550 intermittant electrical issue? | FerrariChat

550 intermittant electrical issue?

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by luca's308gts, Jul 2, 2018.

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  1. luca's308gts

    luca's308gts Karting

    Dec 16, 2016
    86
    Minneapolis
    Full Name:
    Bill
    I took my 550 out for ride and less than 3 miles from my house the warning symbol for over heating come on (red) and the temp gauge was max'd out all the way into the red. When I open my door I noticed that the red courtesy light on the door bottom came on - this has never happened in my ownership period and the previous owner never saw it. I stopped & waited 2-5 minutes restarted the car and that warning symbol was gone but now the failing suspension symbol came on. As I slowly drove home the temp gauge started dropping and got to the normal operating range, the suspension warning symbol also quickly disappeared.

    Several hours later I took the car out for a few test drives. Once up to operating temp I took temp readings over all coolant components and the oil tank - all in perfect range just as the gauges showed. I then proceeded on a long drive and no warning symbols,and no gauges reading above normal temps.
    So I have to believe this is electrical and not mechanical?
    Is there an ODB II code that would show what component(s) is/are at fault, or ?.

    Thanks for any help
     
  2. Bluebottle

    Bluebottle F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 15, 2012
    8,534
    Newbury, Berkshire, England
    Full Name:
    John
    Italian electrics are full of character!;)
     
  3. luca's308gts

    luca's308gts Karting

    Dec 16, 2016
    86
    Minneapolis
    Full Name:
    Bill
    Do you mean they are like Lucas Electrics (ie. the price of darkenss…)? I thought I was done with that when I moved on from '60s English sport cars.
     
  4. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,061
    socal
    Nope! Even with the best retrofitting of the italian electronics it is tough to fix stupid. You want good electronics you buy and appliance an infiniti or a lexus.
     
  5. luca's308gts

    luca's308gts Karting

    Dec 16, 2016
    86
    Minneapolis
    Full Name:
    Bill
    Ok, while I did follow your suggestion to keep my questions off of the "Sorting Thread" I did think this is where I might get some insight into my question.
    Apparently I was wrong
    (After 30 years with a 308 QV I did get a pretty good understanding that the Italians are not Japanese or German. And yes I understand 308s are pretty simple compared to the more modern Ferraris.)
     
  6. AVIMAX

    AVIMAX Formula Junior

    Aug 5, 2014
    711
    Toronto
    Full Name:
    Ryan
    I'd start with the easiest thing, make sure the battery is good. I once had a slow down light come on which I'm pretty sure was due to a battery that was a bit drained after the alarm went off and the lights kept flashing for almost 2 hours. Maybe your battery was low and after driving it charged back up?
     
  7. scowman

    scowman F1 Rookie

    Mar 25, 2014
    2,550
    Scottsdale AZ
    Full Name:
    Stu Boogie
    I started with a 308. These cars have the same crap electronics, just more of them, but the same basic problems.

    • Ground faults all over the place. So get to your fuse box and start testing from them. A good multi-meter has a ground fault alarm setting.
    • Bad grounds. My 308 would have a bad ground once a year for inspection. The 456/550/575 is no different. Clean em up!
    • New battery. Solves most problems but bullets 1 & 2 will destroy it. So you may be treating the symptom but not the disease.
    • Check your alternator. Easy to do with a multi-meter.
     
  8. luca's308gts

    luca's308gts Karting

    Dec 16, 2016
    86
    Minneapolis
    Full Name:
    Bill
    Thanks for the tips
     

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