F1 Gearbox Failure Light / Won't Start -- Heard of this one before | FerrariChat

F1 Gearbox Failure Light / Won't Start -- Heard of this one before

Discussion in '348/355' started by FerrariPH, Apr 10, 2010.

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  1. FerrariPH

    FerrariPH Rookie

    Apr 3, 2010
    6
    Hi,

    First post. Just got a 1999 355 F1, and it's got a problem after just a few days. Have you heard of this one before?

    Made a 2 mile trip to the store without any issues. Got back in the car, started fine, backup fine, but while driving in first gear out of the parking lot, the Gearbox Failure Light came on and the gear number started flashing. I turned on to a neighborhood road, and switched from first to second. While switching gears, the shift took much longer than normal, and the engine rpm pulsed several times, but it switched to second. Tried shifting to third, and nothing. It just stayed in second. At this point, I am very close to home and I can easily limp back in first/second. I switch to first at a stop sign, no problem, but same thing on going to second (pulsing engine rpm, and delayed shift). Still no third gear, and the whole time the Gearbox Failure Light solid red and a flashing gear number.

    Got it in the garage and considered myself lucky. Turned the car off, and tried to restart it. Now the engine won't turn over at all under any circumstances.

    I saw some posts on F1 problems, but I didn't see a scenario like this one. Any help is greatly appreciated!
     
  2. MarkCollins

    MarkCollins F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Jul 2, 2002
    3,202
    South England
    Full Name:
    Mark Collins
    Sorry don't know the problem with the box but if the engine won't even turnover then it is either in gear or thinks it's in gear
     
  3. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,641
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    If you filled in your profile someone could maybe suggest someone local to talk to
     
  4. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2005
    1,168
    Sweden
    Full Name:
    Johan
    I had a similar problem once. It turned out to be one of the connectors on the gearbox that had come loose after washing the engine bay. I think it was the connector that sends info about what gear is in. Not shifting to more than second is probably a safe mode function. First thing to do would probably be to make sure all connectors on the gear box is ok.
     
  5. FerrariPH

    FerrariPH Rookie

    Apr 3, 2010
    6
    #5 FerrariPH, Apr 10, 2010
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2010
    Thanks for the help so far!

    I will start checking connections. I am located in Houston, and I need to start locating the good independent shops...

    The gear box will still change gears from R to N to 1 even though it won't start. You can hear and feel the gear change, but it would make sense that if a connector was loose, the engine might think the car is in gear when it's not...
     
  6. DavidsF355Spider

    DavidsF355Spider Formula Junior

    Jul 3, 2005
    350
    Torrance, California
    Full Name:
    David
    It could be a relay behind the drivers seat or loose connections
     
  7. FerrariPH

    FerrariPH Rookie

    Apr 3, 2010
    6
    I'll check the relay too, but would the pump still run and the gears still change if the relay is bad?

    I'm just starting to learn about this car, so many thanks!
     
  8. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2005
    1,168
    Sweden
    Full Name:
    Johan
    No the pump would stop.

    Have you checked the connection right on top of the gear box when you look down between the air intakes? Think it should be a grey connector.
     
  9. MarkJ

    MarkJ Formula Junior

    Sep 10, 2006
    729
    NW Arkansas
    Full Name:
    Mark Jones
    Bummer to have such a scary ($$$) problem after only a few days of ownership. Hopefully, it will be something simple and you will have many years of trouble-free driving. I'm curious, did you get a PPI before you got the car?
     
  10. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,641
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    Have a look in the Texas section for local hero recommendations

    Another initial step is to turn the car off at the main switch then on plus let it reset itself (full details here or in the manual) - sometimes it reminds the car how to behave properly
     
  11. mont

    mont Formula 3

    Sep 16, 2004
    1,551
    Portugal
    Look at the command relay first. Most important, change it. It gives you relaxed times since it is one of the most used parts of your Ferrari F1. See, also, if the base where it is connected is somehow burned... check the connections near the pump. See the oil level...
     
  12. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    I would start with checking the fluid levels, make sure the F1 pump system is at the correct level.

    As has been said already, the car will not start if it thinks it is in gear, is the gear selector still flashing with the ignition on? Has the gearbox check light gone out?

    Have you tried pushing the car while it is in an indicated neutral position to make sure the gearbox is in fact in neutral, try this with it in gear also to ensure the car is selecting gears.

    Have you checked battery voltage?
     
  13. FerrariPH

    FerrariPH Rookie

    Apr 3, 2010
    6
    Thanks for all the help!

    The car just left this afternoon on a flat bed for the dealership here in Houston. The dealership that sold the car from another state is going to cover the bill to fix it, which is extremely cool of them!

    It took a lot of trial and error to come up with the right sequence to get it truly in neutral. It would have been a major headache to get the car out of the garage if that hadn't worked out.

    Unfortunately, it still would not start even when it really was in neutral.

    I will post back what they find...
     
  14. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2006
    4,424
    CT
    Full Name:
    Jay
    strange...unfortunately F1's do have problems on occasion, but fortunately not that often. And they're a BLAST to drive!!! Good luck, and let us know what they find so we all can learn from it.

    One preventative tip...replace the pump relay behind the driver seat. It's like $30 I think...and could prevent a pump failure. (If the relay fails the pump stays on, eventually burning out).
     
  15. Juri

    Juri Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Mar 15, 2010
    604
    Houston, TX
    Full Name:
    Juri
    Hi,
    I would be very interested finding out what was the reason to this failure. I am located in Houston too and had similar problems with my 360 F1 Spider. PM me to set up a meeting.
    Cheers,
    Juri.
     

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