Slow down light...can ignore if no cats? | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Slow down light...can ignore if no cats?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by bpu699, Mar 16, 2006.

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  1. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    I'll send you a PM.
     
  2. bpu699

    bpu699 F1 World Champ
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    Dec 9, 2003
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    Alright, drove for a week or 2 with the light off. Now my little illuminated friend is back :).

    It is interesting, that the light never goes through a blinking phase, that you guys mention. It just turns on at random times, then goes off. No rhyme or reason. It NEVER goes on when I am flooring it down some back road. Usually only happens at idle, or lumping along at 3000 rpm on the highway...

    Sounds like a glitch.

    I went looking for an IR thermometer, but no luck locally finding one that reads to 1000F or so.

    So, I decided to get creative. How does one acertain if the temps of the CAT are too high, while the car is travelling?? Well, I am not sure if this is genius or pure stupidity, but I am sure you guys will let me know ;):

    I took some solder (melting point 450-600F), and wrapped it around strategic areas. ie. Cats, bolts on muffler. thermocouple, etc. Then took it for a short spin. None of the solder melted...

    One would think if the cats hit anywhere near 1000F, or more...the solder would be liquid... This can also be fine tuned, as different solders have varous melting points, from 360-700F or so...

    What do you guys think? :) Any validity to this???

    Seems like this is arelatively neat/cheap way to see if temps are really high?

    Now before you laugh and start posting various comments...think about this: As part of an erectile dysfunction workup we sometimes ask patients to take some stamps and wrap their p*nis with it , at night. If they have normal nocturnal function, then the ED may be psychological :).
     
  3. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
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    Scott

    Doesn't it hurt when you try to stamp that part?
     
  4. NYCFERRARIS

    NYCFERRARIS Formula 3

    Mar 2, 2004
    1,011
    penis take....I guess most guys take above avg. postage (LOL).

    (c'mon...you had to know that comment would take this thread on a left turn)
     
  5. alota_phagina

    alota_phagina Rookie
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    Apr 19, 2006
    2
    slow down lights only come on due to excessive cat temp, period.

    They come on when the temp probbe sees 850 degC.

    These experts you guys listen to are telling you false info....

    If you remove the cats you will have a slow down light come on everytime you get on it hard...... Disconnecting the ECU will cure the problem. You will most likely have a check engine light eventually and the mixture will be off a little but the car will not have a slow down light.

    You should get it looked at by a authorized shop...
     
  6. jbanzai

    jbanzai Formula 3

    Feb 1, 2002
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    I had a similar problem in my 328. The issue was as simple a that the cable that connects the thermocouple in the kat to the ECU was slightly broken, just the outside shielding. It was broken just where the cable was going into the trunk, s mall ruber piece was broken causing the metal body to cut into teh cable and breaking the cable outside shielding (GND) . The ECU is in the trunk in the 328.

    That caused that occasionally with car vibrations, the cable shroud did not have continuity (GND), triggering the warning light. This is beacuse the thermocouple in the 328 works like a resistance, the higher the temp the higher is its resistance to conduct electricity. If the cable is broken or damaged, and the circuit is not complete, the ECU thinks resistance is infinite and therefore triggers the warning light. It was a simple fix.

    You might check something like that before you get into more complicated posibilities. Just my 2 cents.

    - Julio.
     
  7. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Just why will the light come on without cats when you get on it hard? Be specific. And how will that lead to a check engine light on a Testarossa that is not even equipped with one? And also how will that lead to an eventual mixture change?


    You sound like the one that has a problem with false info.

    And as for knowing the subject did you know one of the posters has a PHD and is employed in the cat industry?

    Your name is offensive and you should be banned.


    Go away.
     
  8. jbanzai

    jbanzai Formula 3

    Feb 1, 2002
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    No if you do not install the thermocouple in the test pipe, but then you migh have a rich mix until the engine warms up. Also without the kats the temps most likely will never reach those temps.

    The problem is that the unburnt fuel reacts in the kat raising the temp, without the kat that reaction will not occur.

    - Julio.
     
  9. bpu699

    bpu699 F1 World Champ
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    I will take another look at the cable. On the surface it looks ok. I appreciate everyones help...

    I know that the simple answer is to just take it in and get it looked at. Right now, though, I want to pursue this on my own. Part of the joy of owning these older cars is working on them, learning, and enjoying them. Plus, it gives me more reason to read fchat! :)

    My prior experience with porsches has lead me to believe that working on a car yourself - is, within reason - a good thing to do. Most of the time when I brought my 76 911 s to the shop for something minor...its seemed that an aweful lot of expensive parts got exchanged. Many times, in retrospect, this wasn't necessary. I don't want to repeat this exercise with the testarossa. I suspect, that if I take it straight to the dealer, I will get a new ECU or 2 :).

