F355 5.2 Spider (1998) Turn Indicator Problem

Sorry, newbie here and having problems finding message threads relating to my specific turn indication problem.

When I indicate a left turn, the flash rate starts out normally, then after a varied time delay it speeds up. When this happens, the front left indicator stops working. I also get strange effects when I select reverse (at the same time). The reverse lights seem to flash, too.

I've reseated many of the bulbs and inspected the contacts (they look like new), but I'm not sure how many bulbs are linked to the turn system (given the symptoms). I see in the handbook that there is a "flasher" relay (P/N 0 332 209 159) in the forward luggage compartment, but is this only associated with the hazard lights?

I've seen a reference to two turn relays in the Ricambi (USA) parts diagrams, but I'm not sure where to look for them or whether they are applicable to my car. I have an Australian car (I believe it's more closely allied with the Euro version).

I'm having a hard time interpreting the online wiring diagrams (I've worked on Boeing aircraft and Lotus cars, but the Ferrari diagrams have unfamiliar symbols and nomenclature).

If it was an earthing problem, I would have thought the problem would either be there or not, but it's like something is heating up and failing after a certain time period.

Thanks for any insight.

Cheers

Ian.

 

You may want to inspect the passenger floor fuse panel. The back up lights and turn signals are connected to fuse #26 which is a 15A. The flashers for the turn signals are located under the dash outboard of the steering column on the left hand drive cars. Not sure if a right hand drive is the same. Need to be almost on your back and look up to see them. The above is for a ' 95 so look in your owners manual to confirm the fuse numbers.

 

This is often related to a high resistance contact somewhere is the circuit. Sounds like a high resistance at some contact point is causing a greater voltage drop there and thus heating up the contact causing it to loose continuity altogether. I had this happen to my 355. It turned out to be bad contacts on the bulb itself. Even though they looked clean, dressing them with a small ignition file solved the problem.

 

Thanks, gents.
I continued to look for connection issues and found a possible cause. I didn't realise there were disconnect plugs just aft of the bulb holders. I found slight corrosion on both pins of the plug for the turn indicator, but also noticed that the plugs were cracked and the wire clips were missing.

I see the wiring harness is not too expensive (P/N 160835 for my Euro-based car), so I'll replace that. Will update the message thread if I have a win.

Thanks
Cheers
Ian.

 

I just had the exact same problem on my daily driver (Audi S4). It turned out to be the turn signal relay and was an easy/cheap fix by just replacing that. If your wiring harness replacement doesn't solve the issue I'd make hunting down the relay your next step.

 

Thanks, FCOnyx.

I replaced the wiring harness and gave it a quick check (no driving, engine not running) and it seems ok.

I was very impressed with the speed of delivery from eurospares (in England). I ordered the part Friday afternoon, and it was on my doorstep on Monday afternoon in Australia. Ok, the postage did double the cost of the item, but if the harness has fixed the problem permanently, I'll be happy.

It was a little fiddly to replace the harness. I had to pull off a small underbody panel and wind up the headlight pod to see what I was doing and to get access to the plugs. The rubber grommet that was provided with the new harness was the wrong size (ex-factory), so I'm glad I didn't damage the old one getting the old harness out.

Crossing my fingers...

Cheers
Ian

 

Crossing my fingers didn't work. There is still an intermittent problem with the flash rate.

I've started looking for the flash relays. I found a unit which is labelled "SEGNALATORE ACUSTICO", which, I assume is for the indicator sound only. I found something positioned between the radio and the Segnalatore Acustico, but it's wrapped in foam and hard to get to. The foam is disintegrating upon touch, so I don't want to pull that out until I know it's the right item.

Is it the item marked with the question mark?

http://www.iinet.net.au/[email protected]/FerrariF355Spider/SegnalatoreAcustico.jpg

Thanks
Ian.

 

1997 f355 here.

In 3 years of ownership the right turn signal blinks very fast in the winter. Once summer roles around it returns to its normal speed.

Italians.

 

I cant really tell, but the part wrapped in foam MAY be the key buzzer. Buzzes when the key is left in the ignition. Maybe a PO wrapped it in foam to try and muffle the sound. It is loud and annoying, and I did some work to muffle the noise.

Have you checked all the grounds?

 

Like the relay, I have no idea where to find them. The online manuals don't seem to be of any help in this area. The only problem I have with the car, as far as I know, is with the lights, so I assume that any faulty grounds would have to be specific to the lights. Are some of the grounds under the panelling either side of the engine bay? I notice the harnesses disappear under these panels. I fitted a battery conditioner extension lead to the right hand side of the car, but the earth point looked fine there.

Interesting. I don't think I've heard the buzzer on mine. Time to read the handbook again. By the way, the foam looks like it's been there since day 1.

Thanks!

Cheers
Ian.

 

Success! ... well, at least with finding the relay.

With the help of the Australian forum, I finally found the turn relay module on my late model right hand drive spider. It was located almost directly above the normal forward luggage compartment release handle, under the carpet. I had to remove the kick plate next to the accelerator pedal to help with the carpet removal.

Strangely, it has an Alfa Romeo part number, 46466571. It looks old enough to be original. Does anyone know if this is interchangeable with Ferrari part number 171798?
The F550 forums show Ferrari P/N 170762 is interchangeable with the Alfa part, but not 171798.

I opened up the relay module and it's quite a complex device with power transistors, an IC and lots of diodes, capacitors and resistors (Not surprising it is expensive). The Australian forum said that moisture can corrode the contacts of the relay, but there was no evidence of this on my car.

Thanks.
Cheers
Ian.

 

Unfortunately I can't speak to the interchangeability, but if it does turn out that the hazard relay is the issue then that will mean it was *exactly* the problem/fix on my Audi.
Also unfortunate here, as the new relay for that was only $30. :/ Yeah... $290 is steep for such a common type of part.

 

Update: I bought a new relay (genuine Ferrari part, P/N 171798) from England. It was identical to the one fitted to my car (same manufacturer, same numbers, same specs). The new one just had a paper Ferrari sticker on it. Unfortunately, the flash rate of the new relay was too fast on both left and right sides.

I put the old one back in and the flash rate returned to normal (Even the left turn signal was ok, but it normally fails intermittently when I go for a drive). I swapped the new/old relays over 3 or 4 times and the results were the same. I'm starting to think the new relay is faulty.

Both relays have "12V/2(4)x21W" marked on them. The USA version is different because it has dual (rectangular) side markers. The Australian (Euro) F360 also has identical markings under the sticker (even though it has a different Ferrari P/N).

I can't seem to find any substitute 7-pin relays from other manufacturers. They have a different marking "12V/2(4) x 21 W + 0~5W". I don't know if relays with this extra 0~5W output are compatible.

I've rechecked all the lights to make sure the contacts are ok and that the lamp wattages are ok. I found some corrosion on the side marker lamp holders, but cleaning those didn't help. Previously, I didn't know how to remove the side marker lenses to get at the bulbs, but they are just a push fit.

Anyway, I'll see if I can find a third genuine relay (with known serviceablility) to confirm that the new one is indeed faulty.

Cheers
Ian.

 

Would anyone know the pinout of the turn relay? Some of the numbers appear to be standard, but not the others.

I'm thinking of checking the resistances of the left and right turn circuits.

http://www.iinet.net.au/[email protected]/FerrariF355Spider/FerrariTurnRelayPins.gif

Thanks!