Author: directorcia

A warning light is back

The news is, unfortunately, that car has again thrown up a warning light, although this time it is something new.

I was travelling along on a recent drive, when all of a sudden the airbag warning light came on. The performance and operation of the car wasn’t affected at all (apart from the big warning light on the dash, which I know all about anyway). I continued on and parked the car in the hope that it may reset after the engine had been turned off.

Unfortunately, taking the car out again proved that the airbag warning light needs more attention that simply turning the engine off. The car’s performance is no way affected but that red warning light on the dash is annoying.

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As you can see from the above diagram the car has two airbags, driver and passenger. The ECU (item 1) that controls the airbag is located under the front console.

Reading the F355 workshop manual on airbag issues you see:

Being a safety system, the airbag individual components cannot be repaired. To detect the faulty component, use the SD-1 system and then replace it.

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From what I tell you need to hook up the diagnostic (SD-1) to connector A shown above.

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That connector in the passengers foot well along with the fuses as shown above. There seems to be a procedure in which you can short pin 1 of the diagnostics connector for 1 – 5 seconds and the following sequence will show on the air bag warning lamp on the dash, depending on the issue:

Lamp check : Fault

1: None (the lamp switches on for about 4 seconds, when ignition key is put in position”II”)

2: Faulty sensor

3: Airbag starting circuit short-circuited towards battery +

4: Airbag starting circuit short-circuited towards ground +

5: Wrong driver’s side airbag resistance

6: Wrong passenger’s side airbag resistance

7: Low battery voltage

8: Faulty light or circuits

9 Stored crash data

After the last fault, the first one is shown again.

The faults can be cancelled (apart from no. 9) by short circuiting the pin no. 1 of the diagnostics socket connector towards earth for a time between 5 and 10 seconds.

If the fault no 2. (ECU inner failure) disappears, the sensor resets.

So it looks like I could attempt to determine what the fault is and then attempt to reset this by simply grounding one of the connectors. However, I think the first thing I need to do is talk to someone a with more knowledge about these things before I try anything and see what they recommend. I really don’t want to be mucking about with the airbag system, without knowing what I’m doing, just in case I set it off or something. So I need to make a few calls before I go much further.

Now the ECU unit that controls the airbag is located under the console between the seats. I was wondering how you would get to it if you needed, and once again YouTube to the rescue with these videos:

I am not saying that the ECU is the problem but at least now I know how to get access to it if needed.

I’ll keep you posted on what happens with the airbag issue once I have talked to a few people to see what they recommend.

Popping the top

Another wonderful sunny day for a drive and a good excuse to once again go topless!

Here are some promised photos of the roof.

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To remove the hard roof you need to firstly open the holding clips at top of the windscreen on the drivers and passengers side. The clips are shown in the above photo.

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Once the clips have been opened you can remove the roof and stow it behind the seats. The roof is heavier and more cumbersome that it looks so be careful when positioning it behind the seats. You’ll generally need to spin it around so the large positioning spikes can be inserted in the holding holes behind the seat as shown above and below.

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Once the roof is in place the seats can be returned to their upright position and you are ready to go.

As I have said before, having the wind in your hair and experiencing more than a million square kilometres of blue sky is what these cars are all about. However, keep in mind that if you want to put the roof back on (if it starts raining for example) you’ll have to pull over and man handle it back into place. All that can take a few minutes to achieve so heed the weather well before you elect to go top down.

Not quite the right size

One of the recommendations made to me was that I should look at using some replacement mats for the car while keeping the originals in as new condition as possible. Good idea, I thought. That way if I ever show or the car or sell it (heaven forbid) then I’d have as near to perfect original mats.

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The above shot shows you the original mats side by side (left = passenger, right = drivers). You’ll also notice that they are different shapes and have two eyelets each to secure them onto the floor.

As a temporary measure I bought some ‘standard’ car mats just to put over these mats. What I overlooked again was the fact that a car like a Ferrari is very different from your run of the mill car. Why? Because in the F355 the pedals are actually mounted on floor as they connect to the motor at the rear. Most ‘standard’ cars these days have their pedals connected at the top leaving underneath clear.

The main issue was the driver’s side with the pedals but I managed to kinda get a ‘standard’ mat to fit by reversing it. This all worked well in the interim, preventing wear and tear on the original mats while I scoured the Internet for some custom replacements.

