550 won't start. Can anyone help identify this part. | FerrariChat
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550 won't start. Can anyone help identify this part.

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by Calcifer, Apr 17, 2016.

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  1. Calcifer

    Calcifer Karting

    Apr 17, 2016
    55
    #1 Calcifer, Apr 17, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The long story short is that my car was being shipped from Hong Kong to the UK. On arrival, the car will not start. The fuel gauge seems to show half a tank fuel. The battery was left to charge by me and is now fully charged.

    Our home is not easily accessible for a truck to take the car away on so I'm trying to see what can be done here.

    Then I came across this unit behind the drivers seat. Would anyone happen to know what it might be and whether it is related?

    Or any other troubleshooting help. First step is probably adding more fuel incase my gauge is not working.

    Thank you for any help :)
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  2. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,017
    socal
    #2 fatbillybob, Apr 17, 2016
    that is the emergency rear trunk release which happens to be broken

    as to the no start condition we need more clues
     
  3. Calcifer

    Calcifer Karting

    Apr 17, 2016
    55
    #3 Calcifer, Apr 17, 2016
    Thank you. That rules that out then. :(

    As for trouble shooting. I have read a number of things and I am think of the possibilities.

    1. Add more fuel
    2. Check alarm fob battery
    3. Check for any blown fuse in passenger footwell?
    4. I read something about moisture near ECU?
    5. Is it possible that the car is flooded and spark plugs require a clean and change?

    The engine simply turns over but does not start.

    Thanks again
     
  4. 575

    575 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 20, 2009
    4,648
    #4 575, Apr 17, 2016
    Emegrency fuel shutoff ?
     
  5. jznd

    jznd Formula Junior

    Oct 26, 2008
    373
    Hong Kong
    #5 jznd, Apr 18, 2016
    out of curiosity, was that a HK 550 being exported to the UK? Or a UK car that had been exported to HK, and now being sent back across?

    There's a bit of a price lag between 550/575 here in HK vs the US/Europe. Usually it's the other way around.
     
  6. MogulBoy

    MogulBoy Formula Junior

    Sep 23, 2004
    972
    Devon
    #6 MogulBoy, Apr 18, 2016
    Have you tried flipping/resetting the fuel inertia switch (located near the battery master switch in the engine bay)? See section 3.21 of the owners manual (and 2.9).
     
  7. F456M

    F456M F1 Rookie

    Jan 8, 2010
    3,696
    Oslo
    Full Name:
    Erik
    #7 F456M, Apr 18, 2016
    Two vital things for an engine to start is ignition and fuel... Try to take out one spark plug and see if it has current in the ignition wires (put the sparkplug to ground while you let someone inside the car crank it. It is has ignition, check if it has got fuel pressure. There is a bleed/pressure check screw at the end of the fuel rail that can be opened. There should be pretty good "pressure" when you loosen it. If it has no fuel pressure, then there is something wrong with the power to the fuelpumps (crash fuel cut-off switch) or a relay or something. (The car might have had a hard bump during transport so that the car thinks it have had a crash...).

    Good luck and report what was wrong when you found it. :)
     
  8. bay

    bay Formula 3

    Mar 13, 2011
    1,274
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    Bernard
    #8 bay, Apr 18, 2016
  9. Calcifer

    Calcifer Karting

    Apr 17, 2016
    55
    #9 Calcifer, Apr 18, 2016
    Hi,

    Actually I brought the car from Taiwan to HK in 2010 and now sending to UK as that is where I am from.

    Hope that helps.
     
  10. Calcifer

    Calcifer Karting

    Apr 17, 2016
    55
    #10 Calcifer, Apr 18, 2016
    Unfortunately I am now in UK and my manuals are in Hong Kong. I shall read about how to reset this switch. Sounds promising.
     
  11. Calcifer

    Calcifer Karting

    Apr 17, 2016
    55
    #11 Calcifer, Apr 18, 2016
    Thank you to the others for posting.

    I read something about the red light indicating low power to the alarm system?
     
  12. MogulBoy

    MogulBoy Formula Junior

    Sep 23, 2004
    972
    Devon
    #12 MogulBoy, Apr 18, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  13. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,666
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    #13 greyboxer, Apr 18, 2016
    True but that should not prevent a start
     
  14. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
    2,438
    #14 360modena2003, Apr 18, 2016
    With "not starting" what exactly do you mean?

    Is the engine turning over?

    Check for spark and remove a spark plug to check for fuel (smell the spark plug).
     
  15. Calcifer

    Calcifer Karting

    Apr 17, 2016
    55
    #15 Calcifer, Apr 18, 2016
    Engine is turning over but just doesn't fire up. The battery is strong and there doesn't seem to a weakness there.
    My initial thoughts are that the engine is flooded, the car was started in Hong Kong and placed on a boat. Then not started for 2 months.
     
  16. Mr. V

    Mr. V Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2004
    1,247
    Portland, Oregon
    #16 Mr. V, Apr 18, 2016
    I use an inductive timing light to see if I have spark: easy to do, just clip it to the battery and onto a spark plug wire then crank and see if the timing light flashes quickly.
     
  17. Calcifer

    Calcifer Karting

    Apr 17, 2016
    55
    #17 Calcifer, May 3, 2016
    To update, the car has now successfully started. Troubleshooting was as follows:

    Add fuel
    Replace battery in key fob
    Check all fuse in footwell
    Reset inertia switch

    However, I now have the symbol on the dashboard that indicates a car on axle stands. What does this mean? I think it interchanges with another symbol indicating "SLOW".

    Slowly getting there :)

    Thank you for any help.
     
  18. 575

    575 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 20, 2009
    4,648
    #18 575, May 3, 2016
    Car on axel stands indicates uneven surface. It should dissapear after a few minutes of driving .
     
  19. pkl03

    pkl03 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 29, 2004
    540
    Sydney, Australia
    Full Name:
    Peter
    #19 pkl03, May 3, 2016
    Car on axel stands is the suspension light.

    Try taking the car for a good drive and then shutdown for a few minutes then retry.

    Sometimes disconnecting and reconnecting the wires on the shock actuators fixes the problem.
     
  20. pkl03

    pkl03 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 29, 2004
    540
    Sydney, Australia
    Full Name:
    Peter
    #20 pkl03, May 3, 2016
  21. Bertt

    Bertt Formula Junior

    Nov 16, 2011
    277
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Bert
    #21 Bertt, May 3, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    If it is this symbol, then it indicates a suspension failure. Most likely one (or more) of the actuators on top of the shock absorbers
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  22. BJJ

    BJJ Formula 3
    BANNED

    Feb 25, 2014
    1,301
    #22 BJJ, May 3, 2016
    Yes, during the last years I had three such suspension events. Each time an actuator was broken (internal plastic part) and needed replacement. So, I am just waiting for the fourth one to go and I do not even need an analyser to know that the remaining factory original one is rear left :D.

    Cheers, Bernhard

    P.S.: Luckily I had years ago secured a set of new ones for moderate money from a bankruptcy sale :D. I believe that they in the meanwhile cost more than 1k € (!!!).
     
  23. Steen Jensen

    Steen Jensen Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2009
    296
    #23 Steen Jensen, May 3, 2016
    I had the suspension warning light come on when my battery failed.

    Since installing a new battery it has gone out and stayed out.

    Maybe your new battery will cure the problem too...
     
  24. bay

    bay Formula 3

    Mar 13, 2011
    1,274
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    Bernard
    #24 bay, May 3, 2016

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