First time slowdown light on my 550 | FerrariChat
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First time slowdown light on my 550

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by speedball, May 20, 2005.

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  1. speedball

    speedball Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2004
    268
    Pasadena Area
    Full Name:
    Scot Anderson
    #1 speedball, May 20, 2005
    Well .... after reading too many threads on this forum about this issue ..... I knew it would happened to me at some point. My 2000, 550 has been a very reliable car .... but yesterday after washing the car, I took it for a quick spin and experienced this issue. Driving a short distance, with a relatively cool engine on the freeway at 60 mph I got a blinking slowdown light ... then after 30 seconds or so it went on solid with the engine going into "safe mode". I parked the car, disconnected the battery for 10 minutes to reset the ECU's .... it restarted fine and appeared to of recovered, but I did see the slowdown light blink a few times since, but it didn't go into safe mode. I'll wait a few more days to see if this issue goes away .... if not ....I guess it'll be time to start poking around for loose grounds, faulty sensors and the like. The engine compartment was dry after washing the car because I didn't touch this area ... so I doubt this had any relationship to the issue but who knows.

    Can the SD-2 detect the actual source of this issue? After doing a search on this forum, it appears there's no conclusive way to determine the exact cause. I welcome any input ...
     
  2. CodeRed

    CodeRed Formula Junior

    Nov 8, 2003
    368
    LALA LAND
    #2 CodeRed, May 20, 2005
    I had the same issue recently, but my car didn't go into safe mode. It hasn't happened since. The manuel states that it has something to do with the exhaust system, so I thought that cats were gaining too much heat. I have a stebro x pipe and a tubi. Thoughts? Good luck.
     
  3. speedball

    speedball Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2004
    268
    Pasadena Area
    Full Name:
    Scot Anderson
    #3 speedball, May 20, 2005
    I have the exact same exhaust set-up. The car was just getting up to temp when this happened. I've had this system on the car for some time ... so I doubt it have anything to do with the x-pipe and tubi's.... most likely a faulty sensor .... we'll see, hopefully it won't happen again .....
     
  4. WDR328

    WDR328 Formula 3

    Dec 11, 2003
    1,476
    The Bugscuffle Inn
    Full Name:
    D. Rose
    #4 WDR328, May 20, 2005
    I believe that if the computer put the car into safe mode it stored a code that can be read by some one who has the correct reader. I had a periodic problem with a 7-12 bank shut down light on my 95 512. Since it is a 2.7 Motronic it does not store the fault info, But the later units do. So find a shop that can hook up their reader and it should tell you the problem.
    _________________________________________________________________
    The F512M- An absolutely astounding piece of machinery!
     
  5. Speed Racerette

    Speed Racerette Formula 3

    May 24, 2004
    1,354
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    She wants Revenge
    #5 Speed Racerette, May 20, 2005
    The SD2 will not reveal the source of the fault, it will record that the car went into safe mode and how many times. If the sensor is bad, the SD will read the faulty signal but based upon the type of code, your mechanic should be able to narrow down the source via the process of elimination. Mine did by driving around with the SD2 hooked up. Since the SD2 showed radical temp changes going from normal to extremely hot (triggering slow down/safe mode) and then normal within seconds, he knew it was the sensor. It sure felt weird driving a 4 cylinder modena! Sounded like a sewing machine. :)
     
  6. racerdj

    racerdj F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jan 19, 2003
    6,952
    Indianapolis
    Full Name:
    DJS
    #6 racerdj, May 21, 2005
    Does the slowdown mode limit you to 120 mph?
     
  7. Speed Racerette

    Speed Racerette Formula 3

    May 24, 2004
    1,354
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    She wants Revenge
    #7 Speed Racerette, May 21, 2005
    All I know is that I was going about 45 mph both times it happened and the car sounded TERRIBLE. Even though I was accelerating, it felt like the gas was cut off until I slowed down to about 30. Then it was fine.
     
  8. BWS550

    BWS550 Wants to be a mod

    Apr 1, 2002
    8,933
    NEW JERSEY
    Full Name:
    BRUCE WELLINGTON
    #8 BWS550, May 21, 2005
    WHILE DRIVING MY 550 FROM A DRIVE YESTERDAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I LOSE 1/2 MY POWER AND THE "SLOW DOWN" LIGHT STARTS TO FLASH

    ALL TEMPS WERE FINE AND I JUST COASTED HOME VERY SLOW

    CHECKED THE FLOOR, AND ENGINE, NO LEAKING OF ANY FLUIDS

    MY THOUGHT IS THAT THE ECU UNIT WENT BAD, OR ITS NOT FIRING UP ON ALL 12 CYLINDERS..

    HOPEFULLY ITS A LOOSE CONNECTION OR SOMETHING IN MY $$$ FAVOR

    THE CAR WILL BE FLATBEDDED TO WWOC THURS

    ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR 550??

    THANKS ALL

    BRUCE




    THE ANSWER.............LEFT SIDE FUEL PUMP..........................
     
  9. Equinox2a

    Equinox2a Rookie
    BANNED

    May 17, 2005
    20
    Aurora, Colorado
    Full Name:
    Bill
    #9 Equinox2a, May 23, 2005
    If you have ground faults, it may be causing some cylinders to not fire-- throwing unburned fuel into the cats... where it's igniting. Cat thermocouples may be triggering the "slow down" lights.
     
  10. speedball

    speedball Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2004
    268
    Pasadena Area
    Full Name:
    Scot Anderson
    #10 speedball, May 26, 2005
    It's been about a week now ..... after resetting everything by disconnecting the battery ..... and having driven the car about 150 miles the past week, and on several different days ... everything appears to have returned to normal. let's hope this issue doesn't return.
     
  11. Equinox2a

    Equinox2a Rookie
    BANNED

    May 17, 2005
    20
    Aurora, Colorado
    Full Name:
    Bill
    #11 Equinox2a, May 28, 2005
    You know there's a battery cutoff switch on the inside fender wall, near the battery, don't you? It'll save you having to wrench the battery cable connectors in order to reset the ECU (or put it into short term storage, etc).
     
  12. speedball

    speedball Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2004
    268
    Pasadena Area
    Full Name:
    Scot Anderson
    #12 speedball, Jun 2, 2005
    Thanks .... I did use the cutoff switch .... left it off for 15 minutes ... then turned it back on. On top of my other trips since, just drove 200 miles to San Diego and back this weekend .... the problem never resurfaced .... so I'll assume this was a one shot problem ..... just think ... the dealer would've only charged me a few grand to do this for me!
     

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