I'm confused. Have you not read my prior posts? If by "testing" you mean clearing my CELs and driving my car then I've been testing along the way THE WHOLE TIME. When you said testing I thought you meant whether I ran my car through a smog test center regularly during the GCK install. I drive my car after almost every sensor connector I've replaced with GCK. I keep careful track of the CELs that pop up, I clear them, then I move on to the rest of the project. ketel
Don't be confused by red herrings. Keep your eye on the prize. You have committed to the GCK using it as a base from which to build a solid foundation of good running. The goal is to establish a baseline of known good function in a known weak area so that you can critically look at fault codes and know that they are real. It does not fix true bad sensors, broken ground wires etc. but it does take a significant issue out of the loop so that you can diagnose and troubleshoot with accuracy and allows the sensors to do their job. Since you are committed to the entire GCK (not just to solve say an 02 sensor problem) discovering that one fault is really an 02 sensor or a bad ground or whatever is really of no interest other than being a momentary "got that sucker nailed high 5." You are after more than "that", otherwise you would have done the old school clean the tin pin off with stabilant 22 and just replaced the 02 sensor and drive on until the next CEL. What you have to concentrate on is tediously cleaning every wire and making every crimp your best crimp. By now your crimps are getting very good and I suspect a little paranoia is there wondering about the quality of your first crimps. If so that's good. That shows attention to detail and a seriousness that is demanded to do this job well and get the best results.
I just meant a quick cel check not the smog. It will be interesting if you track down the cause. Good luck with the last few connectors.
sorry guys. I've been away. Anyway, this thing about testing once again goes back to page 3 and there after where I suggested testing the O2 sensors for the reported heater short. Shortly there after DH informed me that I had to change my thinking as the old school methods of diagnosing such problems didn't apply since there were ghosts. The implication (and that's stating it mildly) was that the only way to fix these ghosts was to replace all the connected with the GCK. Of course this is a shot gun approach and you really never find the true source of the problem. It assumes that 1) a connection is bad and 2) that if one connection is bad, they must all be bad, or ready to fail. The fallacy of that argument is that, if a specific contact failed you never find it and never know why it failed in the first place, unless you pull a connector apart and it is obviously corroded. And of course, if when you are done you still have code issues, you have just spent a considerable amount of time and effort to accomplish nothing with regard to the original problem. Now, maybe when you finally get the real problems solved and are running code free, you have the benefit of all new connection and you car may seem to run better but since it wasn't running right before you started you really don't have and basis for comparison. Ketel, I sincerely hope that after all this effort the GCK does fix your car. You have been at this for over a month, But, and I do not mean to offend, when I read I have to question just how much you have really learned. I refer back to my original suggestion, if the O2 CELs still pop up after the kit is installed, get out your ohm meter and check the resistance of the sensor heater elements before you plunk down more money if parts you don't need. It should take less the 5 minutes and you don't even have to pull the sensors from the car. Ask yourself what the next is if the GCK doesn't fix the problem and you install new O2 sensors and you still have the problem. Frankly if I had your car step 1 would have been to check the O2 sensors heater circuits all the way back to the ECU and if that showed nothing, step 2 would have been to call a couple of Ferrari shops to see how much it would cost to connect an SD2 to the car and see what it said was going on. Funny how no one has even suggest looking at an SD2 scan previously, at least that I recall. Anyway, good luck ketel. Despite the gold vs. tin argument I hope your efforts bare fruit.
true. to say please ignore the sensor, just go ahead and replace all your connectors is one of the most bizarre automotive advice i have ever heard.
Every Ferrari tech will tell you these connectors are unreliable. Dave is saying that just by disconnecting the sensor in order to test it you may further reduce the continuity of the oem connector. Does not seem bizarre at all to me to fix a known problem. Dave
That's a moot point since it has to be disconnected for the gck anyways. Why not test it then? Since the op already has an ohm meter, it will cost nothing and take very little time. If its bad, replace it since even a brand new harness is not going to fix a bad sensor. If it tests good, look at the one specific connection first. If a bulb goes bad in your car, would you not spend 5 minutes to look at the bulb or would you replace every connection in your car? How is this not bizarre if not destructive advice.
