2004 360 FI Pops Into Neutral at Stop Light

How long is your foot off the brake? Or is it at all?

 

Push on the brake pedal harder, even if it's slightly lifted, it will do that automatically.

 

My 07 430 FI did that too. I thought I may have inadvertantly hit the paddles while sitting at a very long light.

 

The later model Owner's Manuals have nowhere near as much detail as the earlier manuals. From the 575M OM:

If the accelearator or brake pedal is not activated for 90 seconds, the F1 system automatically selects neutral.

If the brake pedal is depressed for more than 10 minutes, the F1 system automatically selects neutral.

If there is any difficulty selecting a gear when stopped, select neutral first and then select 1st or reverse.

Many will disagree with me on this, but in general at a stoplight, manually select neutral and then select first when ready to depart.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Yikes. What if you're coasting in 2nd or 3rd down a long road? The car will just select neutral? Of course all downhill coasting involves feathering of either pedal. But still...

 

90 seconds is a long time, thats a long freakin hill without any brake input. At 60mph you'd cover a mile an a half.

 

P.U. (That came out funny)- Those protocols only happen when the car is stopped.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

None of these explain why he has to restart to get it back in gear.


Have it looked at by someone up to speed on F1's. If it is as you say you will need some real diagnosis done.

 

Maybe needs a new clutch. Mine did that when the clutch was going out.

Art

 

All except for needing to restart. If that is true it's adding an element that does not add up to a clutch, at least not by itself.

 

Not putting it into neutral when stopped is one way to damage the clutch.

 

It is?


Please explain.

 

Not true.

 

Spoil sport.

 

sorry.......

 

I looked at a 355 F1 and was told both by the sales person and a very reputable So Cal mechanic that you should always put it in neutral when stopped or you will wear the clutch out very quickly. I seriously doubt it changed on the 360, and when I get mine I will certainly be putting it in to neautral.

 

Believe what you like, It still isn't true. It is no different than holding the clutch pedal down.

 

But won't all that air spinning over the plate wear it out?

 

Not the plate, but it will wear out the release bearing and the thrust bearings.

 

Every single second a 360 is running and not moving in gear the clutch is held in a released state so there is no difference there either.

If you are going to argue the facts you should make yourself aware of them.

 

true the only time that these two bearings actually spin when depressing the clutch either by pedal or the F1 ECU. At that point, they are spinning at what, 900rpm? If you sit there for an HOUR, they spin 54,000 times! That is nothing to those bearings, the pilot bearing especially has no loading and could last forever if the drivetrain were aligned well. The throw out bearing sees more side loading from the pressure plate, heat, dirt but should last a couple of clutches easily.

 

He was speaking of the crankshaft thrust bearing and the throw out bearing. It is a concern but nothing can be done about it anyway.

The throw out bearings have been a problem and no one in their right mind would reuse one. They will not go for two clutches if you are getting decent clutch life.


But then my data base is only a few hundred cars. Maybe your information is better.

 

Just trying to lighten the mood over there! I'll head back to the shop, gotta be a rock to slide under until they get back from Turkey.

 

No mood involved. Just pointing out that:

A. I think you partially misunderstood f308jack's post.

And B. To give authoratative advice it is best if you are an authority at least to some degree.