355 - Sport mode / actuator question | FerrariChat
Buy

355 Sport mode / actuator question

Discussion in '348/355' started by amazingtrails, Sep 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. amazingtrails

    amazingtrails Karting

    Jan 4, 2025
    90
    #1 amazingtrails, Sep 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
    I have a 1997 F355 spider (manual). Currently I have an orange suspension warning light on. I'm assuming it's a broken actuator because the car seems to drive just fine. I'm guessing the car is stuck in normal mode and won't change to sport mode with this issue? Also, what exactly does sport mode do? Only tighten the suspension? Is there any change in the exhaust note in sport mode?
     
  2. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    14,509
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    #2 Qavion, Sep 14, 2025 at 8:18 PM
    Suspension faults on 1997 manual cars cause the suspension system to default into sport mode. The default state is sport mode (i.e. switch up, suspension light off). Switch down = comfort/light on.


    The switch on a 97 car only inputs into the Suspension system and the suspension (shock) light. The Suspension ECU doesn't communicate with any other ECUs.
     
    Mike Morrissey and JazP like this.
  3. amazingtrails

    amazingtrails Karting

    Jan 4, 2025
    90
    #3 amazingtrails, Sep 14, 2025 at 9:21 PM
    thanks for the info. So does this mean I likely have a broken actuator?
     
  4. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    14,509
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    #4 Qavion, Sep 14, 2025 at 11:43 PM
    Mike Morrissey likes this.
  5. Timmo

    Timmo Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2017
    694
    Continental Europe
    #5 Timmo, Sep 15, 2025 at 5:07 AM
    On my '96 berlinetta the light was on due to a lightly damaged sprocket on top of one of the shocks.
     
    Mike Morrissey likes this.
  6. radback

    radback Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 14, 2020
    797
    France
    #6 radback, Sep 15, 2025 at 6:34 AM
    I've just changed one of my actuator for a second hand one and it solved my problem. You should try that first.

    About the Sport mode, frankly I didn't feel any differences between Comfort and Sport mode.
    I guess it must be very very subtle.
     
  7. redwedge

    redwedge Formula Junior

    Sep 30, 2012
    475
    London
    Full Name:
    Steve C
    #7 redwedge, Sep 15, 2025 at 7:48 AM
    Something else must be broken because the difference is very noticeable.
     
  8. radback

    radback Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 14, 2020
    797
    France
    #8 radback, Sep 15, 2025 at 8:02 AM
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2025 at 8:08 AM
    I don't think so (but who knows). I read many comments about not feeling a real difference between modes.
    Do you happen to have an F1 by any chance?
    I was told the Sport mode is changing how the gearbox reacts.

    If not, in what conditions do you feel the change in suspensions?

    I usually drive in Sport mode, and I tried Comfort mode on degraded roads, and I couldn't feel a difference.
     
  9. redwedge

    redwedge Formula Junior

    Sep 30, 2012
    475
    London
    Full Name:
    Steve C
    #9 redwedge, Sep 15, 2025 at 11:04 AM
    I have a manual. The difference in ride quality is immediately apparent when I flick the car into sport mode.
     
  10. radback

    radback Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 14, 2020
    797
    France
    #10 radback, Sep 15, 2025 at 11:57 AM
    Can you be more specific?
     
  11. Timmo

    Timmo Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2017
    694
    Continental Europe
    #11 Timmo, Sep 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
    Definitely softer in non sport mode.
     
  12. redwedge

    redwedge Formula Junior

    Sep 30, 2012
    475
    London
    Full Name:
    Steve C
    #12 redwedge, Sep 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM
    It rides harder in sport mode. Too hard for a British B road to my bum cheeks.
     
  13. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    14,509
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    #13 Qavion, Sep 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM
    I don't know if it's true, but I've been told that the suspension system learns from your driving. You may not notice any change in behaviour if you are driving gently on smooth roads. I certainly don't notice any change in behaviour, but then I don't know how old my shock absorbers are.
     
  14. radback

    radback Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 14, 2020
    797
    France
    #14 radback, Sep 15, 2025 at 4:12 PM
    I don't drive gently on smooth roads :p
     
    Qavion likes this.
  15. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    14,509
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    #15 Qavion, Sep 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
    ... and maybe your bum cheeks are more sensitive than ours :p
     
  16. radback

    radback Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 14, 2020
    797
    France
    #16 radback, Sep 15, 2025 at 4:33 PM
    My springs are firmer than stock ones, so maybe that's why I don't feel any differences between modes.
     
  17. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    14,509
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    #17 Qavion, Sep 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
    Sorry.. addressed my message to the wrong person.
     
  18. amazingtrails

    amazingtrails Karting

    Jan 4, 2025
    90
    #18 amazingtrails, Sep 15, 2025 at 10:11 PM
    Thanks. Where did you purchase the actuator? Can you send me a link?
     
  19. radback

    radback Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 14, 2020
    797
    France
    #19 radback, Sep 15, 2025 at 11:10 PM
    No link sorry, just on second hand market like the local craigslist.
     

Share This Page