355: suspension differences

Your suspension light will stay on if there is a problem.

 

When the shock is removed from the car, i can tell you this. When the little cog on top of the strut (that the electric motor activates), is turned by hand in one direction. The strutt rod is easy to compress into and out of the strut (soft mode)
However when the cog is turned the oposite direction (sport mode) its CONSIDERABLY harder to compress the rod in and pull out of he strut.
As long as your shocks are healthy and your electric motors are turning, your suspention is working as it should. As already said, the light on the dash will come on when its in mode, however if there is a problem with the electric motors the light will stay on.
Hope this helps put your mind as rest . I can tell when my suspention switch is activated on both cars.

 

The light we are talking about is a yellow light on the right side of your dash it has a picture of a car and should go out after a few seconds after starting your car or just turning on your key.someone may have removed the bulb.

 

no one really knows lol
im pretty sure there are a few threads where people conclude they aren't even sure which is the off position for the shocks....I def have no idea so I just leave it

 

I can feel a subtle difference between comfort and sport mode.

 

Ok
So after all that if I flip the switch on my center console and the dash light comes on I am in the .....
Sport or
Comfort mode ?
Yes I read the manual and can't feel a difference when driving.

 

95 light off for sport mode
96 to 99 light on for sport mode

 

That is correct. Also very hard to feel any difference between the two modes. My Porsche twin turbo there is a huge difference.

 

I think the base mode is the same, it just tightens up more at higher speeds and higher lateral g's when in sport mode. Keep in mind that it's not a soft vs firm shock setting, it's two different program modes for the adaptive suspension.

 

On my 1998 the light is off in sport mode. The owner's manual refers to the light as "Comfort suspension setting indicator". I can definitely feel the difference on rebound and if I'm going over freeway joints with the CD player on it skips much less in comfort mode. If you drive aggressively you my not notice much difference as the manual also states "During rapid acceleration and braking the ECU automatically switches to a fixed setting (on the curve currently set by the ride selector) to minimize rolling and pitching which would be inevitable with conventional suspension systems". Not sure exactly how to interpret that (maybe the Italian is better) but I think basically it goes back to a firmer setting.

 

Then your owner's manual is for a 1995

 

lol haha this is my fav topic of all time

doesn't matter how many times its posted there is always mass confusion

 

Saying that, I am amazed that there are no other simular based threads entitled. MY 355 DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT HAS 380BHP Now that would be a good thread.

 

My manual is the U.S. Version for 1998
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I have a 1996 Spider. The manual clearly states the default is sport mode. The comfort mode is selected by pushing down on the console switch. In comfort mode, the light on the left side of the dash lights up. To be clear, this is not the same light as on the right side of the dash that routinely lights up during engine start as the ECU checks the system but also when a suspension fault is detected during driving. I've engaged and disengaged the comfort mode many times to see if I can tell a difference. I believe there is a very slight difference between the two, the comfort mode being a bit less "hard" going over bumps at highway speeds. Around town, at slower speeds, its hardly noticeable.

 

Ferrari does it again. My 95 USA owner manual and my copy of the non USA 95 manual are consistent. Indicator 2 light off = sport. Light on = comfort. However, my copied of the non USA 97 and 98 manual say light off = comfort, light on = sport. And they also show the indicator not as a shock absorber but with the word SPORT displayed. No wonder this gets confused.

By the way, a 99 6 speed spider, less than 18k miles, yellow/black, no reserve when for $58k at Auctions America today. Estimates were $65-$75k.

 

My 99 light on is sport and you can feel it especially if your pushing it through a corner with long bumps

That dash assembly looks like a 95 or at least the earlier cars.

 

My 1997 manual says "Comfort suspension setting indicator, amber"

To clarify, my manual is telling me clearly that when comfort mode is ON, so too is the amber light.

 

The 1999 F1 manual shows a light that says "sport", indicating that it is obviously in sport mode. The reason they changed this MAY be, I repeat...MAY be because the indicator in my car looks more like a CEL than a "comfort" indicator. Twice I have had people ask: "Does that light mean there is something wrong with your shocks?"

I like "sport" much better than mine, which just shows a shock.

So in effect, they are opposite for these two different years.

 

Please read the owners manual. You will see greater detail on how the system works. The setting of the shocks is changed not only by the switch, but also affected by your speed, as well as there is an accelerometer that detects longitudinal movement from braking,which reduces front dive or acceleration, which reduces rear "squat". This accelerometer also detects lateral movement from cornering. It can also react to a combination of both inputs.

I notice a difference, mostly at speeds greater than 40 mph.

 

Does your amber light not say sport? so why would that mean comfort?

 

I have a 1997 as well. The amber light shows a symbol of a coilover shock. When illuminated, that is the indication of "comfort" setting is selected.

 

Then I think your car may have a 95 dash