Newbie 360 Questions

1.) Don't make the mistake of trying to start the car while the immobilizer is engaged, you'll look like an idiot as it tries to crank. Watch the red LED indicator on the left panel. If it is lit, you need to press the remote button to disarm it and then you can start the car.

2.) Best shifts are subjective - avoid any long drags on the clutch (like when starting from a standstill). Reversing up a hill is really bad for the clutch.

3.) Clutch life is subjective. My car had a new clutch at 18,000 miles.

4.) You will roll backwards slightly - there is no "hill start assist." Just be quick enough on the gas and you'll get moving forwards with very little roll back.

5.) I don't downshift into first gear. I pull both paddles and go into neutral when coming to a stop. Then I hit the right paddle to select first gear and wait on the brake until it's go time.

6.) You can be in first gear and move the reverse lever and get the reverse gear - you don't have to be in N. You just have to be stopped.

7) 360: Sport switch engages sport mode, when not engaged, it is "normal" mode. I personally like driving in Sport, and have it engaged all the time right now.

8) I let my car warm up for 5-10 minutes before driving it. Makes a big difference on the shift quality and sound of the engine.

Good luck!

 

1: My 360 does not crank when the immobilizer is active. As above, just watch the diode, and disarm.

8: I would not let the car stay and idle before driving. Start the car, and drive of. Stay under 3-4000rpm until it warms up.

 

8. You clearly can tell when the car starts. Mine will idle on the high side, having a higher pitch in the exhaust. Once the oil warms up and gets through the system, you hear the rpm's and exhaust note drop, getting a little deeper. It does take about 2-3 minutes. But that's only if you haven't been driving the car. If it's warm already, get in and go.

 

Interesting, I swear my car cranks as it tries to start up when the immobilizer is active. I might be wrong though - I will try and check at some point.

Also, with the idling, I'd agree with you if this were a BMW M car. In fact, for my M5, the owners manual says to do exactly what you're suggesting - start and drive off immediately, but drive it conservatively until it is warm. But, my Ferrari behaves very differently, and I can tell big differences in the drive when I let it warm up a few minutes rather than getting in and setting off immediately if it's cold.

 

Do you guys hear any fluid movement through the internals when the car gets turned off and it all becomes quiet? I almost hear some oil or coolant being moved around through the engine for a few seconds after the shut off.

 

I never noticed but it is entirely possible. This is a dry sump so the oil will run back down when the system is off. There may be other causes as well.

My car definitely cranks with the immobilzer active. It won't start but the starter spins and will eventually run the battery down.

 

I am thinking he was in "Race" mode. I am guessing because I haven't tried to do that before (assuming he floored it in a turn) but in my 360 there is no way that could have happened that fast with all the nannies on. Of course to get that much "looseness" we would have sport set to on (shows as sport on dash) and ASR turned off or cancelled (shows as ASR with a line through it in display window).

Ironically I drive in this mode most often. The car feels more natural and I have a light foot anyway in turns. With all the nannies turned off I can create a wheel chirp exiting a driveway or pulling away over some paint but with them on the same application of throttle will make the car stutter and sound all wrong. My guess is that the system is overly protective and as you start to really get a feel for your car (took me about 3K miles) you will appreciate less computer adjustment to your inputs.

 

my car cranks with the immobilizer turned off, really embarassing on first day of ownership at McDonalds trying to start it and freaking out cause it wont start...then the Duh moment and started right up.

I have stalled my F1 360, was coming to stop light in second on a slight hill, was doing maybe 5MPH and was already in Neutral when the light went green, went into First and stalled the car. Thought you could not do that but it happened to me, that was a long time ago no issues since.

Clutch life really goes wild on these cars, some cars get 10k miles some get 30k miles (like mine).

 

My car will automatically drop from second gear to first gear, either just before I come to a stop or immediately upon coming to a stop. I can feel it because I'll get a little "jiggle" from the engine compartment as the gearbox drops that last gear down to first on its own. It's not intrusive, it's a nice feature IMO to let me know the car is in first. At that point, the revs are too low so you're not gonna hear the shift.

 

My manual 360's starter will not turn with the immobilizer activated. But it's not only a manual, it's also a European car. Perhaps one or both of these effect how the immobilizer works. It's also a year 2000, and that might be different too.

 

1. MY 04 F1(U.S.) will crank if immobilized.

2. When slowing to a stop, will shift to first, usually just after the car has stopped. If creeping, say up to a red light, it will stay in second. I think "Mr. Clutch" has been very well thought through on these cars.

Cheers, Andy