Working on the car yourself

In my opinion, if you have taken apart a tranny, you are on the "mechanically inclined" side of the bell curve. I don't have much experience either, but I have done some relatively simple things, the biggest being replacing the cats. I now am of the opinion that these are just cars, like any other. Armed with knowledge and patience, I think you could do about anything you wanted, right down to an engine out major service. But there are some things I am going to pay to have done just to get a more experienced eye to look the car over. And some things are just not worth it to me because I don't think they are fun (changing oil - especially on a dry sump system - I'll pass).

I enjoy it - even though every task takes me 3x what it should. It took me SOOO long to do the cats, but they are perfect, and the exhaust alignment is perfect, and I had a blast doing it. It makes the car feel more like it is mine, and I like to know how it all works. I think you will be able to do most anything you want!

 

Yes - they are just cars. You should be able to do a fair amount of work yourself. However, do you plan to seek ownership of a newer (i.e., 355 to present) car or an older one (3x8). Naturally, the less electrical and/or computerized the car, the more a novice wrench should be able to achieve. Once you step up to the ECU-controlled cars, aside from the stuff like fluid changes, brakes, and suspension, and maybe even belts if you're really bold, I'd say just take it to a reputable mechanic. Doesn't have to be the dealer. In fact, there are many cases where an independant would be preferable (and not just speaking from a price standpoint).

Best of luck!

Aaron

 

Do you plan to keep the car long term?

If you do a "major" (belt change etc) yourself, and try to sell the car 2 years later, many buyers may be nervous. I would be concerned (and likely wouldn't buy your car, without a big enough discount to cover the service/inspection required to prove maintenance was performed and done correctly.)

In summary, performing your own maintence is great for you, but may limit or hurt ability to sell.

Just an opinion, others may disagree...

 

If you can fix your other cars, I don't see you having a problem working on what ever Ferrari you get. All you have to do is get over the name. Once you do, it's just another car held together with nuts and bolts. There is a learning curve that you will have to go through, as with any car, but once you get the hang of it it's not a big deal. As for the shop manuals, the only thing they are good for is giving you the specs. They are not step by step maunals, and are poorly written. Right now I'm in the middle of rebuilding the gear box on my 348. All it takes is tools, patience, and a little guidence, which you can get here. Oh yeah and a nice fat piggy bank, because even though you can do your own work you're still gonna get stiffed for parts. You may be able to buy a Ferrari at a decent price, but no matter what the parts will cost you a good nickle, especially the big items. None the less, doing you own work will save you Thou$and$ of dollars in labor charges.

 

Hi chris, I have done most of my maintainance/mechanical work myself since I was 15 or 16 from chevys to my current Ferrari. I think if you are mechanically inclined you can do as much as you want on a Ferrari, as was said above they're cars just like any other. Use this board for help when you need too and ask as many questions as you want, you won't find the answer unless you ask. The 1995 355s and older cars are fairly easy to figure out. The OBD2 355s and more so 360 and newer reguire factory SDs to decifer some problems. Don't hesitate to ask questions there are some professional wrench spinners here that can answer anything. Regards, Vern

 

I'm not disagreeing Simon although just to add a comment. I have seen some botched dealer work and what was supposed to a reputable mechanic do some questionable stuff. I have always documented my work with pics, reciepts and somewhat of a journal when I do service work to prove what was done. You should always do extensive research for a guy that has a good rep. on Ferraris if you don't want to do it yourself and if you do it yourself document the crap out of what you did. Regards, Vern

 

That is a great idea. With photo's of the work before / after, and exchanged parts... in addition to part receipts, I think most would be comfortable with this.

As vern said, plenty of horror stories out there involving "expert" service!

 

I have done most of my own service work, including engine out services.......and I got top dollar for the cars when I sold them. Bottom line is that they are just cars......the paint doesn't run in the rain and they aren't sprinkled with fairy dust from Maranello. I believe that my services have been done better that my dealer, who really trashed a TR and a 348. Fortunately I never let them work on the F40.

 

I do most of my own work. On the 308 I had I did tons of stuff including belts, tensioners and a full A/C system upgrade. When I sold it I got a top of the range price and didnt even have to advertise (a fellow fchatter owns it now). If you do your own work, keep all the receipts for parts and shoot plenty of photos of the work as you go along and keep all this documentation in a binder.

It has been my experience that "owner maintenance" is generally BETTER. The owner will take far more time on the job, will clean and detail all the parts as he goes along and will not hurry anything. If the owner is not sure how to do something, he can just stop and seek information. The internet has TOTALLY changed the home Ferrari repair scenario. If you get stuck, shoot some pics and post details of whats going on and you will have VERY informed assistance from some amazingly qualified people pronto.

