I recently purchased a 2005 F430 Coupe/F1. I've got two minor problems that I need help with. 1. The heater doesn't seem to work. Is there anything peculiar about the system that could make me think it does not work when in fact it does? Like some button I have pushed, which shouldn't be pushed, or vice versa. The controls seem basic and there's nothing in the manual that indicates any unusual mode of operation. 2. The engine compartment door is loose at the latch. Is there an easy way to tighten the latch/seal? For example, some sort of rubber bumper/grommet that should be there but is missing? Thanks in advance.
The first one is easy...you probably pushed the air conditioning switch (the switch labeled "off") thinking it would just disable the compressor like most other cars, but in F cars that button has to be on for even the heater to operate. Check your owner's manual for the full skinny. Gary
There should be two rubber stoppers on each side of the engine hood. They are screwable. You should be able to screw them out inorder to eliminate any play in the hood. Below the hood latch is sometimes a 1-2mm spacer (I had one). I also removed it to have the hood close tighter.
It is. Worst case I can take it in. But if it is a simple repair, it will take far less time to do it mysefl.
Interesting on the heater issue, that's one of the first things I noticed that was "wrong" with my 360 spider. Turns out that was the way a "ferrari 360" was designed, the A/C compressor has to be on in order for the heater to work. What idoit logic is that??? I still can't quit figure out. Interestingly in the owner's manual at least in the 360 manual it specifically says that the heater WILL work with the HVAC system in the off mode. I am guessing whoever tranlated this thing must have just translated with their logical thoughts, instead of tranlating word for word. I mean who would in a million years thought that you would need to turn the A/C compressor on to get heat to work.
Cant help you with the second one, go see you dealer, but with the heater.. go to Kmart and buy a portable heater that fits onto the passenger seat... turn it on when its cold... I think they have a cigarette lighter connector... I kid, I kid... go bust the Ferrari dealer's balls as you still should have dealer warranty...
The system is basically no different than the usual automatic climate control systems(except having confusing button setup). The temperature setting and inside and outside temperature should control whether heater is on or air conditioning is on, or just the outside air coming in. The A/C and the heater will never be on at the same time.
Not true, with the heat on the compressor is still running. Go test it out you will see that you will get a puddle of water dripping from the bottom of the car edvidence of the compressor running.
Is normal for Euro style cars to have AirCon on. In heavy rain it drys the windows fast. The AirCon dries the aire and the heat system easily can make more heat than the AirCon can cool so result is still total heated
Agree, the A/C acts as a dehumidifier in heating mode. Same on most cars, except some have an economy button to shut it off. Since ownership of these cars has nothing to do with economy...
Normal? I have never owned Euro style car with this HVAC logic in design, including the illogical British Land Rover cars... Upon more research I think this has to do with weight saving. Typically "normal" cars have separate A/C evaporator cores and heater core for heat exchange, each function independantly of each other. I think the units in the Ferrari are of one unit. That's why the A/C compressor have to run in order to get heat. So less component, less weight. Since A/C compressor clutch cuts out automatically at WOT, the compressor doesnt' drag down the engine to steal any horse power. Maybe this explains the high number of compressor failures on Ferrari A/C compressors, as the A/C compressor runs from the engine acc belt according to the engine RPM, but sure if the compressor is designed to handle high RPM like a Ferrari engine.
