Cats playing up on F355 - stuck abroad

[Vollgas gegeben]

Wir haben jetzt den Katalisator rechts ausgebaut, dieser beginnt sich aufzulösen.
Ich würde Sie bitten wenn Sie sich die dwef Ersatzteile gemeinsam mit mir ansehen und wir über die weitere reparatur sprechen.
Dies ist kein Originalteil, wir wissen nicht wo dieser zu erhalten ist, bzw auch keinen information welchen Preis dieser Teil hätte.



Apologies for the German Blödsinn above. That is part of an email I received from the local Ferrari dealership.

Translated, it states my Catalytic converters have been taken out, as they are disintegrating. They are non-original.

My F355 Berlinetta is spending a few months in Austria with me, as I come to the end of an extended stay here.
They are charging me close to €3000 to change 4 Lambdasonden (are these lambda sensors?), a cat control unit (Steuergerät Katalisatorschutz), throttle cable (Gasseil) and 9 hours labour.

I am not mechanically minded, and certainly don't have working knowledge of how the complex systems in the F355 function.

Could I get back to the UK without the cats? Aren't some cars de-catted anyway? In theory, without cats would it not be like any other de-catted car?

HELP - advice greatly appreciated!

[SimonSays]

I'd just get a set of test pipes fitted in lieu of the old cats, and if you can spare the cash, throw the whole stuff out an favour of a capristo unit... Capristo is in Germany, so not that far... They could even fit it for you.

[Lars87]

Test pipes or highflow cats is they way forward. If just want to get it home safe, have dem empty the cats completly (metal rod and a hammer...)

[johnnyreggae]

You might want to check re the sensors etc - are they saying they are changing the sensors because the sensors are saying the cats are shot ? then surely thats not necessary because they are telling the truth and possibly not faulty - if you follow the late night logic

[Cactussed]

Jesus H. 3 grand???

If the cats are falling apart, fit some decat pipes. Or get some cats from cats2go.co.uk and fir them. they work just as well. Lamda sensors are 1 plug and 1 spanner. Simple. You could probably get Capristo to fit some decats and an exhaust and everything else for not much more...

[Vollgas gegeben]

SimonSays said:

I'd just get a set of test pipes fitted in lieu of the old cats, and if you can spare the cash, throw the whole stuff out an favour of a capristo unit... Capristo is in Germany, so not that far... They could even fit it for you.

Car already has a Tubi, which I like, as it is not too aggressive but suitably vocal at higher revs.

Lars87 said:

Test pipes or highflow cats is they way forward. If just want to get it home safe, have dem empty the cats completly (metal rod and a hammer...)

Picture of the disintegrating cats from the dealer (for your delectation). Can you see what is going on from the picture

johnnyreggae said:

You might want to check re the sensors etc - are they saying they are changing the sensors because the sensors are saying the cats are shot ? then surely thats not necessary because they are telling the truth and possibly not faulty - if you follow the late night logic

They have replaced all 4 sensors with new items. 2 for the front and 2 for the back. I am guessing these are the 'Lamdasonden' or Lambda sensors/ probes? Do they work with the cats in some way?

Cactussed said:

Jesus H. 3 grand???

If the cats are falling apart, fit some decat pipes. Or get some cats from cats2go.co.uk and fir them. they work just as well. Lamda sensors are 1 plug and 1 spanner. Simple. You could probably get Capristo to fit some decats and an exhaust and everything else for not much more...

Does a decatted car mean it physically has no catalytic converters? If so, could my vehicle in Austria be 'wired or connected up' to function nornally without the cats actually working?

[johnnyreggae]

I think some of the answers here are a bit over-technical but generally (owners may want to correct me) :

Why did your car go in - this may have a bearing on the problem being resolved

The cats are full of metal like scrunched up paper - eventually this falls apart & rattles (as in your photo) - this may or may not lead to a problem light - the car will run fine with the cats emptied of their internals but it may not pass UK MOT and again may or may not lead to a problem light from the sensors screwed to the cats on each side

My guess is you do not have the option to remove the car but if you do the options noted by others may come into play - you might want to ask the garage what the least they are happy doing is (as opposed to what will make it perfect again)

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 13th July 17:32

[Vollgas gegeben]

johnnyreggae said:

I think some of the answers here are a bit over-technical but generally (owners may want to correct me) :

Why did your car go in - this may have a bearing on the problem being resolved

The cats are full of metal like scrunched up paper - eventually this falls apart & rattles (as in your photo) - this may or may not lead to a problem light - the car will run fine with the cats emptied of their internals but it may not pass UK MOT and again may or may not lead to a problem light from the sensors screwed to the cats on each side

My guess is you do not have the option to remove the car but if you do the options noted by others may come into play - you might want to ask the garage what the least they are happy doing is (as opposed to what will make it perfect again)

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 13th July 17:32

I noticed a quiet rattling, metallic sound from the right side of the engine, as if a work tool was left loose somewhere in the engine bay. It wasn"t loud, but was only noticeable when idling, moreso when the engine was still cold.

Further, intermittently the red slow down light flashed. Which then became a permament red slow down light accompanied by a complete inability for the engine to rev.

Is this helping your diagnosis, Sir? I am, naturally, grateful for the input being provided.

[johnnyreggae]

That sounds like classic cat failure but does not explain the other parts - perhaps owners could clarify

Also I think they are saying just the right hand side cat has failed

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 13th July 18:33

[bromers2]

Ran my old 355 without cats for a couple of years, no slow down lights issue. Bit noisier and if you can live with that I'd get it decatted for a few hundred quid.

Ps even passed it's MOT without cats too.

[Chris honeywell]

My 355 (5.2) is running test-pipes (decat pipes) with NO issues and they have robbed you for the lambda sensors ferrari wanted i think around the £210 mark for each sensor well as they only bosch ones i picked up some new ones on e-bay (same as ferrari supply) for £65 each inc delivery..
Car will run fine with no cats fitted

[Mario149]

Chris honeywell said:

My 355 (5.2) is running test-pipes (decat pipes) with NO issues and they have robbed you for the lambda sensors ferrari wanted i think around the £210 mark for each sensor well as they only bosch ones i picked up some new ones on e-bay (same as ferrari supply) for £65 each inc delivery..
Car will run fine with no cats fitted

This^^...don't know what the garage is playing at and I can't speak for the throttle cable or cat ecu, but other than those get some test pipes fitted (£350 new), some new lambda sensors (if originals in fact are actually faulty) for a couple of hundred quid, and drive home. Declare the test pipes to your insurance to keep them happy and Bob's you mother's brother, you'll get home fine. After which, you'll realise the car runs fine AND sounds better de-catted, and you'll leave the test pipes on.