    Based on what I have read here, it seems that based on what is happening, its very likely a glitch:

    1) Goes on randomly, sometimes when cold
    2) No blinking precursor
    3) Doesn't seem to go on when the car is being thrashed
    4) Cat itself appears "normal." IE. Not glowing, sizzling, etc

    Now, I may be way off, but hope I am on reasonable footing here...

    Sounds like I can still try to swap ECU's...which is the next step. Or perhaps disconnect the thermocoupel and see if the light still goes on... :)

    Anyone know what exactly fails in the ECU causing these malfunctions? Is it a failed part that can be replaced, or is that beyond hope? ;)
     
  10. jbanzai

    jbanzai Formula 3

    Feb 1, 2002
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    If you disconnect the thermocouple the light will stay on all the time.

    With the car in cold try to move the themocouple cables if one is broken chances are the light will come on.

    You can get the therocouple out of the kat and test, but that is risky. If the thermocouples are fine and they were corectly highliting an issue with unburnt fuel, if they are out they won't warn you.

    If the thermocouple is bad you might also experience these things, but at the price of that part, it would be even better that the problem is something else. And in the TR you have two of them to test/replace.

    - Julio.
     
  11. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Like has already been said, if you have cats you need a working warning system.

    Swap Cat temp ecu's to diag. Thermocouples have gone bad but at a rate of about 5% of bad ecu's.

    An ecu died in mine about a year ago and I replace them in other cars all the time.

    It is epoxy filled so who knows what is wrong? The failures are mostly blamed on the epoxy not adhearing to the plastic case and allowing moisture intrusion. Always suspected that diagnosis.
     
  12. Llenroc

    Llenroc F1 Veteran
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    So are you full of Sh@t all of the time are just part of the time. Go away and come back when you can offer informative advice.
     
  13. jamesw

    jamesw Karting

    Nov 7, 2005
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    My 360 has the slow down light problem. If I am having too much fun I will get the light. I was on the highway on Easter cruising about 90 for 15 minutes and the light came on. Ferrari of central florida has tried to fix this 3 times but are unsure what to do. There last thought was check all the grounds for $1200, I am bummed. James
     
  14. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    He could be No Doubt in disguise? :p
     
  15. Llenroc

    Llenroc F1 Veteran
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    Hummmm... ya think?? No doubt is that you?
     
  16. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    The 360 monitors so many items figuring that out is usually not as hard but stuff happens.

    Under what other circumstances has it happened?
     
  17. jamesw

    jamesw Karting

    Nov 7, 2005
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    If I do a couple of 0-90mph runs, it will start to flash. At the Sebring track event it came on after several laps. Running on the highway at 90 for 15 minutes did it Sunday. James
     
  18. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
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    I'm voting the cats are shot.... but that's a wild guess. You're still under federal emissions warranty, so ask the dealer to GIVE you new cats. Or, upgrade and buy some HyperFlows.

    Again, just a guess. I'm not a trained professional. I'm just some dude on the internet who's been drinking too many St. Pauli Girl beers tonight.
     
  19. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Daniel, cats are reactive only. They cannot overheat on their own. Something upstream is bad and needs to be fixed before it destroys the cats. It should not be a hard problem to find.

    jamesw
    I had a client that went round and round with that problem with the factory store. They strung him along until $20k+ worth of cats were destroyed and the motor was destroyed as well. They lost in the legal action that was taken against them and lost big.

    In that case they timed the cams wrong and continued to blow off his complaints until the damage was done.

    Find another mechanic. Your current one is faulty.

    Don't do the same. Get it fixed now!
     
  20. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    That's just mean...

    You owe me a beer, now.
     
  21. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    Since when have you *ever* seen me be vulgar? Did you see the guy's name?

    ...not one of my many flaws.
     
  22. ROLOcr

    ROLOcr Formula Junior

    Oct 25, 2005
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    a costumer of ours ignored a slow down ligth, and his 348 caught fire and they put it out on time, minor damage, the second time he got a slown down ligth was on a 355 and he stopped rigth away and tow the car to our shop

    he learned the lesson the HARD WAY!
     
  23. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    Wow, one of the few mechanics out there that actually gets it!

    Drinks are on me Brian.
     
  24. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    Not necessarily. Cats being shot usually don't work.

    Problem is upstream.

    And its Campari and Soda over here.
     
  25. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #50 PAP 348, Apr 19, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I just cracked a stubby and im thinking of ya pal ;)
    The last beer in this household at the moment. :(
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     

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