WHAT SHOULD A 348 SHIFT LIKE

mine refuses to go in 2nd sometimes.

 

That's getting in over my head, I wouldn't try it unless you know exactlly what your doing, could make it worse.

 

I'm going to try Castrol Multitrax 75W-90. Apparently the spec sheet lists all Ferraris as compatible with this particular oil.

The Castrol Syntrax apparently is not for cars with limited-slip differentials.

Sorry don't want to change this into a gear oil thread... I've posted enough of those already!

To the original poster--
The 348 gearbox IS notchy. It doesn't shift like any other car. In other words, you have to master it. I will never let anyone get into my car and drive it. I have let my brother drive it after giving him lengthy tutorials on how the gearbox works!

I hope the gear oil change will make things a little easier. Either way, I love the 348 and this symptom adds character to the car!

 

" I love the 348 and this symptom adds character to the car!"

Agree with that. Sure wouldn't want it to shift like a Honda!

 

My car was a PAIN to shift when it was cold. I switched to Mobile1 75w-90 and it made a noticable difference. The stiffness of the shifting when cold was still there, but reduced quite a bit. When it was warm it was very smooth and easy to shift. However the traditional notchieness was still sort of present, but not bad. I would stay away from the "snake oils". Although you may come across something by mistake. Others have had success using the Redline oils. For me the Mobile1 did the trick. If you are still having a problem shifting after you have changed the oil, then have a look at the shifter cable adjustment. You could be a half turn too tight or loose on either of the ends. When you go to adjust them, ONLY do ONE end at a time, and count the turns. That way if you bugger things up more, you can put it back to were it was.

 

I think you have a bad cat ecu. Try swapping them from one side to the other, and see if you get the slow down light on the other side. If you do then you know which ecu is bad. Now if you don't and still get the same thing on the same side, at start up, then I would say the you have a bad thermocoupler on what ever side is giving you the problem. If it does turn out the be that it is an exhaust ecu, and you get stranded because it shut down a bank, you can unplug it and the car will still run on all 8.

 

This must be specific to your cars. I driven stick for 30yrs and don't find any real difference between my 348 and all the others I've driven. It seems even smoother on the track to me. Perhaps the higher rpm's levels it out even more?

 

I have a 94 348 spider - mine doesn't even know there is a second gear until the oil temp starts to move off the peg. I do the 1-3 shift until the oil temp starts to come up, then I blip the throttle to get second. After the car/oil is warm it is fine in all gears, no problem. Might be better, but my oil is pretty fresh so I just deal with it. I don't cane the car until my oil temp is up and then after that I can do as i wish.

Cheers
Kevin

 

Mine's a 90 348TB with Challenge gearbox & 52000km. The 1st gear was so stiff that I broke the lever! Yes, I was in first & "pops" the knob was on my wirst with the stick! Had to drive home on 1st for almost 1km. It was traced to the cables that were so badly misaligned/worn.

I ordered new cables, changed oil, gearshift box etc. Then, still not too good but never have problem from 1st to 2nd when cold. Just drive under 60km/h & keep rev under 4K to warm the oil/water. Basically, the gearbox is known to be tough unlike 328/355/TR etc cos it uses cables which tends to stretch over time/use & very few guys can do a good job, trust me I went through 4 Ferrari mechanics before finding one who would spend time doing it correctly. The car's in workshop now for belt change & I'll be using Shell oil specs as recommended by factory & painstakingly tune the alignment again. Hopefully it'll shift smoothly. Hopefully, it's not the synchros.

 

ouch !

 

Fchat member "Spider348" rebuilt his engine last winter and when he put it back in the car, he got the tranny cables all tweaked just right so the shifting forks were all properly in alignment. When I drove it, the thing shifted like butter. It was in fact one of the nicest shifting transmissions I had felt in years. WORLDS better than my 308, which has been described as very smooth "by 308 standards". It is possible to get a 348 to shift well with a combination of the right oil and a properly adjusted set of cables.

Birdman

 

My '92 TS is "notchy" when cold, BUT gets into every gear with just a little (and I mean very little) notchiness. By the time the car is totally warm, all gears slip in easily. But have on occassion had strong resitance getting into first at the lights... even when warm. Releasing and pressing the clutch again seems to allow the car to engage 1st with ease.

 

I do the 1st to 3rd thing on my '93 348 when cold also.I read up on this loads as i worried at first but you get used to it , i will agree with comments about being fine on track though, must be the adrenalin ! I bought a easy shift gate from Hill engineering as recomended by many on this forum, it's not a soloution but helps a lot.

 

It doesn't have to be bad. I spent months looking at cars and I'd say half had no problems engaging second, hot or cold.
I certainly wouldn't buy one that had this issue. There are too many that don't.
It will never change like a modern Toyota, but isn't that part of what makes driving the car something special?