355 Safety Recall - Risk of Fire
Discussion
I received a letter from Maranello last week advising of a potential problem with the fuel supply system which could result in the tearing of the fuel distribution block connection tube and hence the risk of fire.
The associated inspection/remediation is offered free of charge via Ferrari main agents.
The associated inspection/remediation is offered free of charge via Ferrari main agents.
There has been a few well publicised incidents of 355s going up in smoke.
In the early days of the car, the legal advisor to the UK Ferrari Club was killed while out on a test drive. He spun it in the wet, went backwards into a tree and up it went.
Sadly, his 7 year old son was waiting at the dealership for dad to come back from his test drive. I turned up to a pre-booked test drive and the dealer had just broken the news to his wife and asked her to come and collect him.
Not good.
I'll keep an eye out for my recall letter...
In the early days of the car, the legal advisor to the UK Ferrari Club was killed while out on a test drive. He spun it in the wet, went backwards into a tree and up it went.
Sadly, his 7 year old son was waiting at the dealership for dad to come back from his test drive. I turned up to a pre-booked test drive and the dealer had just broken the news to his wife and asked her to come and collect him.
Not good.
I'll keep an eye out for my recall letter...
I will tell you what it is mate. You see that large jubilee clip, thats on the large water hose directly under ya fuel distribution block? Its the positioning of that clip that rubs away at the braid fuel of the hose right above it. Mine did this a few years back when i did an engine out. If the screwdriver slotted section of the clip is facing up, then the hose will naturally rest on on it and over time rub away. Thus spraying fuel. I have a picture of the hose that i caught in time if anyone wants to see it let me know and i will post a picture.
I to reserved a recall letter to. But you know the engine in your car has been out and in up to 3-4 times. Each time if one is not aware of what the placement of this clip can do, it can wear the hose away.
Ferrari are trying to blame independents of not putting the clip on correctly, but its also the main dealers that have done the same. After all its been over 10 years for the recall and the main dealers just threw the clip on anyhow just like every one else. Ferrari are just trying to seem like the good guy. I suspect touting for us to take our cars to them, rather like the Ferrari road side assistance thing they are doing
Also another point regarding the same area of the fuel system is that the alloy banjos that connect to the distribution block cracks when over tightened.
Ferrari should also rectify the stupid design of the flimsy plastic filler neck tube that sits right above the hot manifold. Think about it, you fill ya tank right up and there is at least half a pint of fuel sitting in the tube right above the hot manifold.
And you dont want to know how the filler tube connects to the fuel tank its self!!! That reminds me, check that the clip of said tube to tank is not loose 
;)
Oh and by the way, they got ya address from Swansea
I to reserved a recall letter to. But you know the engine in your car has been out and in up to 3-4 times. Each time if one is not aware of what the placement of this clip can do, it can wear the hose away.
Ferrari are trying to blame independents of not putting the clip on correctly, but its also the main dealers that have done the same. After all its been over 10 years for the recall and the main dealers just threw the clip on anyhow just like every one else. Ferrari are just trying to seem like the good guy. I suspect touting for us to take our cars to them, rather like the Ferrari road side assistance thing they are doing
Also another point regarding the same area of the fuel system is that the alloy banjos that connect to the distribution block cracks when over tightened.
Ferrari should also rectify the stupid design of the flimsy plastic filler neck tube that sits right above the hot manifold. Think about it, you fill ya tank right up and there is at least half a pint of fuel sitting in the tube right above the hot manifold.
And you dont want to know how the filler tube connects to the fuel tank its self
!!! That reminds me, check that the clip of said tube to tank is not loose ;)Oh and by the way, they got ya address from Swansea
Edited by ferrari spider on Tuesday 24th November 17:55
Jonty355 said:
Is it on all F355s, or just certain years?
I have seen that it spans the whole range. After all its a jubilee clip on the water hose thats causing the problem. To be fair i have only so far seen a load of 95-98 owners say they had a re-call. But unless the 98-99s had some special non jubilee clip type....Simple way of checking if yours is ok is to run your fingers carefully along the underside of the hose directly over the large water hose in the middle of the engine bay on the bulk head. Be careful because if its worn it will be sharp because the steel braid will be frayed.
Edited by ferrari spider on Wednesday 25th November 08:31
I know this forum is far from a technical one but i will post this.
Ok this is what a problem hose looks like. There are 4 braided hoses that go into the alloy distribution block. Its the hose closest to the bulk head above the jubilee clip. This hose is mine, i caught it in time a good few years back. I shall post it twice in case its missed/ignored/over looked
Ok this is what a problem hose looks like. There are 4 braided hoses that go into the alloy distribution block. Its the hose closest to the bulk head above the jubilee clip. This hose is mine, i caught it in time a good few years back. I shall post it twice in case its missed/ignored/over looked
Edited by ferrari spider on Wednesday 25th November 08:43
Have a look at ya clip mate and make sure that the screw head is facing as far down as you can get it....simple. But if your engine has been in for at least a year and you have no smell of fuel or a leak. then chances are your hose is intact. But like i said the easy way to check is run your fingers carefully along the hose to check for fraying.
I have cobbled these together to explain further. In picture one you will see the screw section of the clip facing up (the hose has been removed so clip can be seen)....this is wrong 
The other pictures show that the screw section is facing down and away from the hose....this is right
And the last two pics are for the totally confused
IMO this is a ferrari ploy to get extra customers just to use main dealer networks. Even the main dealers were putting this clip on the wrong way round during the 15 years of 355 ownership.
Think about it, the main dealers check it now and you feel all warm and fuzzy about your self Then next year you go to an independent and your engine is removed for the belt service. Lets say the tec is not savvy and put the clip on the wrong way again.......BINGO! The same problem is sitting in ya engine bay. But you the gullable unknowing customer thinks its ok because YOU took it to the main dealer last year for this special recall;)
To be fair many independents have known about this problem for over a decade now.
As for the ones who dont.......have you ever noticed all the 355s that burst into flames, do so after they have just had an engine out service;);)
The other pictures show that the screw section is facing down and away from the hose....this is right
And the last two pics are for the totally confused
IMO this is a ferrari ploy to get extra customers just to use main dealer networks. Even the main dealers were putting this clip on the wrong way round during the 15 years of 355 ownership.
Think about it, the main dealers check it now and you feel all warm and fuzzy about your self
Then next year you go to an independent and your engine is removed for the belt service. Lets say the tec is not savvy and put the clip on the wrong way again.......BINGO! The same problem is sitting in ya engine bay. But you the gullable unknowing customer thinks its ok because YOU took it to the main dealer last year for this special recall;)To be fair many independents have known about this problem for over a decade now.
As for the ones who dont.......have you ever noticed all the 355s that burst into flames, do so after they have just had an engine out service;);)
Edited by ferrari spider on Wednesday 25th November 10:57
ferrari spider said:
Ferrari should also rectify the stupid design of the flimsy plastic filler neck tube that sits right above the hot manifold. Think about it, you fill ya tank right up and there is at least half a pint of fuel sitting in the tube right above the hot manifold.
And you dont want to know how the filler tube connects to the fuel tank its self!!! That reminds me, check that the clip of said tube to tank is not loose ;)
I have read numerous things about this regarding both the 355 and 348. I understand that the flexible part of the plastic tube can split, and the point where it connects to the metal tube extending from the fuel tank can come loose. I've heard of more than one case of 348/355 owners standing at the pumps filling their car while the fuel pours out underneath. Scary stuff!And you dont want to know how the filler tube connects to the fuel tank its self
!!! That reminds me, check that the clip of said tube to tank is not loose ;)Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff