Gold on Gold, Tin on Tin (not what you think)

There has been a lot of talk in the past about electrical connections and the poor quality tin contact used by Ferrari, replacement with either gold or tin contacts and the electrochemical action of mixed metal contact such as gold on tin. All that aside, I was doing some wok on my 1995 F355 and disconnected some of the connectors. Interestingly, I found that things like the coolant temp sensor and the anit-evap valve, which have male tin pins have mating connectors with tin female contacts. However, the throttle position sensor, which has gold plates male pins is mated to a connector with gold plated female contacts. So, it appears that Ferrari did indeed subscribe to the "no mixed metal" doctrine. It would also suggest that Ferrari did not just use the cheapest connectors available since they apparently went to the effort to source connectors with the correct plating for the application.

However, there is a caveat. The engine wiring harnesses were replaced, due to some form of damage, by a Ferrari dealer back in 2002. So I don't know if the metal matching was done originally or was associated with an update of the replacement wiring harness. I was wondering if anyone could take the time to check their cars. It's pretty easy to check the throttle position sensor connector but you need a dental mirror t get a look at the male pins on the TPS.

The attached picture shows the TPS and the anti-evap connectors where you can clearly see the gold on one and tin on the other. I'm showing two different camera angles to held the visuals.
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Ok, talked to a friend who has an early 95 (he shall remain nameless) and his harnesses also have gold female connected for the TPS which have gold male pins. So it looks like this was the way Ferrari did it from the beginning. Additional conformations are welcome.

 

I don't see why this should lead to any argument. It is a simple observation that Ferrari from the start paid attention to matching contact type on the 355. That data point has not been presented in previous discussions. It has nothing to do with refreshing contacts. In the past it was point counter point; matching mattered vs it didn't matter. Noticing that Ferrari did this is just an indication that, to Ferrari, it does matter. I do recall that there was a claim that at some time, after the production of the 355 ceased, Ferrari went to all gold connectors. That may well be but it is apparent, from to attention to detail in matching contact metals in the 355, if Ferrari did indeed go to all gold connectors one would rightly expect that gold was used on both male and female components. With regard to the old issue of refreshing connections, it is a different matter and one in which who ever chooses to do so may choose any type of contacts they desire, match or mismatched.

 

The point of my initial post was to point out that Ferrari paid attention to detail and where the sensors had gold pins they specified gold connectors in the harness, and where sensors had tin pins the specified tin connectors. They did not mix tin on gold. They followed the long established procedure.

I wanted conformation of this from other owners since there was a possibility this was not original on my car since the harnesses have been replaced, and they may have been updated by Ferrari. The replies I have received, on and off the board, indicate that this was indeed how the cars were originally equipped from the start of production. If Ferrari did indeed change additional connections to gold from tin as the car evolved, because of electrical issues, or what ever other reason there may have been, it is of no concern to me as when/if they did, it appears they still insured that gold mated to gold and tin to tin.

Refreshing connections, the need or benefit, is a separate issue.