360 cam variator failure

No reason not to believe it if there is documentation.

 

Just as a follow up. I took my car in Monday and replaced my timing belts. As a matter of fact I replaced all belts. The belts looked fine, though you never can tell. Variators were also fine. I did end up replacing my left side tensioner. The new tension looks almost twice as thick as my original. My service manager showed me a tensioner that was being replaced on a 2000 360 and it had a slight crack (can't be good). I guess there was a campaign to replace the tensioners on certain chasis numbers. One less thing to worry about. I appreciate everyone's input.

Jon

 

How do you know the variators were fine? The only way to know is to x ray them for potential small cracks, but really there is no way to know unless you have documentation.

They will work perfectly until they snap, so no diagnosis will reveal anything.

 

I believe what the mechanic meant was, because there was no campaign on my chasis number and his visual revealed nothing, he told me they were fine. Based on what you're saying, I guess I'm on a hope and a prayer. On the other hand, my chasis number wasn't on the campaign list for the tensioner, yet it was the older smaller type. My guy is checking with Ferrari today to double check on the tensioner. I appreciate the feed back. I will call my mechanic this morning and ask him again about the variators.

 

You should also ask for your before and after exhaust cam timing angles reported through SDII, and report them here for any anomolies.

 

Pardon the necro bumpage... researching variator and quick question—/.

is there a difference in variator failure rates based on trans? Gated vs f1?

thinking a gated car can’t be shifted like an f1 — does this put less stress on the variator?

 

Not that I am aware of. The issue is how the neck of the variator is designed. The forces are caused by high RPM. The redesigned the variator not once, but at least 3 versions. I don't see how F1 vs manual will change any of that but I am open to hear differently from the experts.

 

Skid- I was thinking of fast clutch engagement at redline repeatedly.

My reading shows this is a fatigue failure.

now a money shift w a gated car will do bad things as well

Would be interesting to pull data on stick cars vs f1. Might tell something.

 

I still don't buy it. The mass of the valve train isn't that much and definitely not enough to exceed the elastic limits of 1" thick steel. The changes in design aren't about fatigue. They changed from a sharp angle to a shallow curve effectively distributing any force in that focused area and reducing tendency to crack at the sharp point/angle.

 

It would be interesting to compare the driving habits of f1 drivers vs gated.... f1 allows you to bang off every gear up and down w a paddle. Vs gated is slow and clunky... perhaps there a difference in loading between the two.

I’d just be curious to see the data.

it prob only exists at the mothership

 

I think the first variator design cut two deeply into the metal stock and the crack failure propagated from there..

There was a car in OZ that failed AFTER the variator campaign, trashing the motor, so I guess I was not aware of Design Version 3, but not surprised.
Interesting on the tensioner support recall but either one and you've had damage.

 

6 speed guys are "in no hurry" we just "out cruisin'.."


Oh wait, I only have 5 gears...lol

 

I have been fixing these things since they were basicly new. I have seen 2 variator failures.. 2. I have seen more engine failures due to abuse then a failure of a variator. That said.. all should have been repaired by now.

 

Nope. Mine's getting done during my next major...which i overdue.

 

Are you the original owner?

 

Nope, got it in 2016. I just have no green dots, no VD, no records on modis, and am knocking on 60k, so I already have the parts (major plus both tensioner and variators), just need to get it scheduled. Normally a DIY guy, but not attempting this one on my own.

 

So you don't know if they were done or not..yes?

 

Correct....but I have no reason to believe that they were.

 

They didn't all break. It was just a weak point that was expensive if it broke under warranty.