550 window gap

Mine has a similar issue though not that large.
I have been told it just requires a simple adjustment not the same as the 456 hugely expensive repair.
My car is going into the shop this week. Will updat eyou.

 

had no idea the gap could/would be found on the 550 also. Try this link..go to last page, and a fellow here found a fix that seems to work. Adjusting a worn wheel seemed to fix it.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218347

 

Based on your description it sounds like an adjustment and or seal replacement. A bit time consuming to get everything aligned as it may also require the door jam to be adjusted. Typically collision shops are more familiar with this work and I would contact Dave at Premier Motorsport, (an authorized Ferrari only collision shop) in Culver City, tel:310-559-1562. Good luck with your new baby!

 

This sounds very much like the misalignment problem that is very, very common to 550's. The window misaligns itself over time so that it doesn't sit square in the door anymore. Mine has had an adjustment twice in the first 6 months I owned it. The mechanic needs to take the door panel off and muck around with the string tensioners or something (wasn't paying attention I'm afraid - the F40's in the shop caught my eye!). It's a 10 min job which my specialist so far has done for free. In the last 12 months I've had no problems.


Onno

 

John- Welcome to the Maranello/456 fan and owners' club.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

rats! would have been a great missing fix we need....still need to adjust the 456

 

To make sure you're ahead of the game: the pedal on the right takes you to warp speed....


Onno

 

MOTO,

You are in SM I'm in palos verdes. One day I'll have to do my 550 gaps to. It is supposed to be very easy. So easy that I have not got around to doing it yet. Jet-x has a 456 and is a regular visitor to my garage. The other stooges (348 gang) are always around too my garage too. There are always projects to be done and it is routine that there will be a few if not a half dozen ferraris in various states around my house. I got welder(S), a lift, tire changer and just just about any tool a ferrari would need except that damn SD2. We are fearless and will take anything apart and always get things back together. A couple of us race so we know how to break things then we have to fix them. You can read about our antics on the 348 board. If you like doing things yourself or are not afraid to learn you are welcome to come on by and meet the gang.

 

My 575M had this and the local dealer fixed it for about an hour of labor. Mine was making a lot of wind noise.

Does anyone have a procedure to remove the door panel and do this oneself?

 

Actually it looks pretty easy. Look at 32 and 16. It really could be a 10 minute adjustment. It is hard to tell from pictures. I'd know when I took the door apart. It may be as easy as loosening 32/16 and sliding/cocking the glass just a bit. It may take 30 minutes to figure out how to take the door panel off though...typical ferrari.
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I'll contact you when we get together again. Our meets are random. Often times its just someone wants to come over to fix something and we get together and heckle each other then go to lunch. We are all pretty good wrenchs myself about 20+ years thinking in Italian...no real engineering required or at least none apparently used. With your experience you gotta meet Goth. He is our resident mad scientist (some kind of engineer worked for pay I think on exhaust engineering and other stuff). I'm more of a very skilled part replacer who knows when to use a nail if a cotter pin is not handy. I'm the racer in the group and used to thinking up solutions on my feet. I look forward to a meet.

 

Look hear looks pretty easy just some screws like all of them. This is for the 575 NOT the 550
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Looking forward to them.

When I had an oh-sh*t moment the middle pedal couldn't help. Things to really remember: 1. Don't rely on the ASR. 2. Don't rely on the ASR. 3. Don't rely on the ASR. and 4. You have a lot of torque, a lot of horsepower, and wide tyres. Be mindful of: a) engine braking on slippery or wet roads, and b) powering out of slippery or wet corners. The ASR is far too slow to help you in those situations so it's back to good old driving technique.


Onno

 

I noticed a gap in the window of my 550. Dealer fixed by adjustment. A new regulator would've been ~$800, fortunately not necessary for me.

See before and after photos shown below. FYI.

Terry
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F1 Imports in Naples, Florida has develped a fix for existing window regulators on 550/575's and possibly others. While realignment will initially help the windows apparently will ultimately reposition themselves (they shift forward) without this fix.

Cost from F1 is approx. $200. per regulator and I am told they are providing this service/fix to many dealers both nationally and internationally.

I am having them provide this fix to my 575 this week.

 

Lol, Onno - I see it happening before my eyes. For a guy owning a TVR, I am not surprised to see you rely more on old school driving techniques than technology.

Back on topic, the 456 and 550 window regulators are completely identical apart from the rear metal support for the armrest, so I am not terribly surprised to see they have the same issues. I guess the 456 was just earlier to get noticed since the cars were released earlier to the market and probably there were more owners doing more miles with 456s relative to 550s.

Please note that the regulator issues are worsened by a large degree because of the grease on the window slider rails, which hardens and makes the regulator's job a whole lot more difficult. So if the issue is manifesting itself it is very wise to have these rails completely cleaned and re-greased. To do that properly means removing the window out of the car to reach the front slider rail. Which sounds like more work than it really is.

 

Rick:

You are correct on that. My window has been sliding forward and until now was back to having a sizable gap...figured I would have dealer fix soon. However I went out for a drive today and had the driver side window down enjoying the 'music'. When I tried to raise the window I heard a loud bang and it seems that the window/glass is off the track or something. Very weird angle. Tried to put it down and back up but something is very wrong so I didn't force it. Into the shop tomorrow....

Zedtt
2000 550

 

Terry, it sounds as if the regulators need a repair and I would suggest you or the dealer contact F1 Imports in Naples, Florida as their fix is dramatically less than new regulators. Just ask for Jason.

Good luck!

 

Well my car is back from the dealer and they fitted a new regulator.

They also performed a complete inspection of the car and pronounced everything in order. Always good to hear.

Zed

 

I had a half inch gap. Was told I needed a new regulator. Bought a used one for $600 and have same problem but with 1/8" gap. Then was told maybe need a new seal for $700. Just in case, tech called his guy to get used seal to see if it would make a difference. No luck. I guess i will call F1 Imports and see if they are still around? Ugh. Im late to this thread...Bill

 

It probably just needs adjusting, not having a bunch of parts thrown at it.