2001 360F1 dropping into neutral when driving

This happened to my '01 360 recently. Check clutch wear and dirty sensors.

 

Is it dropping on upshifts? Comes off gear at stoplights? At what speeds? How much acceleration?

 

Check the clutch wear. If it is high that can do it. That should be accompanied by a fault for "CLUTCH CLOSED ABOVE PIS". That fault has a counter. Erase it and drive the car long enough to have it happen to you. Count the times and go back to the shop and check the counter, the numbers should match. If that is the case replace the clutch and don't forget to do a cycle test. At one point in the test it will ask you if it is a new clutch, answer yes. This will cause the TCU to relearn the clutch positions. If this is not done the same problem will come back prematurely, say when the clutch is only 3/4 worn.

The software has trouble adapting to the differing positions and the range of travel required to disengage the clutch over the life of the clutch. This is exactly why they need adaptive strategy in the TCU. It needs to learn but in current configuration it is stupid.

That is the most common cause. If that fault is not present get back and tell me which ones are. Don't be surprised to find multiple faults, most probably will not be meaningful.

 

Sorry to say but you can't do it without an SD2. The problem with borrowing or renting one is they are spendy and hard to replace. If for example UPS lost one somebody is out of business until it gets replaced. I think a used one will not go for a lot less than a new one. Your boss needs to get you one. I saw one a couple of weeks ago on ebay. ferraribooks.com usually has one advertised and Dennis McAnn gets them occasionally. He is the most reasonable around usually. I think they go for 20-30k these days. You need to have one.

Something you should check into. I have heard that you can buy an SD3 from a Ferrari dealer (they are selling them now) I did not ask if the software is avail now but it is supposed to be retrofitted to do the early cars (SD1+2). I believe it is about the same price as an SD2 and you can go to New Jersey (Oh JOY) for factory training. That will enable you to do 612 and up.

 

I had a similar problem. My car would shift into N when shifting to another gear. I had to let up on the gas to make sure I was engaged in a gear. The shop checked out all the electronics before finally checking the clutch. My problem turned out to be a clutch. I had it replaced and I've had no further problems.

 

BTW, my car is an '02 360 F1.