I found a couple of places that had F355 mats but most would not ship to Australia. Finally, I located:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/FERRARI-355-CUSTOM-FLOOR-MAT-SET-/300448967239

These mats are provided through Ricambi America which I know very well are perusing their website looking for different parts and engine configurations. I sent them an email, as I wanted right hand side mats and they said that would no problems. They emailed me a PayPal invoice for $125 to cover the mats and delivery. All very efficient and response.

The mats arrived in about three weeks and looked like:

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They were well made Llyods Mats and certainly look like they’ll do the job.

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Problem was when I attempted to install in the floor of the car them I discovered that the distance between the eyelets on these new mats was too short. The passengers side was about 3cm too short and the driver’s side was about 7cm too short. Both mats will attach to the outside floor mount on each side but the inside eyelet simply doesn’t match up.

I checked the original floor mats and the distance between the the eyelets is 48cm for driver and passenger mats. Strange I thought. Surely, they would have the layout for these mats and should be spot on?

I have emailed Ricambi America to see what they say and how they want to handle this. I not fussed enough to return the mats, they’ll do the job that I need, however it would be nice if they did fit but as I keep being reminded by this car, nothing every works out the way you think. What I however have learnt by this stage, is that this is all part of the enjoyment of owning one.

The full monty

The car has been running well over the past few week. Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t been as kind being wet regularly. However, recently there was a break in the weather that allowed me to go ‘top down’ for the duration.
Now a Ferrari F355 Berlinetta is the model with a solid roof like so:

Having a solid roof makes the car stiffer since there are two connections (roof and floor) between the front steering and the power in the rear (engine). To the purists this makes the car much better for driving which is what Enzo Ferrari was all about. When looking for a vehicle I did try and find a Berlinetta, however they are hard to come by. Obviously owners love them (as you would expect).
The next type of Ferrari F355 is the Spider (or convertible) like so:

Purists will claim that removing the roof makes the car more likely to warp thus affecting performance and handling. To compensate for this, manufactures add more strengthening elements in the floor. Along with the mechanics for the folding roof, this adds additional weight and weight is the major component that reduces performance.
Even though a Spider does allow you to enjoy millions of free cubic metres sky when you are driving I do feel the car isn’t as pretty as the other models. Someone once describe the convertible Ferrari F355 to me a bit like a flat bed truck in appearance. Not nice, but there is a certain element of truth there.
The other issue with any convertible (reinforced to me after a drive day) is that over time the roof starts to leak. As the fabric and mechanics of the roof age the sealing ability tends to suffer. So while the sun shines, convertibles are great, but when it rains? Not so much. Maybe this is why most Ferrari F355s for sale are convertibles. Coincidence? I think not.
Finally there is the Ferrari F335 GTS which has a detachable roof like so:

The detachable roof is a single component that unclips and can then be placed behind the seats.

As you can see in the above image (of Top Gear UK’s Jeremy Clarkson with his Ferrari F355) the detachable roof is not really something you can quickly put up and down. It is much heavier and more cumbersome than it looks. To stow it easily you really need two people and somewhere that you can have both doors wide open, however the locating the roof behind the seats is quite simple to position.
Interestingly, I couldn’t find any images on the Internet that shows the roof operation and stowing in more detail, so I’ll add that to the list of shots for next time.
So the Ferrari F355 GTS is probably the best compromise between the Berlinetta and the Spider. It doesn’t provide the stiffness of the Berlinetta but it does provide access to the million cubic metres of sky when the weather is good.
Driving without the roof is a very different experience I will admit. Firstly, you seem to be looking over the windscreen (even though your aren’t) but it certainly does have the feel of being a convertible. The best part is that you get to experience more of the glorious sound of the engine as it growls along. That said, it is still possible to have a conversation with the passenger with out shouting. Once you drive with the top down on a nice day you begin to understand why people prefer convertibles. However, if it starts raining along the way then you’ll realise why they may not be such a good idea. Ying and yang and all that.
Even though I initially wanted a Berlinetta for the ‘pure’ driving experience I am glad that I instead went the GTS route, for there is simply nothing like driving a car like this with the wind in your hair, the growl of the engine in your ears and the unrestricted vistas. It is pure magic.

