355 F1 Owners....

I have a '99 355 F1 and I'm wondering if others have the same experience. If the car is cold and has been sitting for several hours before start-up, once I put the key in the ignition, it takes up to 10 seconds for the transmission light to quit flashing (it's doing a system check). You can't put the car in neutral to start it until this system check is finished. It's a little boring to sit there for up to 10 seconds waiting to start your car......especially if others are waiting for you.

Is this normal? Or are you guys able to start your car immediately after putting the key in the ignition?

 

I don't have that trouble, sounds like an ECU situation.

 

Same with my 1999 355F1.
I think it is the fuel pump building up pressure.
Go around to the rear of the car and listen!

 

Yep, I have the same problem, too. It was like that from the beginning of my possession, so I thought it was the way it is. Gear won't engage to N during this time either.

 

Mine did the same thing.

 

why don't u put it to N before engine stop?

 

Mine does it too

I was told its cycling the shocks ?

 

It is not a system check, a fuel pump building pressure or the shocks cycling. It is the F1 system building hydraulic pressure so it will work and is completely normal. In the 360 they hooked up the F1 on switch to the door handle so it begins building pressure as soon as you pull the handle.

 

Thanks Rifledriver.
I stand corrected!
I knew it was a pump building up pressure...and it is the F1 system!

 

Since we are at this subject, is there any way to improve/shorten the wait time? JerryZ, I don't meant to hi-jack your thread, but don't you want to know, too?

 

Except in areas where the engineering is proven to be faulty I am reluctant to second guess Ferrari engineering. The only thing I would entertain doing would be to fire it up off a door handle switch as is done in the 360, I think that would be a slick mod if done well.


BTW I am with esnake, if on flat ground park it in N. I do however have a healthy concern for the unreliability for Ferrari parking brakes in general so I would never persue such a course of action on any incline.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Good info!

 

We gotta start a new section called "Stump Rifledriver" where participants try to finally find a question about Ferrari's that Brian can't answer!!!

 

if you keep the door open you can hear the pump
i always start it after that sound is gone

i also noticed that when the car is cold, it is much much stiffer than normal
ofcourse thats normal with all cars, but with the 355 [mine is a 99 F1 GTS] it is much more obvious
keep it for 8 - 12 mins running before you move and it'll handle like the dream it is

 

I thought it was my tranny getting primed or something.

 

Only if I can Dave Helm, Ferrari Doctor and several of the other guys here on my team on my team.