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f355 problems

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by van22, Aug 7, 2005.

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  1. van22

    van22 Karting
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    Aug 7, 2005
    227
    Absecon Island, New Jersey
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    VAN C
    #1 van22, Aug 7, 2005
    have put a deposit on a early 97 f355 spider. check engine light is on, but car runs great. question would be if it had cracked headers or valve problems would'nt it be noticable in performance? car had timing belts done 2years ago.
    use to own a 86 tr but lost it in a cat fire last summer and know little about pro's and cons of 355 other then it would be the closest performance to my old testarossa
    thanks van
     
  2. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    Jul 2, 2003
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    Sparky
    #2 Darolls, Aug 7, 2005
    Find the reason for the light being on before proceeding with purchase!

    Then start asking questions once you know the cause.
     
  3. mgtr1990

    mgtr1990 Formula 3

    Mar 30, 2005
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    Naples Florida
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    Martin Graham
    #3 mgtr1990, Aug 7, 2005
    I have a 97 355 Spider the check engine light could be on because the cats are not operating correctly or the by pass is wired open either way I agree find out whats causing it make that a condition of purchase and proceed its a great car I have my TR but the 355 is just so much more liveable and user friendly.
     
  4. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Nov 19, 2001
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    #4 ernie, Aug 7, 2005
    Get your deposit back.
     
  5. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #5 f355spider, Aug 7, 2005
    Agreed, this is buying by "russian roulette". If you are serious about the car, and the price is right, then get it inspected, find out what is wrong, and what it will cost to repair...have the price reduced accordingly. To guess, and hope for the best is very risky. Lot's of things can trip the CE light, and most of them are not cheap...hell nothing is cheap on these cars.
     
  6. cgperry

    cgperry Formula Junior

    Nov 2, 2003
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    Charles Perry
    #6 cgperry, Aug 7, 2005
    When my car's headers burned through (which is what they do, by the way - they don't just crack - they burn through and melt) there was no performance difference I felt. It just sounded like I was being tailgated by a Volkswagen Beetle all the time. You could hear chuffing noises as each cylinder on the burned-through bank fired. Eventually I also started to see the heat insulation being forced out from behind the metal header shields.

    See photos at:
    http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=vx7b2tf.7fucqvdj&x=1&y=jrerky
     
  7. vref

    vref Karting

    Dec 18, 2003
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    #7 vref, Aug 8, 2005
    No you wouldn't notice it in the performance. use a scanner and check the code that is turning on the CE light. I'll bet its the cats.
     
  8. Frari

    Frari Formula 3

    Nov 5, 2003
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    brisbane australia
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    tony
    #8 Frari, Aug 8, 2005
    Simple to diagnose. Take it to the ferrari workshop and have them connect it to the sd1 or sd11 computer programme and it will tell you immediately why the check light is on. It may be something as simple as an O'2 sensor so best not to secong guess.
     
  9. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    May 29, 2001
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    #9 f355spider, Aug 8, 2005
    Actually, the three cat ECU's are another known and common failure.
     

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