What are slow down lights? | FerrariChat
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What are slow down lights?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by 88MONDIAL, Jul 15, 2005.

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  1. 88MONDIAL

    88MONDIAL Formula 3

    Apr 13, 2005
    1,052
    Racine, Wisconsin
    Full Name:
    Jim Smith
    #1 88MONDIAL, Jul 15, 2005
    Could someone tell me what exactly "slow down lights" are? What are you supposed to do if it comes on? Is there one light on the dash, or I've heard something that leads me to believe there are two lights, one for each bank of cylinders?

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

    Aug 1, 2002
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    Heir Butt
    #2 matteo, Jul 15, 2005
    one for each bank.

    They detect above average temps in the exhaust.
     
  3. Joe G.

    Joe G. Formula 3
    BANNED

    Dec 9, 2003
    1,109
    Los Angeles
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    Joe Gazzani
    #3 Joe G., Jul 15, 2005
    ferrari's have built in radar

    (j/k)

    your car will only have one slow down light because you only have one cat

    everything else Matt said is correct with regards to temps
     
  4. Mondial2

    Mondial2 Karting

    Jan 23, 2004
    60
    #4 Mondial2, Jul 15, 2005
    Mondial T's only have one cat? Is that true for 348's also?

    I know my '83 Mondial has two cats, and two slow down lights, one for each bank.
     
  5. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

    Aug 1, 2002
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    #5 matteo, Jul 15, 2005
    up to 83...two cats
    84 to 88.5...one cat
    89 up....two cats.
     
  6. 88MONDIAL

    88MONDIAL Formula 3

    Apr 13, 2005
    1,052
    Racine, Wisconsin
    Full Name:
    Jim Smith
    #6 88MONDIAL, Jul 15, 2005
    Thank you for your replys. So they are nothing to worry about, you just "slow down" to let your exhaust temps decrease then? So they could go on when you really are pushing the car? Once it cools down the lights go off? I assume this is there so you increase the longevity of your cats then.
     
  7. Joe G.

    Joe G. Formula 3
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    Dec 9, 2003
    1,109
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    Joe Gazzani
    #7 Joe G., Jul 15, 2005

    exactly !

    Mondial2
    i thought (or took it as implied) that he has an '88 3.2 mondial not a T
    thus
    he has one cat
     
  8. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,047
    USA
    #8 f355spider, Jul 15, 2005
    No. If the lights come on, you have one of two possible problems, the cat is actually overheating (stop immediately to prevent damage or fire), or the protection circuit is defective, and giving a false signal. Regardless, the fault must be corrected.

    The typical cause of an actual overtemp situation is from losing the ignition on one bank of cylinders, causing the unburnt fuel to dump into the exhaust manifold, and ignite in the catalytic converter...causing the high temps. Very dangerous.
     

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