Can you please help me start my car? Not a battery issue.

Yesterday I went to start my car after not running it for about 9 days, the longest I have gone without running it. It wouldn't start. All of the lights on the dash turn on correctly, including "check ok", and the car is in first gear (f1 transmission). After all of the lights go out that should, the check engine light stays on (I believe this is normally on until the car is started, correct?). I ran the Ferrari trickle charger overnight, and it went from yellow to green.

Today, I disconnected the trickle charger, and I even cycled the master battery knob under the hood from on -> off -> on . It still doesn't start.

The car was running perfectly last time I drove it. The only strange behaviour is that I can't get the car from 1st gear -> neutral when I pull both paddles.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I want to get this started and drive it!

 

The car is in 1st gear and you are trying to start it?

I believe the "N" light should be showing on F1's to start the car, no?

 

You are correct. When you start an F1 car, if you are in any gear other than Neutral, the F1 computer will shift into "N" and then allow the starter sequence to begin. This can take several seconds if the car has been sitting a while and is a bit disturbing if you are expecting an instant reaction to the turn of the key or push of the Start button.

This is troublesome. If there is a problem getting the transmission into "N" with the paddles, the F1 computer may be having a problem too.

 

Ok, I think I found the problem!

I searched and found this thread:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73841&highlight=f1+neutral+1st

where he describes being locked in 1st and unable to get it into N. That is my problem!!!!

Usually I park it in first gear so it doesn't roll back. Yes, it should automatically shift into neutral from 1st and then the starter should work. I let it run for several seconds (minutes) and it did not ever go into N, which explains why the starter makes no attempt to start.

After reading the thread linked above, I rocked the car back and forth while it is stuck in 1st gear (only about 1 inch lock to lock) and tried putting it into neutral while doing this. No luck.

The F1 pump works, because I hear the hydraulic pump working for a few seconds the same as always when I open the door.

I think the f1 transmission fluid may be a little on the low side (it goes to just below the low fill line on the dipstick), but I believe you are supposed to measure the fluid level when the car is running, and obviously the car is not running since I can't start it!
Should I consider adding more fluid, or do I probably have enough?

 

put a wrench on your rear lugnyt and rock that car good. some people are too gentle with it. You can't hurt anything by hand...I assume your bonnets are closed well...if no go try battery disconnect and then reconnect and retry. I love F1's

 

fatbillybob - thanks so much for the reply. I am still having the problem, and I had a couple follow-up questions for you (or anyone that has info):

1) Should I push the car forward (clockwise with a torque wrench on the rear-right wheel) or backward (clockwise on the rear-left wheel)?

I tried both ways, and it made noises when I pushed it all the way forward and back that indicated I am pushing it pretty hard. It didn't work either, so I'm not sure how much further I should pursue this technique. How much harder should I push it? I am a little worried about putting any further load / stress on it.

2) I found some more threads on the topic, and saw this:
In your own post #6 here (http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27890&highlight=f1+neutral+1st ), you said to use a special tool called a Hydraulic hand pump, and said that any 360 F1 owners should have this tool. That sounds like exactly what I need!
But does anyone have a picture of this tool or a thread on using this tool? Can I make my own makeshift version if I do not have access to it? I seriously doubt I can convince my local Ferrari dealer to come to my house, or lend me the tool (although that would be fantastic if you would, F of A )

3) I also saw this potential solution (http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80946&highlight=vacuum+neutral post #2) - pushing the brake VERY hard. But I can't push the brake pedal down far because the pressure is in the brake line from pressing it too much already. Should I continue with this approach?

 

Are you pushing the clutch in...?
























Sorry, couldn't help it...

 

Tom--send a message to Brian Willis--( lmpdesigner)

 

Tom,
Got your E mail.Sorry but I have no suggestions other than vigorous rocking and brake pumping.
Sounds like you're going to have to get it to the dealer,my friend.
After my experience I park in neutral and use the handbrake.