It really is very often a "if you want it done right, do it yourself" situation. If you are mechanically inclined, have some experience and good tools there is little on the older cars you cannot fix. On my 308 and on my Daytona the only thing I would not attempt on my own is a full transmission rebuild but thats only because I have very little tranny experience.

I always get a hoot out of the "Big Deal" folks make over a 308 belts job. Before I did mine, I read tons of stuff, posted questions and in general scared myself stiff fixating on how hard and critical it was going to be. Then when I got down to actually doing it.... it was a piece of cake. ANYONE who can read and who has some basic tools can do the cam belts and tensioners on a 308. The most difficult part is getting over the mental hurdle. I see the same thing with old 911 valve adjustments which are also absurdly easy to do.



Terry

 

I agree with virtually everything said so far, and also that an owner maintained car should be as good or better than anything done outside, dealer or elsewhere. There are many good professional mechanics out there, its finding one you can trust that can be difficult. Your own work will almost always show your own handiwork and pride, and most could probably never afford to pay for that level of attention and work.

As far as manuals, Ferrari doesnt give you the extensive detail of a haynes manual, but the basic specs and general details are covered very well. Most are available in pdf files online from various sources you can download. As stated by others, any area of the car has been covered in great detail on Fchat, and you can find virtually anything. As far as what your limited to, you have nothing to fear, but fear itself. Dont let anyone scare you off telling you how complicated it is, its just different is all. Albeit a bit higher priced

 

This is exactly the reason I do everything myself. Every single time I send something out because I don't have the tools to do it ... they *uck it up, and I have to fix that as well. It's amazing they are so consistent in doing things wrong, even reputable shops.

 

Up to the 348's they are pretty basic and next to Jap cars they are crude. This is to say they are not cluttered with electro-mecanical BS. If you know enough to know when to ask for help you will be just fine. People on this board have a wealth of knowledge and are very willing to help. Personaly I would be more afraid of a 90's Toyota than a Ferrari.

 

With all the comment on quality work I think I should clarify my comments. It wasn't my intent to farther the bad rap concept. I enjoy doing things myself so I have not had to have much outside work done over the years and I have known quite a few professional mechanics over the years that know what they are doing. Its like anything else out there, there are good ones and bad ones in every walk of life I have seen my share of botched jobs in things other than car related stuff but, that doesn't mean everyone is unqualified. We have a few good ones on this board that I don't know personally but after talking and listening to them I have huge respect for their talents and would not hesitate to use their services if I needed them. Regards, Vern

 

If you've understood the inner workings of a transmission I'd say you have the necessary DIY ability to work on these cars. They are essentially nuts and bolts but the difference is that if you screw something up your mistake can be very expensive even if your just paying for parts.

For example while removing one of my camshafts on my 308 the last retaining nut and washer sprung off of the stud through my fingers...found the nut right away but the washer...well couldn't find it and it was late. Problem is there are oil journals in the top of the head large enough to swallow this washer. Fortunately I had enough foresight (acquired via a very scary experience in which a nut very nearly went down a similar journal) to plug these journals with rags before removing the cams. But I was taking my time and was double and triple thinking everything. Anyway didn't sleep well that night even though I knew that it was not likely down in an oil journal. Found it the next day by combing the head with a magnet pick up tool...it was not down a journal thank god.

Point is take your time and ask lots of questions on this site and any mechanic friends you may have. There are rewards to working on them...learning about them and satisfaction in doing the job.

 

Me too. (Well, the Celica turbo was an '88, not a 90's.) After a couple decades working on Italian cars, all I can say about the Toyota is "wah kaddi mas sen".

But there aren't any step-by-step manuals for Ferraris ... other than the tech section here.

Apart from the driving experience, Ferraris are elegant engineering. They might be "crude" in terms of "bleeding edge" technology, but they are well thought-out machines. Working on them yourself adds another whole dimension to ownership.

Like most Italian cars, the worst components on a Ferrari are the ones mandated for the US market. (e.g. that Bosch CIS system.)

 

Ive only had the pleasure working on my own 348 as of yet. But in reality,they are just nuts and bolts,just like any other car that you work on. And my experience with my 348 so far,is that they are very very easy to work on. The hardest part would be doin checks to diagnose a problem,if you havent got the specs to look at to help you. But the guys on here are awesome and there wouldnt be too many an issue that you couldnt get solved with the help of ferrari friends on here.