Im just venting here for those who understand the frustration of the 355 top mechanism. So my car, a 98 spider, has been at the 'best' shop ( I dont like to name names ) in Los Angeles for many weeks having the top worked on. They called yesterday to say it was done..I go down ( and Im really busy lately so finding the time is not easy and its a 35 mile drive) and the top wont work. They say it must need to go to the dealer to have something reset that they cant do there. Fair enough..THOUGH why didnt they check it before I got there ..who knows. So I drive it over to the dealer. Dealer calls next morning and says the only problem was the seat was unplugged..I go and pick up the car but since Im a moron I dont ask to see the top work. I get home and go to lower the top ( I had a date ) annnnnndddd..it stops once it goes behind the seat but doesnt tuck back so the seat cant go back..rendering the car...undrivable. The top has been a pain since I bought the car over a year ago..broken several times. This time they told me they replaced virtually everything. Still doesnt work. So Im really busy next few days..should the shop be obligated to send a flatbed for the car ? It really sucks because I want to love the car but the top has been such a hassle. I once was stuck in a rainstorm with it down. i had to force it up and a friend and I held it as closed as possible while I drove to cover. I keep saying Im just going to buy a 360 but I like the 355 looks better...very frustrating. As i said..Im just venting
I went with the manual top on the 348. I would have gone with manual windows and door locks if that was possible (wasn't)! Didn't want a power steering pump going out. Didn't want hydraulic top motors/ECUs going out. Didn't want adjustable shock motors going out. Didn't want an F1 transmission or hydraulic pump going out, either. Italians do "looks" best, mechanicals second, and electricals a distant third.
And ... all the power stuff really doesn't add much to the driving experience even when it works. But a 355 spider is one gorgeous car, so I kind of see where he's coming from with not wanting to get a 360.
Vent away........ Once you get it sorted you will love it. No other beauty then a 355 spider. I would contact the shop and have them deal with it.
There are a million little pieces that make up the 355 soft top, and about a billion minor adjustments that go into making it work correctly. Extremely frustrating...I know; been there! Give it time; you say the techs had it working before you got to their shop and suddenly...poof....it will not move! Why didn't they check it before you got there, you ask? They did!! And I'm sure it worked each time! This is how it goes....C'mon it a Ferrari! Imagine if you (the owner) is this frustrated how the tech fixing it feels. This is not an in and out type of deal. Kudos to the techs working on it!! And best of luck to the owner I would enjoy hearing the out come of your story- Niki
The tops have always been a pain - potentiometers, ecu, etc. There are a few solutions. A quick and dirty is to take the wiring from the over-ride button and run it directly to your normal switch. It will run down the center consol and match up perfectly. You have to make certain your seat is forward enough when using, as the seat will not move automatically. You could also covert it to manual. Look at the parts book and you will see it would not be that difficult.
ChicTech Nice AVATAR! I am praying it isn't a self portrait. I used to live in Boulder. Do you work for a shop? If so which one. Good luck. David
Hey everyone.. thanks for the moral support ! Its going back in and Im hoping one day I will actually drive the car again. I feel for the techs working on it which is why I didnt name the shop. I know theyre a good shop and doing their best.
I gave up trying to have mine fixed. It did not work when I bought the car and through past invoices found out that the previous owner spent a small fortune numerous times fixing it when it failed. As it was stuck half up and half down, I had the rams disconnected and now it is manual and I am happy. I never have a fear of it getting stuck halfway in the rain and I always know it will go all the way up and all the way down. I may not look graceful doing it manually, but I would have to get out to put on the tonneau cover anyway. Hopefully you will get yours sorted out.
Scuderia Rampante Inc. Three years as an apprentice tech there and going for automotive tech. degree. Well, you like my avatar! Sometimes I find if difficult to fit in these cars...but what do you do? LOL! How could you move from away from Planet Boulder! I love it here....fit in too well. Niki
I met ScuderiaChic once. You probably do not remember it was when the stars and stripes IMSA348 was in your shop. Anyway, We are so big if we both sat in your Ferrari at the same time your tires would pop.
My 1997 355 spider has had no problems in over 1.5 years of use....I do note that the previous owner had to replace two rams due to letting the hydraulic fluid run low. I checked it about a year ago, and it was low again....I should probably check it again. Oh, and just before I purchased the car, the driver's side seat potentiometer was replaced. That's it. Dave
I had a penny get stuck in the drivers seat track once. It prevented the seat from going all the way forward and the top from going up. I initially thought that the top gremlins had struck and took it into the shop. Once the tech found the penny, problem solved. Outside this one brainfart on my part, no problems whatsoever.
Isn't that a kick! One penny could have cost you big bucks You just gotta laugh sometimes. Had a customer do the same thing, but it was a nickel....second time was a quarter.
