360 Spider F1 going "out of gear" question

You may have overheated it in the traffic or it just sat for too long and timed out

Especially if you are a new or recent owner you need to learn not to dribble it uphill or in traffic - ensure the clutch is fully engaged (approx 1800 rpm) by leaving a gap when it starts moving - http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/140322808-post13.html

Just theorising : others may have other ideas before you start looking for faults

Also try a search for some of the threads in this section which contain the word 'neutral'

 

Is your F1 warning light solid or blinking? Blinking == pump pressure/oil related, solid == some other fault.

 

Did you let the car drift without your foot on the brake (or only lightly on the brake)? After a few seconds it will go into neutral and beep, some kind of Italian safety feature.

 

I agree that this sounds like driver error. BUT we really can't diagnose this from the information provided. I find my car will pull along at walking speed when in 1st idling. I have to leave room, engage the clutch, back off and creep. DO NOT touch the brake until you want to stop (that is why you need some room). When you touch the brake it will disenge the clutch and you are back to stopping.

 

The easy problem would be that some switch is acting up, specifically the brake switch, and/or the rear engine cover switch, etc.

The hard problem would be that one of your actuator sensors are starting to crap out...see if this happens with heat (or duration of operation of the car) and if it gets more frequent then you're heading down this path.

 

It is possible you might need to have it checked to make sure the PIS settings don't need adjustment. You only have about 2500 miles on that new clutch so not the clutch. Driver error or PIS setting out of whack. The light coming on is puzzling though. One last possibility I was having issues with my 430 and it required to have the f1 pump drained and bleed there was a leak in a valve that allowed air to enter the system. It triggered the light and would come out of gear.

 

I would also ask the previous owner if it was a carbon fiber clutch installed vs. a standard clutch. I was considering a CF clutch until I read about all the strange problems especially if not "broken in correctly".

 

Yes, 360 Spider has a PIS / Point of Initial Slippage setting.

The issue with my 2003 360 Spider F1 was the transmission pops out of gear once in a while and it would do this once every time I go out for a drive - so I took it to the dealer.

The dealer reset my PIS to factory settings, they also reset all the gears from neutral to full gear travel and the shifts are now "crisp".

However in my case the transmission still pops out of gear once in a while so I was told its most likely a clutch issue and I will need a new clutch soon... Sad as i only have 16K miles on my car....and clutch wear is only at 50%.

Dealer Master Mechanic said based on his experience the pressure plate "fingers" could be bent. He showed me a clutch pack from another 360 customer that had the same issue and he thinks mine most likely is in the same boat.

So will need a new clutch soon, and was quote between $8K to $12K depending on what other clutch parts have to be replaced........

Saving money now.....

Dan

 

Fricking makes me scared owning these 360s specially with a F1 transmission. I just bought mine a little over a week ago and my heat exchanger went out in it. Parts wont be in for three weeks. Now reading these issues makes me want to go back to a viper.

 

Every high performance car I have owned (M5, M6 Coupe, M6 Convertible and now my 360 Spider - all the money I spent on all of them to mod, maintain and repair these cars I consider money well spent as the smile all these cars give me every time I drive them is priceless.

I knew going in that these cars are very expensive to repair and maintain so I am prepared for it. I set aside maintenance money every month.

So I drive the heck out of them, enjoy every second of driving it, and when they break I just get them fixed.

I dont think I can go back to any of the other cars I have owned. Just my opinion.

 

John
I assume you have an F1. If that is the case then IMO your PIS is set incorrectly.
Alan

 

I hate that it happened to you, but in reading your post it seems as if it was an issue when you purchased the car. I assume that you did not get a PPI at a reputable dealer or Ferrari mechanic as in all likelihood it would have been picked up. Seems as if the previous owner knew it was an issue which is why he sold it.
Again -- sorry this happened to you but whenever anyone comes on this forum and asks for advice about a possible purchase they are always told to get a PPI -- it's no guarantee but worth the $250 or so.
Alan

 

Your PIS is too low and the clutch is dragging on the flywheel. Make sure whoever resets it does it when the clutch is nice and hot.

 

I failed to communicate. I meant when the clutch is fully engaged you can idle and creep along very slowly. When stopped, in or out of gear, the car doesn't move if I let off the brake.

 

In that case, it's normal.

 

Yes, my F1 works great and always has. I was trying to help the OP with how to handle traffic.

 

Clutch

 

I had similar issues with my '99 360 and Voicey recommended Ed at Dove house (in the uk)
He figured it was simply a bleed screw on the actuator that was loose. By the way i had previously replaced the clutch twice !. Eds theory is that the loose screw lets air into the f1 system when the car is running hot causing the car to fall out of gear.
Its been fine with one exception since which I could 100% put down to the same issue.

One thing i can tell you is that tightening the screws is significantly cheaper than replacing the clutch twice !