355: fuel distribution block factory recall

14 years to late, to little to late IMO. No one can tell me they did not know the distribution block cracked, as well as the banjos. I mean 14 years to do a re-call
Any way what dos this mean, does ferrari now believe they are liable? How do they stand legally now they know they had a fault? Why would they do this now? I am only thinking of the hundreds of 355s that have burst into flames over the years.
Any thoughts?

 

I got one today too, early 98 355 Berlinetta (German car, but I'm in the UK).

 

My letter came Saturday, waiting for Dealer to get parts

 

Judging by the zero response to this thread. I am guessing its just a Europe only recall. Quite surprised its not a global recall.
I had mine yesterday to.

 

I am still trying to understand the dynamics of the proposed failure. In a block where O-rings are used, the only stress points are those caused by over tightening of the nut retaining the lines to the block and by minor vibration transmitted from the mounting.
The late 5.2 cars had a different fuel block designed to move the fuel lines up and out of the way of the coolant hoses but I have never seen a failure with any of the block designs to date. Could be the feed/return hose(s) just wasn't long enough to raise the block as it was.
I find it far more likely there is a hose problem they are dealing with as that I have expected would come about. Re reading Ze's post, (i) states "connection tube"....That I have been waiting for in one of a few different failure modes.

 

Heres a segment of the letter from Maranello regarding the specific problem.

 

I remember reading a few months back about a yellow 355 spider that caught fire behind the driver's seat and burned the driver. I wonder if this recall is a result of that.

 

....or the rubber sleeves that seal the fuel fill and tank vent tubes to the tank melted away. THAT I experianced while on a test drive in a right hand sweeper turn. Thankfully only resulted in a steam like vapor when it slashed on the header.

 

Do we know which years are covered under the recall?

 

I have a 1995 GTS and I got the letter on Saturday regarding the recall. Mine is a UK supplied car by Maranello UK. Car booked in on Friday to have the work done. They said the car needs to be stone cold and will take 90 mins to do.

 

Well, we have respondents with 1995 and 1998 model years, so that would seem to encompass all of those...have not heard of any 1999's yet. But this is only for Europe at present, and not including North America.

 

Dave:

I don't see any difference in the PNs for US and non-US cars, so I wonder why the recall is limited to Euro vehicles at the present time. Perhaps, they will work on one geographical area at a time. Experts/Techs, any clue?

 

Scott,
I agree and with the USA being such a litigious society, I cannot see how Ferrari NA can avoid a similar recall here, whether it is necessary or not, once the precedence of a recall has been initiated in Europe.

 

I agree and I also agree this recall is more than a decade too late. Ferrari actually redesigned the fuel block to prevent the fires but was too cheap to install a $5 part retroactively to prevent future fires. Funny part is Ferrari themselves created a paper trail in the public domain that opens themselves to a huge lawsuit for any one who suffered injury or loss from that terrible design. I really wish someone had sued them over it. Like the stupid corporation they are, getting their wallet looted is the only way they ever learn a lesson.

If anyone knows anybody in a position to profit from it I will be happy to provide them with all the information they need to prevail in a suit.

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601110&sid=axHnxz3TrqPI

 

cut and paste from NHTSA'a web site:

Make: FERRARI Model: F355
Model Year: 1997
Manufacturer: FERRARI NORTH AMERICA INC Mfr's Report Date: NOV 13, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V447000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHERELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 2356
Summary:
FERRARI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 1999 FERRARI 355 AND 355 F1 VEHICLES. INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE REPAIR FACILITIES MAY HAVE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CERTAIN SCREW CLAMPS THAT ARE LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE FUEL LINES AND THAT FASTEN THE WATER SLEEVE TO THE THERMOSTAT CONNECTION. THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THESE SCREW CLAMPS MAY DAMAGE THE FUEL SUPPLY PIPES.
Consequence:
FLUID COULD LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING SMOKE AND, IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, A FIRE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL DIVIDER BLOCK, WHICH WILL SERVE TO PROVIDE A GREATER DISTANCE BETWEEN THESE SCREW CLAMPS AND THE FUEL LINES. THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY DAMAGE TO THE FUEL SUPPLY PIPES WHICH COULD CAUSE FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FERRARI AT 201-816-2600.
Notes:
FERARRI RECALL NO. 48. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

 

Brian:

Be careful or you'll start leaving a "slug slime trail" everywhere you go just like the rest of us Attorneys.

 

The way this bit is wrote bothers me.

 

Major services were/are always done at the dealer on my car.

But it would appear the issue (if you read the first recall from 1998 related to this problem) that the previous "fix" was to simply correctly position the coolant hose clamp. No attempt was made to prevent this clamp from being incorrectly positioned in the future. It would appear these new parts will now do that.

 

And it was dealers who caused most of the fires.

 

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Brian:

Please stop holding it in. Tell us how you really feel.

BTW, I am very good friends with one of the best litigators in the Country. If FNA wants to "play", I'll make sure you get the very best representation.