360 360 F1 Failure fix 25.00 part

Hope that is the real solution.

On other brand cars, those seem to be the symptoms of low clutch fluid, not something electrical.

 

So, this brings up a question concerning Scud ING LED lights. One of the features of their LED brake light kits is elimination of this "safety feature" which prevents you from shifting if you have a brake lamp out. I would assume this is bypassing the feature at the rear harness but what if the signal never gets to the lamps?

Might have to try it and see....later, much later. Too friggin' hot right now....Heat index is around 106, so I figure sometime around, say midnight, I'll be able to check it out....

 

Just to clarify, you did not buy an actual brake LIGHT...but the brake light SWITCH that goes near the brake pedal?

 

I asked my tech at FOA about whether a failed brake light bulb would disabling shifting. He said it would not. I recently replaced my switch. The switch has been redesigned and improved.

 

Just for info.
I have a built in 2003 F360 F1 and have a Challenge Stradale Tcu installed, I have a test carried out if I can still shift the gears when a light bulb is defective.
I installed a broken light bulb one after another on the brake lights, and then with each test, shifts the gears it always worked. What surprised me very much, because it is said again and again that if a lamp is defective that you can not get any gear.
Probably Magneti Marelli has turned off the problem from the 2003 model.
If a light bulb is broken you can still switch without problems. It is only displayed no error in the speedometer, you do not notice that a light bulb is defective.

 

I recently had the right rear bulb go out on my 2003 360 Spider. I had no idea that it was not working. I was caravaning to a Ferrari Club of America event and one of my caravan partners noticed it. Luckily, we were going to an event at a dealer so the fix was easy (and free).

 

When I wrote this post, I was fully aware that the subject matter from the OP was related to the switch and not the bulbs. The only reason I mentioned the brake light bulbs was to question how the "fail safe" works on the early cars, which has been documented in this forum and through some of the aftermarket companies, that a brake lamp bulb failure will result in a similar condition. I did search for the original post but was unable to find it when I needed it. So, with that being said, I apologize if I confused the matter....just trying to find out how the system operates is all.

 

Just a little note on the brake light switch failure. If you can get your car going about 2 MPH, the F1 transmission will shift into gear from neutral without depressing the brake pedal. Just an FYI.

 

No worry Randy...just wanted to be sure to catch the train before it ran away down that other track!

 

Been through this before when my car h F1.

Almost any electrical component for the braking system that fails can cause the F1 system to go dumb. Brake switch, brake fuse and the list goes on.

Funny enough, I remember I would keep a spare 10amp brake fuse, brake bulb, brake switch and more in my toolbox so I don't get stranded when F1 goes dumb due to brake component issues.

 

Yup, several times. Couple times in the middle of the road, one time it was past midnight at a blind spot curve. Was very dangerous.

I just try to troubleshoot it on the side of the road, shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to do instead of waiting for a tow truck for an hour or so. Plus chances of getting my front bumper scratched up if they don't know what their doing.

For example, I know my F1 system won't go in gear due to a bad brake bulb if only one side of the brake lights are working. If both brake lights doesn't work then I go up to the brake switch. If I can bypass it (using a metal clip) and F1 starts to work I then swap it with a good spare brake switch I kept as spare before. You don't want to leave the pin in there or else the brakes will stop your car from moving. If bypassing the switch doesn't work then I just swap the brake fuse which is most likely the culprit if not the bulb or switch.

I highly recommend having at least these three brake components in your toolbox if you have an F1 system; brake bulb (if you don't have the Scudding bulb bypass module), brake fuse and brake switch. These are the typical brake components that could break and cause F1 not to go in gear.

 

Nice car Randy