Starter motor up close

As promised in a previous post, here’s some pictures of the actual starter motor in the vehicle up close.

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This is the view looking into the engine bay from the top. The black lead going to the housing of the starter motor is from the positive terminal on the rear right of the car.

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This is the view looking from underneath the car. That fixture from the body shown above appears to be an earth wire as it seems to merely bolt to the frame between the barrels.

I also found this nice video on the principles of the starting motor put out by the US Department of Defence in 1957.

About the starter motor

So it is probably the time to start understanding more about the make up of the Ferrari F355 in greater detail, so to me the most logical place to start is with the starter motor. Interestingly, this has proved to be far more challenging than I expected.
A look through the workshop manual only displays the engine from the left hand side like so:
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The starter motor is actually on the right hand side towards the back which I have highlighted below:
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As you can see you don’t get a very good idea of what it looks like.
I then tried to do a search for ‘Ferrari 355 engine’ but again seemed to come up short with anything that provided a good idea of what the starter motor actually looks like.

This is the best that I could come up with and have circled the starter motor for you.
Next stop was to see what the individual part itself looks like. That was easy enough as you can see below.

A search on the Ricambi site pulled up the schematic and the part number (155166) which is item 26 below.
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So the large nut on the housing connects directly to the positive terminal on the top right hand of the engine bay. Will have to check that out next time I’m in there.
Now, I appreciate that a starter motor starts the car but how does it actually do that? A bit more searching turned up this really cool video that explains it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx3xniNw7XM
So the starter motor must sit near the flywheel. Returning to the workshop manual I found this diagram in the Clutch – Gearbox section.
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So here you can see (highlighted) the rear of the housing into which the starter motor fits and the teeth in the flywheel that it connects to.
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The only other useful diagram I found was the gearbox longitudinal section shown above. In it you can see the outline of the starter motor (highlighted).
So now I know where to look next time I’m in the engine bay and I’ll get some shots and post them up as there doesn’t seem to be many around for the Ferrari F355. I am also much more knowledgeable about exactly how the starter motor functions (you just gotta love YouTube haven’t you?).
Here’s another good video that explains more about starter motors in general.

Best Drives in Sydney – Maraylya

This review is part of a number of different drives available in and around Sydney. You can view and comment on them all at : http://www.lovethe355.com/355/drives

 

Length – 70.4 kms

Time – 70 mins (approx)

General Description

Start at Pennant Hills and head towards Dural. Continue along Cattai Ridge Road and then towards Windsor. Return along Windsor and then along the M2, finally back on Pennant Hills Road to Pennant Hills.

Positives

There is generally not a lot of traffic on the back roads out to Windsor. Cattai Ridge Road has some good bends and a generally good surface. In some places the speed limit is 80 kmph. The return trip along Windsor Road has a great surface, is wide and has a limit of 80 kmphs. Plenty of nice bush scenery and away from the city traffic out to Windsor. The return trip along Windsor Road and the M2 will generally allow you to stretch the performance of your vehicle.

Negatives

Part of road from Maraylya to Windsor has a below average surface but it isn’t an extensive stretch. The road through Dural and along Cattai Ridge Road is only a single lane and there are limited places to overtake if necessary. This means that you get held up behind a slower car for an extended period during some of the route.

A significant portion of the road through Dural and the first half of Cattai Ridge Road is 60 kmph.

There is currently a significant amount of road work being carried out along the M2 which could mean delays, poor road surface and reduced speeds while this is being completed. The M2 is also a toll road.

Fuel

There are places to fill up at Dural and along Windsor road if necessary

Cautions

– There are some tight bends along as it crosses Cattai Creek. The road also narrows here so ensure that travel is at the appropriate speed.

Feedback

if you have any feedback or suggestions about this trip please contact me via director@ciaops.com.

Best Drives in Sydney

Part of the enjoyment of owning a vehicle is being able to drive it but not just on ordinary roads and in congested streets. If you enjoy your cars then you also enjoy taking it for a good drive. Somewhere that has good roads, straights, corners, great vistas and so on.

This can be a challenge in a major city like Sydney but what I thought I’d start doing is putting together a list of Great Drives of Sydney and posting them on www.lovethe355.com. I’d also initially detail them here on the blog but hopefully improve the information on each over time. I’d also love to see other drivers provide their feedback and suggestions, which I’ll add to the site over time.

