Challenge Stradale stuck in Neutral

Hey all,

I was out of town for work for about 2 months so as usual I hooked my CS up to the battery tender and covered her up. When I came back the car started up fine but it's stuck on neutral and wouldn't go into gear. Some observations:

- When I turn the key on it made the normal pump noise that went on for about 5 seconds.
- Starts normal, resting RPM is the usual around 1200rpm. When I rev the engine, everything sounds fine.
- All the doors, hood, and trunk panels are closed.
- Tried reverse but it wouldn't budge.
- When I try to go into first gear I can hear a slight, VERY faint noise (could be a click or thump) which indicated to me that it tried to go into first but it's still stuck on N. However when I rev, it makes an intermittent huffing noise like it's about to stall but never did. This is only when I press the gas pedal so I take my foot off the gas pedal and it goes back to rest at around 1000rpm. The problem goes away within 5-10 seconds by itself and I can rev normally again, no stalling symptoms.
- No engine check light or anything out of the norm came on.
- No fluid leakage that I can see.


Any ideas what might've caused the problem?

 

Can you make in iPhone video?

So far no clue here..

 

Have you tried rolling the car back and forth, it usually only works when an F1 is stuck in gear, not neutral, but it's worth a shot.

 

I recall some folks talking about about the brake pedal needing very firm pressure in order for the gear to engage in certain circumstances? Have you tried that?

 

No brake lights, no gear selection. Got lights?

 

sounds like actuator problem. Usually when actuator valves do have problesm (like air in the sistem) they will throw out of gear into N, to prevent any damage to gearbox.

The fact that car sat 2 months may confirm what I am saying, air being sucked into F1 system and actuator.