Yea, not so obvious on a Spider but easy when the bumper is off. When I went to Tubi tips I had to disconnect the vacuum. Remember to cap off the vacuum line.
I would say wooden gold tees could withstand the heat in the area better. Is this a fareway to explain it?
I have an 03 spider and I capped the exhaust vacuum lines. I like the sound of the exhaust more this way than with the lines. If you remove the rear wheels and the access covers you can get to the lines. besure to tie them out of the way of the exhaust.
Can you share pictures of how to cap them? I had a tubi-tips on with the the vacuum disconnected; I tied the vacuum hoses at the Grill area but don't know if I should cap the exhaust side of the hose side ?? Why do I need to cap it ?
Not sure if I took photos or not, I will check when I get home tonight. There is a vacuum switch and the vacuum operated valve. I didn't disconnect the vacuum from the switch. Instead I disconnected the valve from the switch and used a little rubber cap, local auto store, and capped the side that went down to the exhaust valve. Nice and clean plus no need to tie something out of the way. You have to cap them so you don't have a vacuum leak when you get on the gas. The bad part is it wouldn't leak at idle but would when the valves try to open.
Julian, here's the link: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111985&highlight=exhaust+switch This should answer everything.
Along with what has also been mentioned above, having the vacuum pipes open would also throw a check engine light (CEL).
I did it, not much difference?? I took the hose of the part that connects to the valve and put a flat screw in each. I was expecting a roaring lion at start up. But very much the same, I drove around and a little loader at lower speeds but not much. Did I do it right??
Probably. The difference isn't too much and only when you aren't accelerating hard, that opens the valves anyway. Plus, if you have a Modena it will be less noticeable.
Julian- If you want to do this really correctly, there are two solenoid valves with inputs from the vacuum accumulator and outputs to the two pneumatically controlled bypass valves. The solenoid valves (simple full-on, full-off devices) receive a signal from the Motronic ECU to open above ~2900 rpm when combined with a fairly heavy throttle setting during normal operation. If you disconnect the input hoses from the vacuum accumulator to the solenoids and the output hoses from the solenoid valves to the pneumatic exhaust bypass valves, you can then use a straight connector (like those for connecting two air-hoses together) between the two hoses to bypass the solenoid valves and have vacuum to open the pneumatic valves whenever the engine is running. Cap the inlets and outlets from the solenoid valves to prevent any junk from entering so you can go back to the OEM settings if desired. If you do this, the valves will be closed when the engine is shut off, and open whenever the engine is running and vacuum is available. Here are drawings from the Ricambi on-line parts catalogs so you can see the various connections and the page from the 360 WSM. Taz Terry Phillips Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Julian- The valves are spring loaded to the closed condition and are opened by vaccuum from the vacuum accumulator when the Motronic ECU sends a signal to the exhaust bypass valve solenoid to open. If you disconnect the vacuum hoses to the pneumatic actuators for the bypass valves, the valves will be closed all the time, not open, unless you wire the linkage open. Taz Terry Phillips
I disagree with the previous post as manafold vacuum drops as rpm increases. to prove this the valves are spring loaded open when you first start the car. As manifold vacuum builds the valves are pulled closed. You must cap the rubber line with a golf tee or a screw as not doing so will leave you with a manifold vacuum leak. also remeber to secure the hoses away from the exhaust.
Netman- If that were true, it would be the only Ferrari pneumatic exhaust valves which operate that way and conflicts with what the WSM states. Read it again. There is a vacuum accumulator that provides the necessary and regulated vacuum regardless of rpm and manifold pressure, but that vacuum is only available when the Motronic ECU tells the exhaust bypass solenoid to open at 2920 rpm and ~70% throttle/power rating. The solenoid is either fully closed, no ECU voltage to the solenoid, or fully open with ECU voltage. When the solenoid is provided voltage from the ECU and is fully open, regulated vacuum is then available to open the valves. You have confused pure manifold vacuum operated systems with nothing between the unregulated vacuum source and the pneumatic valve, with that of a solenoid operated system with a regulated vacuum source. Even more basic than that, have you ever seen an American muscle car with a four barrel carburetor with vacuum powered secondary butterflies that close as RPM raises? Of course not, there is plenty of vacuum to keep the secondary butterflies open. Taz Terry Phillips
Taz You are correct in that my earlier answer was too simplistic. My apologies for that as I was answering from the browser on my blackberry. I just arrived home and checked my car. With the vacuum line removed from each actuator and plugged I am getting exhaust output at idle as well as multiple RPM levels from all four exhaust ports.
Netman- Maybe the bloody thing is hooked up backwards from all the rest of the Ferraris. It is possible to make the exhaust valves spring loaded open with no vacuum and close with vacuum via the solenoid. The solenoid just has to be set up so the presence of ECU voltage is closed and no ECU voltage or vacuum is open, the opposite of 355/550/575M operation. Capristo does that with their aftermarket systems on the 355, so technically easily possible. Oh, well, something else about which to ponder, and would explain why some of your cohorts disconnect the solenoid connector to the ECU. Would do the same thing if the system were indeed set up the opposite from other Ferraris. Taz Terry Phillips
I did try disconnecting the electrical connection at the solenoid as this was the easiest way to accomplish the task via the engine compartment. Doing so created a CEL issue.
Sorry guys, I'm confused... I see folks talking about disconnecting and plugging a vacuum line, but then this thread above talks about disconnecting an electrical plug. So which is it, Electrical, Vacuum, or both? If it is both, is one method better than the other (disconnecting electrical or plugging vacuum line)? Does it depend on the year? I have a 2003 spider and would like to try it. I just need some clarification. Thanks!
