They messed up my car! 1.) The passenger door WILL NOT OPEN now..The locking mechanism works but door wont open...Is there any way to open the door when it is shut...Will the door panels come off? 2.) The speaker grill near the bottom of the drivers side door is broken and hanging off. Ugh! So mad! They tried to say they didnt do it which just made me even more upset.
Take it to a body shop the knows Ferraris and document it, have them do it. The lock mechanism is stuck or broke, I can't see how on any Ferrari you could take a panel off a shut door.
There is no way to get any of the sections of the door panel off when the door is closed, unless you damage the panel. It is also not possible to get the outer "strakes" off the door while the door is closed. About all I could recommend is that you try pushing IN on the door while you are working the inner or outer door release, and see what happens. I would also try cycling the power lock button off and on a few times. Does it feel like the outer pushbutton and the inner release handle are still attached to the latch mechanism, or is there no resistance? It's a bit hard to figure out what the valets could have done to it. Good luck!
if you dont have a slim jim device, call one of those car lock picker guys, for when your keys are locked in the car and see if they can get into it without further damage. document your time and expenses, phone calls ect , and make the valet company / restaurant pay out the a$$ for what they did.
Maybe everyone else who reads this will now realize that no one will care for your car like you do; and most-given the opportunity-will beat the #@%& out of it just for sport. Don't give them the chance--it is not below your dignity to park your own Ferrari...
Its crazy...try the door tonight and it opened up. I drove it around tonight...got home..still opens up just like normal???.....Any thoughts????
ahhh, the door pixie...that's where he is at the moment. Haven't seen him here for a few weeks, must be on holidays.........
speaker grill??? My 348 has a carpeted piece covering the speaker that goes from the front to the back of the door. Is it possible the Valet had nothing to do with the door problems????
My 348 has a passenger door lock gremlin as well - I just have to fiddle with the key and the lock plunger until it works again. So that might not be a valet issue. Dunno about the speaker grille thing. There are plenty of threads in here about bad experiences with valets - you hate to think that you can't leave your car, but you pretty much can't leave your car. Better safe than sorry IMHO, but it is a shame. Cheers Kevin
If both inside and outside door handles were ineffective simultaneously (did you confirm that?), some spring-loaded gizmo probably got stuck in the locking mechanism linkages (even though the locking control knob itself felt and behaved OK). It's kind of interesting that most door "locking" mechanisms are actually disconnect mechanisms in the path from the door handles to the door catch rather than being something that blocks actuation with its strength (but it's clever -- no amount of tugging on the door handles can "unlock" a door). Perhaps this would be foolish, but have you tried locking the passenger door when it's open and then closing it? Might be something someone unfamiliar with your 348 would do. But you can't fix it if it ain't broke
Sorry for your misfortune! But happy that your door now works again. And now somewhat amused at the "gremlin". I was thinking it might be helpful to tell the chat guys WHERE you Valet'd so we don't make that mistake. I valet'd my 348 at the St. Regis Hotel in Dana Point, CA (top notch place) where they valet the Rolls', Maybach's, other F-cars, there was a Diablo there also, etc. No problem. My car stayed right up front. In fact I was able to watch the guy park it, and then go get it when I returned. Obviously I'd be at risk while I was away at dinner. What was the place where you were?
Was at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, MS. I know the valet people messed up the carpeting over the speaker for sure. When i say grill, thats what i am talking about...that mesh covering with the wood frame...You literally couldnt shut the door because that mesh and framing was broken apart and hanging below the door....Maybe someone kicked it? As for the door, that is the first time it has ever done that...I tried to lock, unlock...the door pin would move up and down...tried both levers....turn the key....nothing would get that door to open...then i try it the next day and it works! Could be a gremlin...but timing would be ironic that the first and only time it did this was when the valet brought the car back! I figured the handle and push button on the outside really had no electronics involved...either it worked or it didnt...on a side note...it was freezing freezing cold last weekend...could that have had an effect?
I wonder if the door did not work properly and the valet kicked it to get it to open, hence the speaker problem. Another possibility is that the valet depressed the door lock while the door was open and then shut it---that is a huge NO NO on a Ferrari door mechanism. Another reason why not to let the car be valet serviced!
Some times movies provide some lessons. Ferris Bueller comes to mind on this one. I agree and I am very skiddish about valet with my car.
I live right down the road from the Beau and know the caliber of the folks wroking there and at other casinos---I won't let them park my 95 chevy blazer!!!!!! Really sorry about you car, however in South MS there is just no respect for rules, laws, or especially for other people's property. Not that they intentionally try to ruin it, just complete lack of attention to detail. Sad but true, that's just the way the culture is. I surmise the valet knew it was a cool car and gave his buddy a ride, when they were done they locked the doors (either fully or partiually) and then slammmed em shut. Might of even held the door handle in the up position a bit as they slammed it (you do that on some cars). Yep, don't trust anyone around here with your nice Ferrari--you probably get someone poulling up close to you and swinging their door open into yours too if you park it.
In my haste to post, not to mention being upset at hearing about damage to a fine automobile by my local boys, my spelling was terrible--sorry!
there has been many horror stories here and elsewhere on valet parked cars. If I end up at a valet place if I cannot easily park my car safely I slip the guy 20$ and ask if I can park in front. If it doesn'y work there are always other places to go........
