360 F1 Transmission ... Problem shifting into First

I have an F430 but do not experience any similar issue. However I rarely shift into neutral at a signal. I just leave it in 1st.

Can I ask is there a reason why you shift into neutral. Do you shift into neutral as you are coming to a stop at a signal? I have tried both but I usually find myself just leaving it in gear and let the car downfhift for me all the way to first gear.

 

I think your Ferrari tech is misinformed. Putting the car into neutral is no different than leaving it in first when coming to a complete stop. In both cases, the TCU disengages the clutch and has pressure on the throw out bearing. Only if you are stopped for more than 2 minutes does it actually go into true neutral and let out the clutch. So you don't save any clutch wear by switching to neutral. Just brake normally and let the car downshift automatically to first, then you won't have a problem taking off at the stoplight.

Now, that said, you should be able to switch between N and 1 easily, so maybe get another Ferrari tech that knows the F1 better than the person you got the first opinion from?

 

I do this also, but there is no additional cutch wear by leaving it in 1st. The clutch is disengaged, so it's impossible.....however, there is more pressure on the throwout bearing from leaving it in 1st (equal to holding a clutch pedal down)(alternate argument is that these throwout bearings always have pressure on them, unlike regular 6 speed cars...but common sense says that even though they have pressure all the time, they have more when the clutch is being held disengaged), thus I'm convinced that there is additional wear for the throwout bearing to leave it in 1st for extended periods of time. There are whole long threads on this topic, I don't want to start a whole thing up again. Bottom line, the car was designed to leave it in gear and not worry about it, take that for what it's worth. In the mean time, I do the same as Steve, and put it in neutral, just to be cautious.

 

To the OP: I am no expert but you can't select first unless you have your foot on the brake. Maybe your brake switch needs adjustment. That would explain why it shifts fine for an SD2.

 

I had a similar problem which turned out be a defective driver. The SD2 showed all was good, but I'd get these defective brake switch codes stored and shifts sometimes being wonky. I started to pay better attention and found myself fluttering the brake switch when coming off the brake and onto the gas without authority. Doing the old lazy drag from one pedal to the other.

I did a flash of my brain with new code and the problem went away.

 

Great VERY accurate post. You are correct that even when disengaged it is possible to have a little drag. When my car is cold, I actually feel a little bump when I put in in gear the first time. I would imagine that a poorly adjusted car may do that all the time.
Bottom line... Neutral when stopped for a prolonged period of time, it can't hurt and it may help.

 

To the OP: I may have a similar issue (30k miles 360 F1), although a) it's quite rare (and only when hot) and b) instead of selecting first, after a couple of tries (you can hear it trying) it goes into second, at which point I shift down into first (which always works). Do you hear the actuator trying to select a gear or does it do absolutely nothing at all?

 

I don't have the F1 but I think I recall reading that the gears won't engage when the car senses the rear deck open either so that's maybe another switch to look at.

Best of luck with the issue anyway, I can understand the fear of being stranded by the thing and you know it will only happen at the most inconvenient time!

 

I have a 2000 360 F1 (TCU updated to the latest spec years ago by the previous owner) and occasionally it has the following problems:

a) the car will not get into 1st gear from neutral even I am stepping really hard on the brakes. Pulling the upshift paddle frantically sometimes gets me straight into 2nd gear. Other times it just stays in neutral for a few seconds.

b) In auto mode, I am slowing down for a red light and the car automatically downshifts to 3rd or 2nd. As I am rolling, the light turns green and I step on the gas and….. nothing happens. No acceleration, rev does not pick up…… It is like stepping on a dead pedal. No warning light from the dashboard. Then after 2 or 3 seconds, the car bursts back into life and gets going again.

c) Slowing down to a standstill in auto mode, normally it would downshift all the way to 1st gear. But sometimes, it stays in 2nd while the car remains stationary. Again, no warning light.


I was told that if the clutch is up, the car would jump to N by itself, especially in slow speed. But I have never experienced this before. So I hope my clutch still has some life there.

Any idea of what went wrong, please? Any advice welcome!

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers,
John

 

I agree that the most likely culprit is the brake switch, when it happens again look behind you and see if your brake lights are on, this is only going to work if you have a vehicle behind you with some kind of reflective front surface, chrome bumper or something similar. If your lights aren't on, you know it's the switch.

 

Thanks MufflerMan.

But problem b) and c) do not seem to be related to the brake switch...... ?

 

I agree. It's not.


Diagnosis of an F1 without using an SD2 is futile. Take to someone so equipped.

 

What happens if you don't use Auto Mode and slow down for a light?

 

I have similar issue with my 2000 Modena, CS TCU, 90k km on the clock ... When this happens, I can hear the actuator cycles, sounds like trying to re-shift the 1st few times.. When the car stays in inclination, it is enough to release brake pedal during this cycle and let the car roll a bit to move the gears in transmission(one inch is enough), then the gear jumps in immediately ..
Similar thing happens on my other manual cars and seems normal to me (non Ferraris). When I am unable to shift the first gear, its enough to cycle the clutch pedal and then it works - but F1 cannot do that - thus the problem - just my opinion...

 

Sorry, my suggestion was for the OP, clearly it doesn't apply to your issue.

 

I had a similar issue ... Opened up the PIS a bit problem solved

 

a couple times a year, I will have to lift off the brake and then shift into 1st once more,
more than that something else is up.

 

Thank you for all the inputs. Very helpful.

Looks like a good start would be to replace the brake switch, and then do a SD2 test.

Steve, for the brake switch, is the part number "133555"?

http://www.eurospares.co.uk/searchResult_one.asp?S=133555&TM=1&TMo=688&TA=1&TB=40664


Thank you!