Ferrari 550 - over 170 mph, hood open warning...

[doppioexpresso]

Hello There

Some of you might know me from the Chimaera forum where I have posted quite some stories about my problems with my TVR ;-)... Well, I now have another source for problems... the Chims Italian brother.

I drove to Munich today and everytime I hit 170 or more the warning light "hood open" came on. The hood is perfectly closed and nor do I see any problems with the closing mechanism. Has anyone of you had the same problem? What can I do to have this solved?

Thank you for your help...

Doppioexpresso

[ferdi p]

What 550 do you have?!?

[CraigW]

Have heard of this on other cars, in that instance from memory its the wind getting into the latch mechanism and prising open the switch enough to fool the sensor.

If the bonnet isnt open i wouldnt worry until you can get it checked. on no account keep speed below 170mph though

[RVIANT]

thats the new italian cooling device, justs opens the bonnet enough to let it cool down

[Dino550]

I've read that this is a common fault. I once drove over a big pothole at speed and the light came on.

Having said that i've had mine up to 150 with no light on.

D

[Davey S2]

ferdi p said:

What 550 do you have?!?

I'm assuming its the Barchetta as opposed to the Superamerica.

[CraigW]

by hood do you mean roof or bonnet hood?

[FerrariV8]

Engine cover - Don't worry its quite common, it can be adjusted out.

T.

[doppioexpresso]

Thank you for your answers.... sorry for the misunderstanding, of course I meant the bonnet and not the hood. I have a regular 1999 Maranello... no Barchetta.

Just had a look at it and the bonnet seems to be fine. quite funny that the light goes off again when the needle goes over 320 km/h...

All the best from Munich!

Cheers

[mr_tony]

Same thing always happened on my Maser 3200 at around 165 - probably the same bonnet catch / sensor arrangement. Ferrari informed me its just the lift generated on the bonnet pulling the contacts apart..

Scared the crap out of me though at the time..

[Jonty355]

Dino550 said:

I've read that this is a common fault. I once drove over a big pothole at speed and the light came on.

Having said that i've had mine up to 150 with no light on.

D

I can back him up on that!

[Sierra Mike]

It lights up at 100mph on a friend's 550. It can be quite unnerving if you've never seen it before.

[Graham E]

Worrying! I've seen the aftermath of a Diablo bonnet / boot / hood (whatever you want to call it) coming undone at speed - im my case it was no damage to the owner's car, but one very, very white sister!

She's still milking that story to this day =)

[doppioexpresso]

Hahaha Graham... thank god nothing happened...

Mine seems to be perfectly ok. Did quite a few runs over with 310 / 320 KM/h on the clock. Light is on, but bonnet stays right where it should.

Cheers

[Kickstart]

"They all do that sir"