Top will not come down on a 97 355 spider.

Well I am happy to report that out of all the things wrong with the car, the top isn't one of them - YET.

Turns out that the only issue it did have is the little "rubber bands" were a little stretched out and would not pull the bar on the roof into position - thus requiring one to back the top up, then push the bar and then hold the switch again - all I did was tie a knot on the elastics and VOILA! Works like new.

 

Hi Gus,

can you tell us more about the "rubber bands",,not sure i understand completely. Are these the 2 elastics and they are supposed to pull the top together once it is opened by the handle?

I tried again yesterday with doors closed, no luck..

 

wow...sounds like most convertible Ferrari's have the problem with tops...that's why I'd prefer to have a coupe... (much more Sleek looking IMO)

 

The tops sound more scary than they are. One of the things that caused a lot of the problems in the past was the seat potentiometer. That problem has been solved forever. Costs about $3.00

Other than that, running low on hydraulic fluid causes a lot of problems, but an annual service would catch that.

Just like other cars and other forums, you rarely hear from the all the folks whose stuff is working perfectly for years with no problems.

 

Please elaborate on your $3 fix for the seat potentiometers?

 

Here are all of the details:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=288373

This is the only thing that fails within the seat pots.

 

Yes, I am aware of that but is there a way to simply bypass this silly "rule" by possibly pulling a fuse or relay or something else that sends the signal that the door is open? It would be easier not having to hassle with having doors closed when trying to lower or raise the top.

ketel

 

Hi, yes, you "could" short circuit (connect or override) the contacts in the doors if really needed. Rest is to make believe the electronics in the ECU that the doors are closed.

But once yr top works, it is no real problem.

By the way, I go mine working finally about 5 months ago. I had prepared EVERYTHING one can prepare, even checked and measured what was possible on components inside ECU. yet Top didnt work, so i finally asked dealer in Antwerp to look at it when it was time for yearly maintenance, all he did was calibrating ECU (for which you need ferrari-tool) and everything was solved.
pretty good preparation I did, wouldn't you say ;-))))))