dkilka, I think EVERYONE is glad you posted re your experiences and observations regarding the variators. Some folks just disagree regarding how frequently failure occurs. Thanks for posting!
Thanks Pantdino, I really hope no one else has to go through what happened to me. The true numbers of failures of the variators will never really be known as I stated in my previous post. I doubt that even Ferrari would have the true figure as all the cars are out of warranty and many people now use non-OEM specialised repair shops. What I do know from my experience & research is that people are playing a dangerous game if they neglect to have these items replaced.
Noted and agreed but given that the updated replacements are also capable of shearing off the old motto "if it ain't broke don't fix it" might apply!
I can see why one might see it this way. However I do firmly believe that this failure mode is stress related and that these items fatigue and age. I am not of the opinion that you either have good ones or bad ones fitted in your car. I class the variators as a consumable part just like a timing belt and tensioners.
I wasn't over inclined to get them changed again when I had belts done recently as I read up on the work involved (removal of camshafts from engine, clamping said camshafts in a vice <yikes!>, and reinstall). It struck me that a) it was going to be bloody expensive to get all that done and b) there would be potential to cause other problems going that deep into the engine. BUT..... I've recently been informed on another thread that Ferrari provide a special tool to lock the camshafts in position in the engine whereby the variators can be removed and replaced without the need to split the top end of the motor. Given that this is now an option I would be much more inclined to have it done as part of belt change service in the future as it only adds the cost of the varisators themselves (relatively cheap) and only small amount of additional labour.
