Some of you guys may have mixed feelings on this... but here's what I did. I decided to take step 1 today on figuring out my E8 error and check the contacts on the ''electric water pump for heating'' and while I had the trunk liner out, I also located the dreaded ''hidden fuse''. The fuse itself was melted, but still functioning. The connector was also corroded badly. So I pondered a way to resolve all 3 problems with this (yet another) piss-poor design... this is what I came up with... PLUS as a 4th bonus, its now AIR COOLED!! PS. before you highly observant guys notice... yes, there's a 40 amp fuse in there, the block came with it... it will be replaced with a 30 amp. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Very cool mate! My a/c stopped working the other day. I found the hidden fuse melted and it fell apart in 4 pieces when I removed it. I just replaced the fuse this time, but I am thinking of replacing it with something a little more heavy duty. Perhaps even a circuit breaker that can be reset when needed.
How does your bonnet properly seal to the evap box with that fuse protruding above the foam gasket? Or, is it just an illusion from the photograph?
I'm not sure from the picture what you've got there. Is that a blade-type fuse in a big glass holder? If so, you're missing out on one of the benefits of changing the fuse holder. You still have the same amount of surface area connecting the fuse to the fuse holder, and this is where the heat is generated. If you use a cylindrical fuse, you greatly increase the surface area, which should decrease the heat. Does your recirculation flap work OK with the fuseholder attached to it? At least you can get at it now without pulling up the trunk liner. What was Ferrari thinking when they designed it that way, and when they continued to use it that way all through production?
Take a look at the underside of your bonnet in the area where the fuse is mounted... when the bonnet is closed, the fuse sits up into the air intake chamber in the bonnet... theres a vertical opening that sits right there! In other words, when the bonnet is closed, the fuse is sitting right behind the air intake grille in the bonnet! Jeff, this is a MAXI fuse... its a HUGE version of the typical blade-type fuse. The fuse block itself is titanium coated solid steel and is made of a MILLION times more metal surface area than ANY round glass fuse! they are used for very high current circuits in vehicles and particularly for stereo power-amps. In fact, the A/C blower system in my Astro work van has a MAXI fuse circuit. My recirculation flap is currently broken and in need of THAT %$!@& ''fix'' too... but the flap action is nowhere near where the fuse is mounted. Maybe this'll help... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks Pappy... but actually this wasnt really even an issue! This was more preventative, and to make it easier to pull/replace that fuse if I ever need too. The remaining issues with this car are all confined to the HVAC system. Everything else has been fixed and/or modded now... and not ONE blood-suckin Ferrari mechanic has been involved in ANY of it!! lol I still have E8 on my display... and no heat. Apparently the ONLY 348 mystery problem still not solved by anyone anywhere. My recirc flapper is broken and laying in the bottom of the air box thingy... I still need to order the brass boss. Other than that, I have fixed/modified/improved/eliminated or otherwised corrected ever KNOWN issue with this car... including a bunch of mods (including this one) before emminent failure. I must admit though, none of it really cost much money, ive learned ALOT about this car, and its been kindof fun too!
I've never heard of a "Maxi-Fuse" like that - very interesting. And yes, that SHOULD solve the problem with surface area. Good deal! So you're still getting the E8 light? And you're not getting any heat output? Are the water pipes to the heater getting warm when the engine temperature is up normal levels? Maybe you have an air pocket in the cooling system and you need to bleed it out. Have you tried unplugging the climate control ECU plug for a while, then plugging it back in? That MIGHT erase the E8 code if there is a "ghost" in there rather than a real problem.
Yes, but 355's (and 348 Spiders) have the modern bullet fuses instead of the blade fuses found in early 348's.
Where is the hidden fuse in the F355? My AC just quit and I don't have a blower motor workiing, compresser etc so I think it is a fuse but all the fuses that I can see are fine.
Take a look at the fuse isle next time youre at the auto parts store, you'll see em... very common in 1990's production vehicles for high current circuits like blower motors, headlights, fog lights, ignition, etc... I guess Ferrari never got the memo on that! Very good question, ive never had the trunk liner out when the car was hot to really feel them... That is on my list of things to check, because I assume there is some kind of heater control valve that allows coolant flow to the front, that may not be working. Actually no, but I assumed that by having the power cut too it while redesigning the fuse thing... would basically have the same effect? After resetting the power, when I turn the heater on, the display says ''72'' for about 4-5 seconds, then goes to E8. It does still allow me to change the air flow paths, fan speed and everything else. My next plan is to take apart the control panel and clean the contacts on the interconnect and retouch the solder joints and such.
Assuming that its in the same spot as a 348... check this out... http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108614&highlight=hidden+fuse
ND, are you sure about that?? in my searches for input about the ''hidden fuse'' I found several posts where 355 owners found themselves with a melted little green fuse! In fact, I think there was one mentioned in the link in my post just above this one.
There is, of course, a heater control valve (electrically operated) right next to the heater water pump. The hot water flows from the engine, through the heater water pump, through the heater core, through the valve, then back to the engine. As you will discover if you read the old threads about the heater valve (error code E5), the expensive Ferrari valve is made up of a modified Volkswagen water flow valve attached to a SAAB electric servo, available at a fraction of Ferrari prices. It is possible to make a visual check of the operation of the heater valve, to see if it is properly opening and closing. I might also mention that NOT 100% of the electrical flow to the climate control ECU comes through the "hidden fuse". On my 348, the climate control display panel will momentarily illuminate when the hidden fuse is totally removed from the car. That is why I recommend that you try "resetting" the ECU by unplugging the multi-pin connector on the back, not by disconnecting the fuse. It's worth a try....
My 1994 Spider has the blade fuse. The PO had a leather door made to access that area (which also used to contain a CD changer), so checking the fuse is easy!
Do I have to remove the whole liner?? I have a pimp subwoofer and amplifier in there that makes my F355 go alot faster............... of which I would have to remove.............. right ??
