I know there has been much written but I cannot seem to find it when searching. My 2006 430 F-1 has less than 6,000 miles (never tracked and for over 5500 of those miles freeway driven) Yesterday, when trying to shift from one gear to another, it went into neutral and stayed there until I coasted to the side of the Freeway. I spent sometime trying to get help from Ferrari road service - my phone battery almost went dead before the girl could find the freeway I was on which is Interstate 5 iin California ---- pretty hard to miss) and I decided to see if the car would run and shift into gear after about 15 mnutes parked. I was lucky for it went into gear and I drove it home. Will call Dealer tomorrow to pick it up. At moments like this one, I envision all those passing me buy laughing out loud at that blah blah blah "rich" guy with his FERRARI stranded on the side of the road (not a cheerful picture).Probably an actuator or some minor adjustment but still a pain. Best
Did you get the transmission light on the dash? If so, it's possible that the Tranny fluid is low. I don't know in a 430 or not, (i have a 360) but when the tranny fluid gets too low the 360 just goes into neutral and you coast to a stop. Which I think is absolutely a safety hazard. Mine did this in the MIDDLE of a huge intersection and I had to get some guys help me to push it out of the way(ridiculously embarassing too!) before we all got killed. I checked the tranny fluid first thing. Yup. Didn't even measure on the stick. Wife brought me some new fluid. Put it in, fired right up and off we went. (I had a loose hose clamp at bottom of reservoir). Now, I check the fluid religiously and also carry a qt of tranny fluid with me at all times. Hunter
A lot of people have made posts in regards to the 430 F1 and getting "stranded". The car engages neutral and won't select a gear until after the car has come to a full stop. This is an intentional "safety" measure. There are a few different problems that have been experienced, most of which lead to this.
Car is at dealer and will let you know. No warning light. Fluids fine. I try to "drive" but not abuse my cars. Maintain fluid levels, tire temps, and never "lug" the motor. I generally shift between 5-7,000 rpm etc. The good news is I have an extended warranty and the bad news is it expires at the end of this year which means I will spend another $5,500 to cover the car in 2011. Best
I had a similiar experience with my F430 F1. When I was at a stoplight in 1st gear it would automatically drop into neutral. After a week of sending the data back to Italy. it was determined a small bubble in the hydraulic line was causing this. They bled the system. No more problems.
I hate to chime in with Dave in your time of sorrow but these F1 problems would drive me insane. Good luck.
If after sitting on a curb a while: 1) open the driver's door and listen if the F1 pump gets engaged and starts priming the gear-changing hydraulic system (actually, it is building up pressure in the pressure accumulator - that round black bulle-like container sticking out of the hydraulic unit). If you start the car and still the F1 transmission light is on and you can not engage any gear, then: 2) check the hydraulic fluid level; add it, if needed 3) check the fuse for the F1 hydraulic pump; change it if it is blown (it's recommended always to have a spare one in your car) and remember to turn off the battery first 4) check the relay or just simply put a new one in (it's recommended always to have a spare one in your car) and remember to turn off the battery first 5) go back to position 1); if the F1 pump motor still does not engage, then you have to change the F1 hydraulic pump, because the pump electric motor is toast, which is very typical for 430s and 360s (as well as Maseratis and other cars that use the same F1 pump, Ferrari part #213264). Cheers, JG
Just received call from Dealer. I was asked earlier today about "lights" and explained that both the "e-diff" and the "slow down" lights illuminated when the transission failed. This apparently was "useful" (since until today they could not replicate my experience) because the dealer told me when he called that two problems were found/ One I expected as likely to be involved, the Actuator and the other (having nothing to do with the transmission) very happy to have discovered, my "headers" (to use his word) "disintegrating". Glad the car is under warranty. The $5500 a year extended warrant is looking better and better. Still a car with under 6,000 miles, "headers" self destructing (pleeeze!!). Best
Headers would be warrantied I believe for 7 or 8 years (I forget) due to emission laws.. even if your other warranty lapsed. Good for you on the 430 supposedly the replacements are from a new vendor & should be better quality (so as to resolve it once & for all).. key word is "should" Both My headers on my 360 were replaced under emissions law by Ferrari a couple years ago. Bummer is they are the same vendor as prior as supposedly the 360 headers never got updated as the 430... rumor has it..
Received car. First thing that "bothered" me is the car was "driven" by shop people, not flatbedded as I expected. Not up to standard expected, not sure whether to make a deal of it or not? Regarding the "problem". According to the Invoice "Customer states vehicle popped out of gear...Performed hydraulic circuit leakage test...R/R F-1 Actuator from gear box, found 2 bleed screws loose...Performed bleed with SD3, Bled E Diff System." That is the story
So, now what? Did they finally corrected the problem you had? Does the F1 shifts correctly now and does not fall out of gear into "N"?