355F1 Won't Shift Out of Neutral

I've got a 99 355 F1 that is stuck in my garage. How is it stuck? Well, it won't select either 1st gear or neutral (in either standard or sport mode, fwiw).

As I was driving it home recently, I noticed that it would BEEP and shift into neutral as I slowed down to any stop sign or stop light. I would shift back into 1st, sometimes requiring two or three tries, and it made it home (one time I had to shut the car off, restart, and then select 1st). When I tried to move it the following day, however, no go. It just beeps, shows 1 on the LED briefly, then goes back to Neutral. Same thing with R. Beep, brief R on the screen, then Neutral again. I've tried cutting the battery and restoring, nothing. Any ideas before I get it towed to the dealer to plug in the SD-1?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

 

Have you checked the F1 system's hydraulic fluid level?

 

Nope. Good call. Will do. Can I get new fluid at local parts store. Please tell me I don't need a Helix-only brand?

Steve

 

You didn't happen to notice if the trans malfunction warning light was on, on your trip home or at any time prior this latest symptom did you? Did the beeping happen at engine shutdown any time recently? If the light was on, that and the other symptom was trying to tell you to find a safe place to park. It is not a condition you should be trying to resolve. It is indicating that there is some sort of malfunction. Even if you succeded in getting it to go into gear the next level will be to shut down the motor as soon as you slow below 10km or so and then you will be stuck.
Sorry but it is time to call a tow truck.

 

Please verify that all the doors, engine cover, and boot are closed. When you lock the car with the remote, does it lock with the single "chirp" or does it chirp a multiple of times indicating something is open (or perhaps a microswitch is malfunctioning)?
The car will not allow you to select a gear if anything is unlatched for safety reasons.
Also, when turning the ignition without starting the car, does the transmission light blink a few times as the pump builds pressure and then go out? Try shifting into gear when the light is out (but the engine off) and see if it holds the gear.

Please let us know how you make out.

Best,
Pino

 

I'd like to ditto Pino's comments. One late night my F1 transmission did exactly as you indicated while stopped at a stop signal. Would not shift out of Neutral. I stated the car several times - no help.

Finally I looked back and the engine cover was up. Got out, closed the deck and the transmission worked fine. So close and reclose all doors, engine cover, etc. several times and then try to drive.

If the engine cover, etc. is secure, you may have a bad sensor... multiple chirping will indicate that...

 

A number of issues can cause this and some of your friends here are correct. Your front hood door and engine cover have a sensor. The manual says they stop the car starting which is infact incorrect. Its just a bad translation from Italin to English. It means it stops you starting off from a stand still in other word will not let you take a gear.

Also there maybe some wear or adjustment. If a gear can not get seclected the car will not allow a selection to be made. Firsrt thing to check is engine mounts, they can wear and the engine drops slightly and angles change.

One thing to be careful of is the gear selector connection bolt can be fitted upside down, this stops selection after wear takes place. Simply turning it over can be a fix, but beware.

Recently in CA a customer paid a total of 18 000 dollars to a specialist dealer at three attempts to fix this same fault replacing parts etc(not the forum to name them really). He ended up at San Francisco official dealer who noticed the bolt and fixed the car in 30 mins.

 

I love it when the simple answer is the right one.

When I armed the alarm, I got single beep, followed by 4 beeps, which means something not reading as latched.

Tried the front hood, that wasn't it.

Decided to test the engine cover by opening it, manually pressing down the latch, then arming the alarm. Yep - single beep as normal.

Opened the latch and closed the engine cover with a slam, then armed the alarm again.

One beep.

Got in, fired her up, let it warm a bit, selected 1st. Then selected R. Problem solved.

Thanks guys!

Steve

 

One of those Ferarri quirks. Whewn I first got mine I had never owned a F1. I was in the middle of an intersection and it would not go in 1st. Just imagine all of these people looking at me calling me an idiot. Finally I realized "foot on brake, shift to 1st" duhhhhhh. helps to read the book. I gues that is one of the Manly can't do things.....

 

Heard a lot of F1 tranny owners go back to the 6 speed manual...

 

The BMW SMG is very close to the Ferrari F1 and it is flawless. I would never buy a F1 ferrari. What a joke...bonnet kill switch. Why not have a cup holder kill switch...unless your mug is in the holder the car stalls!

ymmv

 

ok,
that was funny
you got me rolling on the floor

F1's are a PITA

 

lol, nice one

 

What happens when you are at a light for over 3 mins and the car is in 1st gear and it beeps and goes into "N" and won't go back into first car until you shut done the car and restart it?

 

Never had this happen but I always shift into neutral just like I was driving a stick. My understanding is if you reapply the brake it should pull first again. I will have to try it sometime.