John....if that guy just would have known About the gck...then it could have been the best 355 ever. Something seems odd here. He tells a story that the F mechanic could not fix the problem, so how dare this guy think he could fix the 355 without a GCK ....I can't believe he used his brain and used reasoning and analytical skill. Such blasphemy again! Can you please stop posting facts from third parties that do not give their full names, SSNs, and full list of credentials? What were you thinking?
O2 sensors are a maintenance item. They have a life expectancy of about 60k km. if you engine is running in top shape. Usually we see failures on normal cars in that range. A fault for an open heater circuit is usually a fault with the sensor, but wiring on the harness side should be checked. The gold connector kit will not solve a sensor issue, but what it will do is help reduce the among of phantom codes we so often get. And most times it's a direct result of poor connection through out the entire car.
Does the gold scare the phantoms away? Maybe the poorly running cars have a hex put on them....and the gck has been blessed. That kinda makes sense to me with all of the faithful believers.
How many times do you have to be told to stop hijacking a thread that simply asked for help on the install of a kit they purchased. Start your own thread already.
So...30 pages of hijacking? Im not sure you would be reading if it were not for this debate. In fact, why do you even read it because I have not read that you have added anything to the original question. Are you being the troll that the other guy is posting about? If you go back just a little bit, I was asking Ketel to trouble shoot his real issue....hence the help with his install. What happens when this is all completed and his CELS still exist and his car runs like *&^t? Can we then blame the GCK?
Buddy the interesting discourse ended 30 pages ago. Just let it die. Please. You have beaten this horse, and Dave, the GCK, well beyond death. Ketel just asked for a little help. Certainly not what this thread has morphed into.
While this thread went of course (like 99% of threads), I found it very informative. I just wish folks could have a good discussion without attacking people, that's just BS.
To quote the Cool Hand Luke line, what we have here is a failure to communicate. For such bright guys, none of you are understanding something fundamental that I have said repeatedly which is that I did not go GCK just to address an 02 sensor fault. So all the hackneyed analogies about going backwards or using a bazooka to swat a fly blah blah blah is misplaced here. For the 100th time, I am one of the believers (and there are many here) that hold that the GCK upgrade improves the overall performance of the 355's electrical system, which most reasonable people would submit is a weak point in these cars. Truth be told, even if I did NOT have an 02 sensor fault I would have likely still gone for the GCK upgrade. I did the research, I weighed the pros and cons, and I was persuaded to order the kit and embark upon this mission. It's not over yet and I still have CELs. Heck, I might get the end of the last few connectors and may STILL have some CEL faults. This comes with the territory. As I said previously, I hope that should I still have an odd fault here or there after the GCK is complete that they will be relatively easy and cheap fixes. I intend to own this 355 a long time and going GCK is partly an exercise to improve the long-term health and performance of the vehicle and to reduce the likelihood of future problems. ketel
great post. i also intend to keep my 355 spider for a long time and greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. this is the best part of fchat
I too intend to keep my 355 for a long time, just as I have kept my 308QV for 28 years (bought it new). They will likely end up in my estate. But the QV is a good example DH is developing a gold kit for the 308. But in 28 years of ownership I have never, repeat never had any type of, or any problem related to, electrical connections. So, while I won't be going to the gold anytime soon on my 355, you can also be assured that the 308 will also stay firmly planted in the tin contact circle. There are simply other area where the money is better spent in maintaining these cars. Like it or not. [edit] this is, of course, my own personal opinion based on my experiences with my cars. Each person should make their own decision. FYI, I have purchased a sample of identical connectors with the exception of one set being gold plated ($0.28 each) and the other being tin ($0.14 each). I will be setting up some tests of tin on tin and gold on tin to see if I can observe any significant differences in environmentally caused corrosion.
I think this thread has been invaluable for anyone that has a problem with the electrical system in their 355 or related cars. It brings all the relevant data to light and the results many of you have had. When someone goes to work on their car, they will have a great reference thread. In fact, it is so important that it has made the top ten most viewed post in the 355 section!
Well it sure as hell has been sounding like people have been making their own decisions...but the 3 stooges on here keep insisting on getting their digs in on anyone who has chosen the GCK kit. Why not just leave it alone as you can tell the most helpful and frequent posters in the 355 section are or have left this thread......is that not a hint?
