355 Suspension Switch | FerrariChat

355 Suspension Switch

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by blkhorse, Mar 28, 2004.

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  1. blkhorse

    blkhorse Rookie

    Mar 27, 2004
    17
    Macau
    Full Name:
    Reuben
    Can anyone tell me.
    When you select the Suspension Switch too "SPORTS mode" can you feel or here any sound from the actuators while the car is stationary, as I dont feel any differance when moving the switch from Comfort to Sports modes.
    I have NO warning lights on while driving, but I not sure if its working at all.
     
  2. zan

    zan Formula Junior

    Nov 15, 2002
    537
    Boston
    Full Name:
    Mark M
    Assuming it's a 95 6-speed, the switch puts the car in comfort mode, a light should come on in the dash.
    This is not the same as a sport switch in an F1 car. The light should also come on with other lights at statup.
    Mark
     
  3. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,252
    The car is disctinctly sloppy in comfort mode.

    You can only hear the motors when the engine is off.
     
  4. blkhorse

    blkhorse Rookie

    Mar 27, 2004
    17
    Macau
    Full Name:
    Reuben
    Thanks Mitch
    its a 1995 model. I will try to listen for a sound with the motor off.
     
  5. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 28, 2003
    9,992
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna
    I have a 1997. Are you saying that when the switch is on so that the shock lights up on the instrument panel, the car is actually in comfort mode not sport mode?
     
  6. zan

    zan Formula Junior

    Nov 15, 2002
    537
    Boston
    Full Name:
    Mark M
    If your cars is a 6-speed, yes.
     
  7. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 28, 2003
    9,992
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna

    All this time I thought that it was in the regular mode because the light was not on. Geez.

    Thanks for that tip.
     
  8. blkhorse

    blkhorse Rookie

    Mar 27, 2004
    17
    Macau
    Full Name:
    Reuben
    ME TOO.
    So if the light is on its in Comfort mode!!!!!!
     
  9. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,252
    You have to remember, the engineer was/is Italian.
     
  10. RichardGilmore

    RichardGilmore Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    57
    Atlanta, Ga.
    Full Name:
    Richard Gilmore
    I have a '95 355 and hardly notice the diff in street driving with it on/off. Should I turn comfort off to keep the motors from running and using juice?

    Also - speaking of switches - the ac button - which is off - up (my take) or down??
     
  11. Capt

    Capt Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    222
    North of Boston
    Full Name:
    Michael
    The "stop" button actually controls the entire climate control, heat and AC. Down is off, up is on. I know this because my switch broke (actually it turned out not to be) and the climate control was always on.

    I remember reading that the different shock settings really only affect the car at "higher" speeds.

    -Michael
     

  12. DITTO
    Otherwise the car felt sloppy on an offramp with the switch off!!! So I guess it'll be worse with it on.
     
  13. Mickey

    Mickey Formula Junior

    Jan 20, 2004
    414
    Linnet Drive
    Full Name:
    Mike
    something is not right !!!

    switch is on = "Comfort" mode

    switch is off = "Sport" mode

    I was under the impression that it was the other way round.

    I need to check it out.
     
  14. DrewH

    DrewH F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    16,597
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    Light on when sport mode is off?

    Now I have to go get my owners manual out and see what it says?

    DrewH
     
  15. Capt

    Capt Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    222
    North of Boston
    Full Name:
    Michael
    If the light is on then it is in comfort mode.

    -Michael
     
  16. DrewH

    DrewH F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    16,597
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    On page "F2" in my owners manual for 99 355 Spider it says: This indicator is located on the instrument panel and lights when the "sport" setting is selected.

    Meaning: Light on: Sport Mode On!

    DrewH
     
  17. zan

    zan Formula Junior

    Nov 15, 2002
    537
    Boston
    Full Name:
    Mark M
    95 manual:
    Switch off: Sport mode
    Switch on: Comfort mode, light on
     
  18. chaa

    chaa F1 Veteran

    Mar 21, 2003
    5,058
    This is so funny.So....Italian. It either works or it does not.
     
  19. Great so what the hell did Ferrari do, flip flop the switch around for the various years? Any other surprises I should know about?
     
  20. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,252
    There is a different program for sport and comfort, but the motors run in both programs. An old track trick is to pull the motors durring the track day and turn the actuators clockwise (full stiff).
     
  21. Capt

    Capt Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    222
    North of Boston
    Full Name:
    Michael
    I just downloaded the owners manual off the owners site and your right. Funny though on my 95, the light is actually a shock absorber symbol and in later models it was changed to say "Sport"

    -Michael
     
  22. jakermc

    jakermc Formula 3
    Owner

    Jan 17, 2004
    1,792
    Palm Beach, FL
    Full Name:
    Rob
    I am positive that on my '98 6-speed the light means comfort setting. I think the opposite is true for the F1 transmission.
     
  23. DrewH

    DrewH F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    16,597
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    I wish it was the other way around as I like the sport setting to always be on but then I got the annoying light on the dash on.

    Could somebody else that has a 99 355 confirm that I am not cooked?

    Why would they switch it from 95 where light is on it is in comfort mode to 99 light is on it is in sport mode?

    DrewH
     
  24. Capt

    Capt Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    222
    North of Boston
    Full Name:
    Michael
    Yup, that is exactly what they did. In '95 the indicator in the instrument panel was the symbol of a shock absorber and when it was lit, the car was in comfort mode. I just downloaded a later model manual from the owners site and in later models its the complete oppositite, but the indicator was changed from a shock absorber to say "Sport". So when that indicator is lit, the car is in sport mode. Freaking Ferrari!!!

    I'm looking at the manual and what is says is:

    The shock absorber setting indicator is located in the instrument panel and lights when the "Sport" setting is selected.

    -Michael
     
  25. jakermc

    jakermc Formula 3
    Owner

    Jan 17, 2004
    1,792
    Palm Beach, FL
    Full Name:
    Rob
    Aren't the owner's manuals listed on-line for '98 and '99 all for the F1 transmission? I downloaded the '98 manual on-line and it is different then the printed owner's manual I have for my '98 6-Speed manual. On my car the dashboard light is a shock absorber and it means comfort setting. Again, I think the difference that is being noted is not older vs. newer cars but instead manual versus F1 transmission.
     

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