So let’s get things kicked off with the Wahroonga to Brooklyn loop.

Length – 50.6 kms

Time – 40 mins (approx)

General Description

Start at the beginning of the F3 at Wahroonga in Sydney’s north. Follow the freeway north until you cross the Hawkesbury River. Turn off the freeway and loop back towards Brooklyn taking the old Pacific Highway. Continue past Brooklyn along the old Pacific Highway south. Travel through Berowra and Cowan and re-join the freeway heading south just after Berowra. Continue back along the F3 south until you reach Wahroonga again.

Positives

Taking the freeway to start with allows a good warm up of the car as well travelling at the maximum speed limit currently in the state (110 kph). The return trip via the Pacific Highway is generally done on a two lane stretch of road which helps negotiate cyclist or slower vehicles if encountered. The road from Brooklyn back to the old F3 tollgates has some nice bends and is generally free of major traffic and has a limit of 80 kph most of the way.

Negatives

The recommended travel route is along the old Pacific Highway is from Brooklyn to Berowra (i.e north to south) rather than the reserve. The reason for this is to avoid cyclists who generally travel south to north (i.e. towards Brooklyn). However, beware of cyclists, especially in the singly lane sections of road.

The travel through the built up area of Berowra is limited 60 kphs, however increases to 80 kphs just before the turn off back to freeway.

Fuel

The only place to refuel is at Berowra just before returning to the freeway. The service stations are on the other side (western side) of the road so you will need to cross over and cross back if needed. These service stations are usually not generally as busy as what you normally find so make a good place to stop.

Refreshments

1. Pie in the Sky – Old Pacific Highway Cowan.

2. Apart from service station fair there are also a number of shops on the other side (western) side of the road as you enter Berowra. There is a parking station on the south bound (eastern) side that you could use.

Cautions

– The Pacific Highway is used frequently by large groups of cyclists, which may be travelling in groups at times.

– The commencement and end of the F3 at Wahroonga is 80 kph. Keep to these limits as police speed enforcement in the area is high in both directions. This means don’t accelerate to 110 kph until you see the signs north bound, and south bound ensure you reduce speed to 80 kph when you see the signs.

– From the Brooklyn turn off north bound to the start of the dual carriage way on the old Pacific Highway is 60 kph.

– A regular speed enforcement zone is just as you approach the old toll gates on the F3 on the old Pacific Highway heading south.

– The speed limit decreases from 80 kph to 60 kph through Cowan on the old Pacific Highway.

– The speed limit through Berowra decreases from 80 kph to 60 kph on the old Pacific Highway.

Video

 

Reflections

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Being that time of the year it is probably worthwhile taking a few moments to have a think about what being an owner has meant.

The overall comment one could make would be that it is the ‘little’ things that you never really find out until afterwards. Probably the first of these relates to comprehensive insurance, which as it turns out can have some rather specific constraints (such as requiring an on-premise lock up garage) prior to obtaining discounted rates. So check ALL the conditions and limitation you may face.

Then who would ever forget the episode of over looking the engine immobilizer? I laugh now but at the time laughing was the furthest emotion being experienced.

The majority of time (and stress) was over the various issues with the thermocouple, which in the end turned out due to a number of factors including some new parts as well as securing the unit correctly in the vehicle (which it wasn’t on purchase). This however provided the benefit of being far more familiar with the car’s make up.

To round off the top three ‘episodes’ of the year the award goes to the simple challenges of refuelling which no doubt proved the most entertaining for those watching from the sidelines. Just remember boys and girls, the doors on a F355 are much wider than ‘normal’ cars. Again, simple things.

The lessons that you should take away from owning a vehicle like this is that firstly, it is not a new car. In fact it is almost 20 years old! Next, just like with any other vehicle there are good mechanics and there are mediocre ones and you should really ensure you find a good one before you proceed down the path of ownership.

The biggest lesson however is that a car like this is ‘different’ from ordinary cars of today in many ways. That has its positives and negatives, and importantly that is something that you need to be happy to live with because you’ll have to ride through the challenges, and there will be challenges. However, at the end of the day like anything worthwhile in life, any negatives are vastly outweighed by the enjoyment IF you do it for the right reasons.