348 Reversing light problem | FerrariChat

348 Reversing light problem

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by sletti, Dec 5, 2005.

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  1. sletti

    sletti F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Nov 19, 2003
    5,084
    NW Kent
    Full Name:
    Stig W
    Any ideas why when I shift from 1st to 2nd on my 348 spider, the reversing light come on. It goes out again once I'm into third.

    Any suggestions on where to start?
     
  2. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
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    Jeff B.
    #2 Miltonian, Dec 5, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This should take less than a minute to diagnose. Remove the two screws holding the chrome shift gate onto the console, lift up the gate, and look at the reversing light switch, which comes through the front of the shifter housing. The shift lever should press in on the switch ONLY when the lever is in the reverse position. Either the switch has somehow been bent out of position, or a foreign object (or the boot) is pressing on the switch when the lever is in 2nd. You'll see.

    Edit: It SHOULD look like this when the lever is in 2nd, not contacting the button on the switch.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  3. elgin328

    elgin328 Formula 3

    Apr 11, 2004
    1,034
    near Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Mark
    Check your rubber boot under the shift gate.

    Mine did the same thing. The boot had tore & was touching the reverse pin.

    I bought a boot from T Rutlands (problem fixed)
     
  4. elgin328

    elgin328 Formula 3

    Apr 11, 2004
    1,034
    near Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #4 elgin328, Dec 5, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. rivee

    rivee F1 Rookie

    Jan 20, 2002
    3,731
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    John
    Where's the boot? Sure looke like the clean interior of a 348 to me.
     
  6. elgin328

    elgin328 Formula 3

    Apr 11, 2004
    1,034
    near Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Mark
    sorry, right under the shifter gate
     
  7. elgin328

    elgin328 Formula 3

    Apr 11, 2004
    1,034
    near Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #7 elgin328, Dec 5, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  8. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,574
    The Brickyard
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    The Bad Guy
    Oh I get it it was one of those "Where's Waldo" pics.
     
  9. rivee

    rivee F1 Rookie

    Jan 20, 2002
    3,731
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    John


    lol
     
  10. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
    Full Name:
    Mr. Sideways
    I just want to know how you freakin' **noticed** that your reverse light came on everytime you shifted from 1st into 2nd and off again in 3rd!
     
  11. sletti

    sletti F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Nov 19, 2003
    5,084
    NW Kent
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    Stig W
    Someone shot a video of a group of us driving away from a sports car meeting where you coan see the light coming on and I can hear from the exhaust (decat tubi - v loud:)) that it only happens in 2nd......

    I'd probably never know if it happened otherwise! ;)
     
  12. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
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    Mr. Sideways

    Whew! Good answer. I was afraid that you were going to say something such as "I've installed one of those lorrie backup/reverse beepers and I could hear it beep everytime I shifted" or some such!
     
  13. sletti

    sletti F1 Veteran
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    Nov 19, 2003
    5,084
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    Doubt it could be heard over the Tubi! :)
     
  14. sletti

    sletti F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Nov 19, 2003
    5,084
    NW Kent
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    Stig W
    Took off the shift gate, and the rubber boot seems all chewed up. Is it safe to remove it and run the car without the boot whilst I order a new one?
     
  15. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
    Full Name:
    Jeff B.
    None of the earlier cars had the boot at the shift lever base, so it won't hurt anything at all to drive without it, unless you drop a pocketful of junk down inside the shift gate. Don't worry about it. Glad your problem turned out to be simple.
     
  16. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Nov 19, 2001
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    Yeah, my car doesn't have the boot. As Milt already said, the only thing you have to worry about is something falling in. But that isn't even a big deal, because it will just fall down into the bottom cable cover. You can alway remove the cover and take out what ever was in there. So you'll be fine.
     
  17. sletti

    sletti F1 Veteran
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    Nov 19, 2003
    5,084
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    Thanks for steering me through this, chaps. Boot and problem now gone! :)
     
  18. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,574
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    The Brotherhood looks after one another.
     
  19. sletti

    sletti F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Nov 19, 2003
    5,084
    NW Kent
    Full Name:
    Stig W
    Good to know in the light of what transpied in the UK section..... :(
     

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