550 Flasher lamps / Fuel inertia switch failure | FerrariChat

550 Flasher lamps / Fuel inertia switch failure

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by ferrarifixer, May 17, 2006.

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  1. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
    BANNED

    Jul 22, 2003
    8,520
    Melbourne
    Full Name:
    Phil Hughes
    Here's a weird one.........

    Had a 550 that just had a battery drain itself while parked at an airport.

    Recovered car and fitted new battery and new alarm siren too (very old type, irrepairably corroded inside).....

    Fuel pump with strike through it symbol (inertia failure NOT the low fuel level)on warning display panel, and indicators flash erratically and non symmetrically (RH super fast and dim). Car starts and runs fine.

    Turns out the Fuel pump inertia switch had an internal back feed, causing the problem.

    New switch was about AUD$55, and an hour at the dealer (as I wasted an hour and gave up) on the SD1 to diagnose and fix it.
     
  2. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    528
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    HI

    Same thing happend here two month ago.
    Indicators flashing is apparently a sure sign of the inertia switch going bad.

    Good news : it`s about the only cheap fix in a ferrari !

    T
     
  3. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Seen it before. 4 way flashers on for no known reason. High resistance at inertia switch. No other indication of any kind, just could not turn off flashers. They were working great but no warning lights.
     
  4. Chuck550

    Chuck550 Karting

    May 15, 2001
    210
    Mechanicsburg, PA
    This exact same problem happened to me today on my way back from Pocono raceway. It was a really damp day, pouring rain with fog all day. I parked at the track, returned to my car an hour later, and on my way out the 4-way flashers and the inertia shutoff indicator symbol came on (gas pump with a slash through it). At first I thought that I accidentally pressed the 4-way button on the center console, but it was non-functional. I was able to get home OK, about a 2-hour drive, flashers on the whole time, but ended up turning the battery disconnect knob to cut the power to the 4-ways once I got to my garage. I'm relieved to see this problem is not unique to my 550 and is a relatively cheap fix.

    Thanks guys, your postings made my day!

    Gotta love that search function.......
     
  5. winston

    winston Karting

    Nov 3, 2003
    139
    foothills
    Full Name:
    don
    My flashers went on and would not go off.
    I spoke to Mr. Crall, what a nice guy, and he suggested whacking the inertia switch. Just like whacking a Lucas starter on an MGB.
    Then resetting it with the button on the top. I did and the flashers continued.Brian also said try disconnecting the switch, and reconnecting it, and if it worked great. well I did and it did not so I took off the rubber cover and looked inside.... Yesterday I washed the car. Today there was water in the switch, a small hole in the top of the rubber cover. An hour in the 100 degree sun and reinstall and all is well.
    Thank you Brian.
    Winston, Nigel and Don
    I guess the car has seen too much inertia. We must drive it more.
     
  6. Jim Converse

    Jim Converse Rookie

    Dec 6, 2003
    10
    Camarillo, Ca.
    Full Name:
    550Jim
    Exactly where is the inertia switch located in the 550? I'd like to check out that rubber cover on mine before I have a problem.
    Thanks for a reply, Jim Converse
     
  7. tiara4300

    tiara4300 Formula Junior

    Feb 27, 2005
    650
    miami ,fl.
    Full Name:
    Adam
    Directly below the right side hood hinge.
     
  8. doppioexpresso

    doppioexpresso Karting

    Mar 29, 2010
    112
    Zürich, Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Marc
    Same problem here... thank you guys for helping me out on this one. will have it fixed tomorrow!

    Regards
     
  9. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    37,986
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    Who says the Search function does not work? Five year old thread saves the day.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  10. dersark_painclinic

    dersark_painclinic Formula Junior

    Mar 8, 2005
    981
    Glendale, CA
    Full Name:
    Lazik Der Sarkissian
    My left hand side parking light stayed on and I could not turn it off. Solved the problem by turning it off and on the battery switch to let the ECU do the trick. I guess ferrari knowes what that switch is for.

    Sark
     
  11. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    99,176
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    +1! Bravo! :D:D
     
  12. bay

    bay Formula 3

    Mar 13, 2011
    1,224
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    Bernard
    #12 bay, Jul 2, 2011
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2011
    I have the same problem with my 550 !
     
  13. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
    2,329
    is the only common to the 550, or also the 456?
     
  14. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    37,986
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    Crud, looked at this thread and thought Phil was back. Not.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  15. bay

    bay Formula 3

    Mar 13, 2011
    1,224
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    Bernard
    #15 bay, Jul 3, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    ->
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  16. Axecent

    Axecent Formula 3

    Oct 15, 2008
    1,112
    Central Texas
    Full Name:
    John
    Just got my 550 back after 3 months in the shop waiting on parts. Replaced the clutch and power steering pipe that was leaking. Drove it 100 miles home no problems and parked it. 36 hours later, tried to start it and it is running on 6 cyls and won't idle. Any chance this inertia switch is the issue. No codes shown while starting.
     
  17. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Can't hurt to try. Do not think it is your problem though.
     
  18. Axecent

    Axecent Formula 3

    Oct 15, 2008
    1,112
    Central Texas
    Full Name:
    John
    I have now taken the steps suggested above and nothing changed. Engine is running on presumably one bank...not limp mode, I don't think, because it won't idle and has very little power. Have cycled the ECU on and off twice for an hour at the battery switch with no change, where I only tried to start to allow idle. 97' model...seems to have more electronic gremlins than I would have ever guessed. 3 O2 sensors, an engine ECU, one suspension ECU, etc. in 5,000 miles of ownership.
     
  19. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    O2 sensors just go bad with age. Nothing too surprising about that. The other list does surprise me and I can never help but wonder if cars are being diagnosed by just throwing parts at them. It is very common. Since they started using the Bilstien suspension in the late 80's I think I have replaced 2 ecus working on them all day every day. Motronic ECUs needing replacement are even less common.

    I'd be looking for a new shop.
     
  20. Axecent

    Axecent Formula 3

    Oct 15, 2008
    1,112
    Central Texas
    Full Name:
    John
    Perhaps. Any suggestions for Texas shops?
     
  21. Old Shep

    Old Shep Karting

    Jun 12, 2014
    51
    Midland Texas
    Full Name:
    Bill Coombes
    Go see Brian ("Rifledriver")....just stopped at his shop yesterday in Austin. He is a straight shooter and knows Ferraris.
     
  22. DZ-96

    DZ-96 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 7, 2010
    1,776
    South Germany
    Full Name:
    Daniel
  23. Tarek307

    Tarek307 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2018
    1,294
    Long Beach, CA & Alexandria,Egypt.
    Full Name:
    Tarek Salah
    Thx for this info- just had same thing happen fixed in 5 mins - the switch had some sort of reset button u just push down on and voila - problem solved
     
    Qavion likes this.
  24. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    11,484
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    Or if the switch is faulty, you can jumper the inertia switch...

     
    Tarek307 likes this.

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