Dec 7, 2022
    There is no easy way of checking the bulb. You either:
    1) pull the binnacle out and replace the lamp or
    2) short a pin to earth on the yellow plug of the Bilstein Suspension ECU in the passenger footwell (with the ignition on)
    3) shorting a pin to earth on the switch (red/green wire) with the ignition on.

    The ECU gets power directly from the battery. The only fused power going to the ECU is the Instrument fuse (your car probably wouldn't run if this was blown)

    Do you mean with the external lights turned on? I suppose the switch could be broken, but different contacts on the plug are used for lighting power and switching. However, there is a common earth for switching and lighting (inside the Bilstein ECU).

    Try swapping the plugs on the switches (fog and suspension).... being careful not to break the fragile baseplate of the switch holder.
     
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