Hi all, I do not get any heat from the dash vents or the floor outlets in my 1998 F355 Spider. The fan reacts correctly to the controls and the A/C works as well. Whatever position I put the temperature dial in, I always get cool (i.e. outside) air from the vents. Can someone point me in the right direction where to look first? Thanks, Rik Gruwez Bruges, Belgium
First, check your radiator coolant level (just to rule out anything bad). Second, check your heater control valve under your felt liner in your front trunk. See if the metal arm on top of it moves as you adjust the temperature setting in the cockpit.
Do you have the air conditioning button depressed (stop)? You need to make sure it is not enganged. The stop button needs to be in the off position (not depressed). When I got my 98 355 spider (F1) last year, I noticed the same thing. I read the manual and it states that the heat and air conditioner are controlled by the same button. Theo
Rik, I know this is totally unrelated to your car woes but I have to ask you: do you really drive your 355 through the streets of Bruges? My wife and I have been there a number of times and its one of our favorite cities in the world.
Do you hear a click when you press it in? Maybe it is a mechanical thing? But with it disengaged, do you now get heat?
Why did this thread end so abruptly. NO RESOLUTION....I would be interested in learning more as to why no heat...Thanks
Me too, I also don't have any heat but everything else works perfectly (for a Ferrari). Taking it into the shop tomorrow to have it fixed along with a couple other minor things. Will report back with their diagnosis!
Ferrari really did just build a car to put his engine in huh? lol Seems Thats the only thing worth a damn. Oh and the design...Yes. Please post with the results. Thanks so much Cuneo
Hi Theo, Just to clarify what you're saying above, when the button is depressed the a/c is turned OFF (ie, the STOP position). When it is in the OUT (ie, turned ON) position the system is engaged and turned on for both heat and a/c, and this is the position it must be in to function. When depressed - in the STOP mode - only ambient air from outside will circulate and you'll get no heat. Hope this helps.... Doug
Sooo. To clarify. When the stop button is sticking out the heat and /or ac is on DEPENDING on what you set the temp dial on? (numbered dial? This is weird. Is there not a seperate ac on button? The numbered dial. lLe'ts say I am slowly turning it to cold . somewhere in between, the ac will kick on? In othere words. with the STOP button sticking out. It is the numbered dial that turns the heat and or ac on?
Hi Steve, My understanding is that like many other cars (eg, Lexus and Mercedes) when climate control is activated (ie, STOP button OUT on the 355) the air conditioning compressor continues to operate and does not truly shut down even when calling for heat... only the proportional mixing of tempered air entering the cabin is varied. Doug
Thanks Doug. Somehow you managed to clear all this up with one sentence! Thanks. I invite you ovber to my other thread entitled "checking oil level in 355" in the 355 section. You input would be greatly appreciated....
Just found this out the other day, went for a late, late night drive, wanted heat ... nada., Called the prior owner; Duh, I had the stop button depressed. I looked in the owners manual, but apparently did not understand the directions.
Depressed as in pushed in(dn)? To where the word stop was illuminated? I started my car and turned everything off so I could nothing but the engine. Turned the numbered dial all the way to the left(coolest setting 64 I think. And listened both ways. Pusshing stop button in. And pushing stop button so ir was out(not illuminated) I did not hear the ac kick on at all hence no drag on the engine. So, now what? Thanks...
Hi again Steve, When the STOP button is OUT, as we previously discussed, the a/c system is activated. Are you sure the compressor was not running when you listened? You said you had the engine running while conducting this test, so are you sure you would be able to hear the compressor kick in? I ask this because I have what many would consider a "quiet" 355, and with engine running I'm unable to hear the a/c turn on (perhaps it's just my tired old ears failing me). So, the more important cue would be whether you started to feel colder air coming through the vents when the system was supposed to be activated (make sure the fan is set to at least "1"). If not, maybe there's some other issue you need to explore... blown fuse, valve malfunction as someone else mentioned, etc. Doug
Thanks Doug. Could have been faulty ears. I will conduct another test. I just assumed we I would be able to hear the comp. kick on as with most cars and the engine drag as a result...will check back in...
I have looked in the trunk for this control valve with no luck finding it. Is it under one of the two square openings on each side of car? thanks...
I've also never felt or heard the AC compressor engage. But I will say that with the STOP button off (not pushed in), I always get strong hot or cold air as requested by the temperature knob. The system has actually worked very well, unlike the traditional Ferrari stereotype. No complaints here!
