Interesting flashing lights...Check engine then slow down... | FerrariChat

Interesting flashing lights...Check engine then slow down...

Discussion in '348/355' started by James-NZ, May 31, 2009.

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  1. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    Took my car out yesterday, started out just fine but then the rain came down.....lot's.....I arrive at my destination and park the car for ~2 hours in the pouring rain, no cover....I return to the car and fire her up, she starts perfectly, then I notice my check engine 1-4 light is coming on and turning off (staying on for about 3-4 seconds), at the precise time it switches off my slow down 1-4 light illuminates for a split second(like a flash on then off). This happened around every 30-40 seconds for the duration of my trip home, around 45 min's of open road driving. The car acted normal the whole time, no unusual noises, full power, no miss of any sort.

    So what would cause a CE light then slow down light resetting everything and same over and over?

    Some details, 2.7, test pipes. No prior CE or SD lights. No changes other than fuel supplier (went to 98, but have run this before with no issue) It was raining very heavily.

    Where should I start? Should I check connections to the o2 sensors? Possible moisture in the sensor connection?

    All help/thoughts are appreciated. :D
     
  2. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
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    Mr. Sideways

    Is that the pattern that you see when you first start the car? There's been an issue where the ECU relay flakes out causing the ECU to reset and do its startup test while driving. Of course, that also triggers the SLOW DOWN ecu test and light, as well...at least briefly.
     
  3. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    Thanks ND, this is similar to what I see when I start the car, but the slow down light turns off much faster when driving, as apposed to on the start up....could be what you say.

    The ECU you are saying flakes is the main ECU for the 1-4 bank? Or the cat ECU? Main ECU sounds like I may have some body parts for sale....
     
  4. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
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    Mr. Sideways
    No, just a $10 relay if that's the issue. The ECU is fine. There's a relay that turns on the ECU...the relay *might* be bad. So cheap to test that I'd do that first.
     
  5. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
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    James
    Cool, I'll take a look for the relay, any idea where I will find that? Just heading to the garage now.... :)
     
  6. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
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    Mr. Sideways
    Each of the M2.7 ECUs has one power relay under the passenger footwell (main fuse panel) of the 348...no idea if Ferrari kept it the same for the 355.
     
  7. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
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    James
    Just went for a run in the car, the problem seems to have found it's own solution. I found the relays for the ECU's, they are as you say ND, behind the passenger foot rest. However I did not touch them, I decided to start the car and see if the problem was still there, if it was I was going to swap the relays and see if the problem moved to the other ECU/CE light. However as it was not I went for a drive, got the car to full temp and all is well.

    So at this stage I will wait to see if it returns, if so I will change the relays over and go from there....

    Ferrari's are AWESOME!!
     
  8. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,984
    MD and NE
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    Robbie
    Glad your back to normal---May have gotten a bit of moisture somewhere that has now dryed out...
     
  9. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
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    James
    Thanks Robbie, I think you may be right.

    Long weekend here so I will be taking her out tomorrow for another run....
     
  10. BLAMPEE

    BLAMPEE Man Card Status: Never Issued

    This thread scares me. I live in Oregon and have driven one time in the pouring rain. To know that these cars can be that affected by water/moisture just makes me even more scared. LOL. Doesn't Ferrari race in the rain? They don't shut the races down because of rain, do they???
     
  11. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,793
    Ontario, Canada
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    Mike
    +1....I was going to suggest the same thing but Robbie beat me to it :)
     
  12. BLAMPEE

    BLAMPEE Man Card Status: Never Issued

    This thread scares me. I live in Oregon and have driven one time in the pouring rain. To know that these cars can be that affected by water/moisture just makes me even more scared. LOL. Doesn't Ferrari race in the rain? They don't shut the races down because of rain, do they???
     
  13. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    Took her out today, started up fine but the C.E & S.D light doing the same thing again, I opened the fuse box cover and could hear the relay clicking.... I was on my way out for lunch so just drove it anyway....after lunch we went on a drive, no lights, brought it home and washed her, then another drive still with no lights. When the problem returns I will identify which relay is clicking and replace it.

    Not sure this has anything to do with the moisture, but I'm also not sure what is causing this problem, seems like the relay could be faulty, or something is switching it off. We will see...
     

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