Help - Cambiocorsa Problem

[castro1040]

Hi Everyone,

Feel bad that my first post is asking for help, I've tried a few different things but i guess it probably time to see if you chaps have any advice.

Just got a 4200 Cambiocorsa and everything seemed fine on it, however it will now not engage a gear it just has the letter F where the gear number would be, its also illuminated a number of lights across the dash with a beeping. I've isolated the car over night and started it up and the fault cleared, however its come back and wont clear now.

I've changed the gearbox relay (tyco type) as the old one had wear on the points inside, this hasn't cured the problem. I've also checked the F1 pump oil level.
The F1 pump doesn't prime for as long as it use to either, its maybe only on for a second at most.

Any help would be appriciated, is there a way to check if the f1 pump is finished?

Cheers for any help that you might be able to offer.

Mark.

P.S saw a lovely silver 52 plate with GS kit and dark wheels last Thursday around Bletchley roadworks, if its anyone on here what exhaust have you got fitted it sounded amazing?

 

[k99]

Hi Mark,
Welcome.
If you say you've only just the car, can you not take it back to the seller?
There are lots of F1 experts on here who will be able to help. Try searching the forum as it's likely that someone has had the same problem.
I'm sure you'll enjoy the car once you get her to behave herself!

 

[ENZ525]

Hi Mark,
If it is only priming for a second at the most then this doesn't sound long enough...
I think they normally prime for around 4 to 5 seconds. I would have thought the relay would cause this, but you have already changed it,
so not sure what else would cause the issue. Have you tried a full reset (battery off) etc...
Regards,
Enzo.

 

[castro1040]

Thanks for the replies Enzo & K99,

I've given it a full reset an that doesn't seem to be clearing it anymore, and pretty sure the f1 pump was priming longer when it was working. As for going back to the seller I've actually had the car for a couple on months but due to work commitments I've not been able to use it.

 

[ENZ525]

Has the car been standing without use for a while...
if so, may be worth charging the battery with a trickle charger for a few hours or overnight,
and then re-trying...these cars hate being started without the full power in the battery.
As a side note, I have an article at home (regarding low battery condition),
that I will post when I get back in the next couple of days.
Regards,
Enzo.

 

[Emtee]

Hi Mark. Welcome to the forum, but sorry that your first post is to seek help in solving a problem.

Do you have a clutch reading? Do you know what the PIS is set at?

As Enzo mentions above, less than a second for the pump to prime doesn't sound right. I have a 4200CC and the pump needs 2 / 3 seconds.

Were there any problems beforehand? Clutch slip? A flashing gear indicator?

Oh, Last Thursday was our Ace meet, so you may well have spotted our very own Loz as he's in MK.

Cheers, Miles.

 

[aliquot]

Hi Mark,
sounds like the pump to me. I had a similar issue, which started more intermittently. Pump started running for short or not at all, and had the dreaded l lights on the dash.

I went through the same thing, changing relay, checking fluid etc, with no joy at the end.

A royal pain, but not the end of the world. If you can use a socket set, the i would recommend following the great how to guide and change the pump yourself. Not only save yourself a packet, but also a great sense of achievement when you hear that new pump spring into life. Obviously if you have can get the place you purchased it from to sort then even better.

Steve

 

[Parisien]

And if you have get an F1 pump.....it isn't the £1290 odd quid they used to demand but........( now £950)

F1 PUMP ( Loz post #3)....

Alfa selespeed pump part no 51736315 £319 plus Vat same as Maserati F1 pump Eurospares £950.00

https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=3319&sku=9323 ONLY £197 plus VAT - currently..2/3/2011

Alfa cooling fan relay 30 amp £8.40 inc Vat same as Maserati F1 pump relay £35.00 - Relay part no 11130287 £8.40 inc Vat


P

 

[Emtee]

Hi P, I think that shop4parts link needs refreshing? It's coming up as 'part not found'.

Cheers Em.

 

[Parisien]

Done Miles.......gunna have to sack my PA..........


P

 

[aliquot]

think the link has been truncated somewhere it should be : https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=3319&sku=9321

good price though, tempted to buy a spare

 

[Parisien]

Changed it Steve........great price yup........but you need to check which of the F1 relays you use with it and your car........


P

 

[aliquot]

found that out before, i could not use the Alfa one unfortunately unless i start trimming the contacts. still here in a drawer, so may modify it just in case.

 

[conaero]

I am not sure about the pump as it does work just not to full capacity. Saying that if someone has had the same symptoms/problem it's you cheapest and quickest avenue. If it were me I would fit the Alfa pump first. Good luck.

 

[castro1040]

Cheers again for all the replies.
We've followed the pump removal procedure that was kindly posted by Loz and Predator. The pump is still in place and we have just checked that there is 12v's going to it,
which there is. Plugged the connector back into the pump and I can hear it priming the system for 5-6 seconds when opening the door, it appears to only do that the first time and then the next time i open the door
it primes for just as second at most. I'm wondering if it only primes for a short time as its already up to pressure?

Just trying another 15 minute battery reset to see it the fault clears, as it seems like the pump might be working.

 

[safrane]

I do not think this is the pump as it is behaving correctly. It would not need to over prime if the unit is not changing gear as the pressure should be maintained. My thoughts are a clutch release problem or the Actuator.

 

[Parisien]

I do not think this is the pump as it is behaving correctly. It would not need to over prime if the unit is not changing gear as the pressure should be maintained. My thoughts are a clutch release problem or the Actuator.

If its the actuator....it can be refurbed at a reasonable cost........Loz/Matt knows who does this, but back again to the relay......if its not working correctly...leads to incorrect pump operations...either activates it too much or not when it should, or in an incorrect fashion.

The pump may well "work" but not as it should.

P

 

[castro1040]

The relay seems to be working, and was replaced yesterday with a genuine Mas/Ferrari Tyco part.

The battery reset didn't help it, but fired the car up and the beeping and fault lights went out a couple of times for a few seconds then came back on.
I've just rechecked the F1 pump fluid level and its about an inch from the top, Could that make a difference? the car is jacked up at the back, and we had just been
running through the gears. Is there a clutch fluid level I can check somewhere?

 

[Parisien]

I think......if I can recall one of the guys posting........if you put your little finger in to the 1st Joint.....then the level.....is ok....for the pump.

Got the number of the relay....the exact same one....in every way?

P

 

[Danny]

This may sound a little bit silly but at least it is worth trying (since it doesn't cost anything): in Holland we have a forum member who has to "rock" his car (at the A-pillar) so now and then before he is able to put the CC box into 1st gear. Before he steps into the car (but after unlocking it ) he rocks it and then he starts the car. He will have it looked at ofcourse but for the meantime, this does the trick.