[Chenrezi]

Hi all!

I wished this was about an amazing journey through the south of France and Spain, crowded with pictures and amazing descriptions of high speed runs and stuff, but unfortunately I really, REALLY needed your help in figuring out what may be wrong with my car....

It's a 2000my 550 and after running GREAT for the entire journey down to the South of Spain near the Portuguese border, the turn signals just stopped working individually.
When you push the hazardous button all 4 work, and, has a mechanic here in Spain found out, with the engine off, they actually work individually too - left or right....; but with the engine on they don't.
Also, the right side lever on the steering column doesn't work.
Nothing.
Windshield wipers, windshield water jets, ... nothing.

Initially I was high hopped has my mechanic in germany had told me it would most likely only be a fuse... but this morning the guy here said it was some copper wheel? on the steering column that's gone bad....

Any ideas on this?

My car has the Gold Connector Kit but I understand that covers the engine part of the electronics not the rest - Dave, please, make another one for these things, please???

Let me know and thank you in advance.

M

[tazandjan]

Michael- What your mechanic is talking about is the spiral contact, #7 in this drawing from Ricambi's online parts catalogs, part number 169471. This part is common to Ferrari from the F355 through the Superamerica. It is designed to provide an electrical connection for all the electrical contacts in the steering column, regardless of the position of the steering wheel.

Sounds like it, or possibly its connector, could indeed be the culprit. I would check the connector first, but you will have to pull the steering wheel for that. If the connector is OK, it is a $100-300 part depending on where you source it. Here are three on E-Bay beginning at $115.

Does your horn work? That may help eliminate the spiral contact because its operation goes through the spiral contact.

ferrari spiral contact | eBay

[Granucci]

TAZ: I have a right blinker problem that only works sometimes, usually when it's wet outside [I believe it has better contact with moisture in the air].

Wonder if replacing that spiral in mine would do the trick.

[tazandjan]

Rik- I am not 100% sure the spiral contact passes on the turn signal and wiper electrical flow. It may only be for the horn and airbag. Actually looks like it fits above the turn/wiper assembly. That is why I asked Michael to try his horn.

On Michael's original problem, the turn signals and wipers are on separate fuses, so that would not seem to be the problem. Hopefully the turn/wiper switch assembly is not the problem.

Needs someone who knows what they are doing to analyze the problem.

[Chenrezi]

Hey Terry!

The horn works!
What I found doesn't is the climate controls....
All of them.
Everything in the center console's climate controls is out of order: temperature, fan, de-mist....

So it's the turn signals individually (they work when the hazardous is pushed); the right side lever (windshield related functions); climate controls and the fuel cap - but that was already giving signs of not wanting to work (only at the 3rd or 4th try would it open....)

I dropped the car at a recommend mechanic and his first outtake was fuse-related but he told me he would have to check it further....

I'm out of thoughts as nothing like this was ever reported on the forum (at least not that I remember.....)

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!

[tazandjan]

Michael- Let me think on it. Starting to sound like a short somewhere or a bad connector. Hopefully your pro can find the problem.

[Chenrezi]

The guy is highly regarded around these parts.
Will have to wait and see...

I can't figure it out By myself.

Thanks Terry and if you remember something let me know.

Best regards from Europe.

Michael

[Granucci]

SIDE NOTE for my 456: IF the turn signal is not working I sometimes try the emergency button and 'bingo' hit/miss the errant turn signal works. I'd say about 50% of the time.

my thoughts are the emergency signal just invoked the relays of both turn signals together. SO, the light and relay are not the problem, but the turnsignal switch/contact is.

[Chenrezi]

Hi Granucci!
Thanks for your input.

I tried that and it didn't work.
Plus it's allot of things not working - turn signals on request; windshield wipers and washers, climate control unit.....

It's a mystery....

Hopefully the local tech can figure it out and fix it....

[mkersten]

I had the same problem on my 1999 Maranello; I lost my dash lights, and turn signals and the parking light switch was inactive. Solution: The place where the wiring harnesses are all connected to a strip which acts like a junction box had become too old and a bit fried. I had to order new connector strips from Italy, then "brighten" the copper ends of the wires before screwing them into the new connectors. That fixed all the electrical problems. Good luck!

[Chenrezi]

Hi Montgomery and all of Flife.

It took me a while has I drove back home the remaining 1000kms, and then got back to work but just to let you know that the problem was a fuse relay that had 'burned' or something.
No biggie.
They got a new one from Bosch and replaced it and the car ran great the remainder of the trip.
It appears that that particular relay was in charge of the functions on the right side lever and the turn signals and climate controls....

To all European F owners, do take your car on a journey through the south of Spain.
It's beautiful scenery, beautiful weather and amazing people.

I can't thank enough everybody that helped us out when we ran out of turn signals and also the restaurants that made sure we ate paellas' and other traditional dishes even when we arrived late for lunch....

'Muchas Gracias'