 

As a ferrari owner who just traded in his 6 speed 360 Modena for a F430 F1 I found this thread scary. Is this a common problem? I was leaving the car parked in first now as someone else mentioned I leave it in "N" with the parking brake on.

Lee

 

Yes, this happens fairly often. I had cycled my car to reverse and back several times when I was changing the backup lights. The car was sitting in the garage. I forgot and left it in R. When I came back I couldn't start the car.

I took off the emerbency brake and pushed the car back. You can feel it rebound against the gears/engine. I bounced it a couple of times then it would shift to N and all was well.

 

I suppose this is why when you park an f1 you rest the weight of the car on the parking brake with neutral engaged and then engage first gear.

 

Good news! I got it fixed!

Here's what I did. I pressed the brake VERY hard, much harder than on previous attempts. By pressing it hard, I mean I was standing on it with maybe 80-90% of the force I could muster up while in the driver's seat. With the car in the on position, and the gear reading '1', I pulled on both paddles.... instantly, 'N' appeared! Right on the first try! I tried to crank it up - it came up immediately, ready to run, and questioning me on why I had been away from the wheel for more than a week! Sorry, Ferrari! I won't do it again! The final step was obvious - I went out and drove it for a solid 40 miles! Some of the most fun miles I have put on it recently too, what a car!

Needless to say, I was heartbroken all weekend that I couldn't get it started. This car is like a member of my family. And now I'm ecstatic that she's back to full health. I'm pleased that it ended up being a minor issue.

By the way, the idea came from this thread, and later PMs from Nicke:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80946

I have no idea why this solution worked, but of course I'll take it. I'm curious if anyone can explain in depth how this situation was created and why this resolution worked. FYI, I was parked on completely level ground, and I know I shut the car off at a complete standstill because I always cool it down for a bit, so I have no clue how this was caused. I have parked it in '1' every time before now with no issue.

I will be parking in N from now on, against my *previous* better judgement. Thanks to Nicke and thanks very much to all for listening and helping with my problem. I'm glad this community exists.


sidenote: I spent extensive time in the passenger seat of a CS this weekend. That car is more raw than the 360 Modena. For the first time, my car felt like it had a little less bite tonight. But I think it has much to do with the sound. So now I have a new problem. The remedy will be a fun one, get a cap-2 exhaust!

 

same thing happened to mine this morning. I searched for this thread and took note of the solution. I will try it later on this evening when I return home from work. What a weird thing to happen. I drove the car last friday and it ran well....and I thought i had left it in neutral, i always leave my cars in neutral, i have a flat garage floor...so the cars dont roll. When I turned on the infnition, it showed the car in 1st gear...strange.

By the way I have been told not to engage the handbrake if the car had been running for a good amount of time and brakes applied frequently...the pads may become "welded" to the rotors...

 

When I first read this thread I was concerned. I talked to my dealers lead Ferrari technician.

He said this does happen occasionaly but it always means there is something wrong with the F1. He said is you want to go from 1st gear to neutral to start just step on the foot break. You can also use both paddles to move to neutral. If these do not work either by themselves or in tandum then the car needs to be serviced. It is very rare they have only seen it on very few 360's but the F430's are too new yet for this to show up.

Good luck.

Lee

 

The reason you shouldn't apply the parking brake after driving the car, or at least driving the car hard, is so the rotor doesn't get a hot spot. With the pad engaged against the rotor, the pressure holds the heat on that particular spot and can warp the rotor.
With that point made, I wonder what Ferrari recommends about parking an F1 car.

 

Tom - I was actually surprised that the posts went as long as they did without someone mentioning to depress the brake hard. This has happened on multiple occassions to users on this Board as well as to me on my race car. Rocking it and all the other solutions might work as well but the easiest (and almost full proof) solution is exactly what you did - press the brake HARD and then pull both paddles. It ALWAYS disengages 1st gear as far as my experience goes.

 

Last night when I went home, I depressed the brake real hard...voila: the car went from 1 to N. It started immediately afterwards. Poor design, if you ask me. Otherwise a gorgeous fun car to drive.