ECU Harness issues | FerrariChat

ECU Harness issues

Discussion in '348/355' started by thibaut, Jan 9, 2023.

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  1. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    530
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    Dear all,
    My 355 challenge has been playing up with engine problems. Turns out they relate to a ECU harness issue: the harness is giving poor connection which in turn is preventing one side of the engine to run properly.

    My mechanic has asked Ferrari for prices on electric harness but I suspect they are either NLA or prohibitedly expensive. I was thinking getting a car electrician to go through the plugs in the harness and replacing connector pins may be more efficient. In effect a restoration of the ECU side of the harness.

    About 10 years ago F Chat community was full of praise for the Dave Helms / Scuderia rampante gold connector kit. But when I searched this morning it seems that solution isn’t longer an Fchat favourite.

    Since I doubt the problem has disappeared, has another solution been favoured by the commnunity since ? Forum search suggests the problem doesn’t seem to be that prevalent these days.

    Please advise !
     
  2. Targatime

    Targatime Formula 3

    Feb 22, 2014
    1,443
    Los Angeles
    Is there some reason you or your mechanic can't figure out what part of the harness is creating the poor connection?
     
  3. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,679
    New Jersey
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    Barry Wolinsky
    Thibaut, have your mechanic try cleaning all of the harness connections before resorting to replacing the connector pins.

    Barry
     
  4. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    530
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    They are a racing outfit, usually they try to replace rather than fiddle, identify and repair individually.
    But I agree: absent any off the shelf solution, I think we’re looking at cleaning and / or changing connector pins rather than brand new.

    Any reason the SRI gold connector solution has gone out of favour ? I recall a cult following here.
     
  5. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
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    Feb 7, 2002
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    Barry Wolinsky
    I have an F355 Challenge too which I drive an average of 15 track days/year. It's regularly serviced and inspected for proper functioning before each track event. Servicing includes checking of the electrical system and cleaning of contacts on a regular basis.

    Your car would benefit from regular use and servicing. Again, have you technician clean all male and female connectors. Spare yourself the expense of changing the connectors as a first resort.

    I think there might have been a cult following with the gold connectors.
     
  6. Targatime

    Targatime Formula 3

    Feb 22, 2014
    1,443
    Los Angeles
    It's far LESS work to identify the problem and fix it, than to replace the entire engine harness. Not even close. Sounds to me like this shop is looking to make some $$$$
     
    phrogs likes this.
  7. m.stojanovic

    m.stojanovic F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 22, 2011
    3,185
    Serbia - Niš
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    Miroljub Stojanovic
    Installing gold connector pins is not a good idea unless the pins are gold on both sides of each connection. Having gold pins in the connector on the loom side connecting to zinc coated pins (on the ECU, sensor etc.) will cause galvanic corrosion due to dissimilar metals. Combining zinc and gold would cause rather high galvanic potential, as shown on this chart:
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  8. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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    Jun 14, 2011
    8,630
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    Tim Dee
    You can buy all new pins from digikey. I think someone posted the part numbers a while back

    Yeah Like Barry says I deoxit my connections to keep everything nice and connected
     
  9. 26street

    26street Formula Junior

    Jan 30, 2021
    454
    Westchester New York
    Full Name:
    Mark k
    What is the problem ?

    Why are they thinking a harness placement will be the fix

    I would go deeper into what the problem is before spending time and money on replacing any connection or harness



    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
     
  10. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    530
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    Ok thank you for the input
    Problem is bad contacts
    I have instructed to take it to an car electrician for a good clean up
     
  11. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
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    Feb 20, 2015
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    Ian Riddell
    Yes, but which components of the engine is bad wiring attached to? Crank sensor? MAF? O2 sensor? Coolant temperature sensor? Throttle Position Sensor? Relays? Power? Ignition control? Etc...

    The garage must have looked at fault codes. What were they?
     
    308 GTB likes this.
  12. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
    Sponsor Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2018
    5,728
    Central NJ
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    Eric
    So the engine harness is the ecu harness. It could be a bad component like a sensor or what not and not the harness or connections. Something sounds funny here.

    Sent from my SM-G990U using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  13. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    530
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    There was no CEL. Just one side of the engine wasn’t firing. The mechanics started fiddling with the connections and it came back to life (so I have been told, I wasn’t present)
     
  14. 26street

    26street Formula Junior

    Jan 30, 2021
    454
    Westchester New York
    Full Name:
    Mark k
    Yes probably a wiring issue if that’s what happen

    I would have a good auto electrician have a go at it and see if it will happen for him and pin point where it is before just doing a harness


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
     
  15. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    530
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    They are doing the cleaning and also on the other side as I fuess the connections aren’t much better there.

    apparently ferrari in france isn’t quoting for a brand new harness.
    Two years ago I had to replace the main oil lines. The prices shown by ferrari were surreal. Ended up getting new one made at next to nothing.
     
    308 GTB likes this.
  16. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
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    Feb 7, 2002
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    Barry Wolinsky
    Yes, oil lines and coolant hoses have to be changed at regular intervals with these old cars.

    Also, if you still have the fuel sampler, get rid of it and replace it with a new fuel line...


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    I've see an old fuel sampler leak and cause an engine bay fire. Fortunately the driver pulled the fire bottle release and very little damage occurred.
     

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