456m GTA Automatic transmission light on

Can you tell us more about the car? Mileage/most recent transmission service and more description on car behavior specifics? I'd sure be interested because there are a lot of threads wondering about potential auto tranny maladies.

 

could it be the torque converter?

 

Did you check the transmission fluid level?

 

If the car goes as it should at light throttle settings, but seems to lack response when pushed, the clutch is likely slipping. This is not good. The oil pressure in the transmission system (provided by a pump inside the unit) is used to keep pressure on the clutch pack when the car is in gear, bleeding this pressure off when shifting occurs. Check the rear of the car under the bumper for oil residue and check the transmission fluid level as directed earlier. No oil = no oil pressure. If the level is low there is likely a leak and it will end up at the back of the car. If the oil level is normal, is it discolored? Does it smell? If the clutch is slipping it is wearing and can put particles in the oil and heat it to the point where it will become "burnt."

Don't know if these are computer controlled but I would be surprised if they aren't. I would check for any electrical connections to and from the transmission. Unplug them, clean them with an electrical contact cleaner spray and reconnect.

It goes without saying that you should be VERY easy on the car until this is resolved...

 

I realize that it's the holiday season, but I sure am curious. There's always been talk about something going wrong with the auto tranny but never any documented cases.

 

This may not be a big help but this site has recently appeared in the UK

http://www.dabsolutions.co.uk/Ferrari_456_GTA.html

Maybe Mr Turner has an idea

 

thinking an OBD would help

 

Check out the thread with the search function. Depends on what a "break down" is, but there have been lots of "what if" discussions on the board, most expressing high anxiety over the question of whether and who can do a full rebuild.

 

I've got a '97 model 456 that had a similar problem.
When driving normally there was a sudden but slight jolt and the auto box warning light came on.
After stopping the car and restarting the light went out but it happened again until after a few miles the car was acting as if it was either stuck in 1st or out of gear all together as the engine would rev but no drive.

When it was investigated by the local Ferrari dealer it was diagnosed as solenoid failure in the box, preventing selection of the gears.

After a £7500 rebuild it worked perfectly!

 

Crikey!

 

Rumors are that these autoboxes are about 1/3 to 1/2 the value of these cars! GM 4L80T are also rumored to be the guts of these boxes. No volume shop which does GM boxes will help you here but you may be able to find a low volume guy who races or small race shop that does 4L80's to experiment with your box to first see if the guts are indeed 4L80 and if he can fix it. It is wise to do it now before you have a grenaded box. You could have some simple solinoid out to need of total rebuild. There are so few of these cars that no one really has torn into one of these or at least reports are non-existent as far as I know. I have no experience with 456A boxes but I sure would like to get my hands on one to play with. Then, if it is 4L80 I'd like to wire it for paddles like the C6 vettes, reprogram the computer and have 90% of a Ferrari F1 shifter in a bullet proof slushbox in no need of an SD2/3. C6 vette guys have their 6 speed autoboxes shifting at 100ms speeds, blipping throttle etc...about the speed of the 360F1. If this could be done the value of the 456A would jump.

I should qualify my statements with saying why not investigate whether the F dealer can get any computer diagnostics from the gearbox before you guess at what is wrong. If they tell you funny things that don't make sense look elsewhere.

 

Thanks. I've already been in touch with Adrian there. One option for me is to send my transmission to him for an overhaul. Logistically not ideal as we're in different hemispheres, but not impossible and certainly cheaper than getting a new one.

 

what did the local dealer say?