355 Cooling Issue - LH Radiator Fan??

Check the Thermo sensor at the top of the radiator and make sure it isn't bad...Mine went bad and had to be replaced. When you pull the connector off of it you can jump it and see if the fan comes on. If so, it is probably the Thermo sensor and not the fan

 

Speaking broadly (knowing that there are exceptions), a bad radiator fan will blow a fuse or two before the owner gives up on it and replaces it.

Replacements are easy. There is a pictorial either here on Fchat or on www.my348.com of the entire left radiator process (for a 348, but this will get you through a 355 replcement).

Aftermarket Spal fans, using the same part # as Ferrari (who uses Spal fans as OEM), are available on the cheap. http://www.srbymichael.com/manufacturers/spal/fans.shtml

But...you *first* need to know why your left fan isn't coming on. Is it a temp sensor/sender/thermostat? ECU issue? Air bubble from a recent coolant flush that hasn't been fully bled? Bad relay? Bad fuse? Bad wiring?

 

My left fan sheared where the drive shaft enters the fan blade. Mine made a bunch of racket when it started. At the suggestion of someone on the forum, I bought the fan from Street Rods by Michael and saved hundreds of dollars over the factory part- turns out it was EXACTLY the same part, except for the plug on the harness, which is easily grafted-on from the orginal fan. Very easy DIY job: remove the wheel, remove the inner fender liner with provides complete access to the fan. Replacement is a simple few nuts and swapping the mounting brackets from the old fan.

To check the fan, I'd remove the wheel/fender liner and get a volt/ohmmeter; I'd unplug the fan and hook-up the meter to the harness. Start the car and let it get warm and watch the meter. If the kick-in temp is 190 degrees, you should see the meter register voltage around that temp range. You could also put a 12V source to the fan harness while you're under there and see if the fan runs.

And you can clean all those suspension members, shocks, etc. while you are there!

 

Bad bleeder hose's to the tank?

 

All of the above +1. Same issues here. Bad fan, plugged bleeder hoses.

 

You can get to the fans without a lift. While it would help, once you take the wheel off and the wheel wells out, the fan is right there. You can have it out in 15 minutes. Or at least unplug it and hook a 9v battery to it and see if it spins. I just replaced my fans and the temp sensor and the temp switch, along with the two small tank hoses which were completely blocked. Now it runs perfect and cool once again, even in Atlanta heat with the air con on. I also changed my mix to 80 water and 20 coolant, since I live in the south where it will never be that cold.
With a lift you can get to the fan connectors without taking anything off. Then you can do the battery test on each of them.

 

+1. You don't necessarily need a lift for this job - as others have said here, wheel and inner fender off and you have complete access to everything you need

 

Don't forget to check the fuse. Mine had blown. Have not had another issue yet.


Edit... just reread and saw that you did this. Sorry...

 

That is the Thermo sensor--Unplug that connector--take a piece of wire maybe 3-4 inches long. I used like 20 gauge. Strip both ends of wire. Touch the wire to one side of the connector and the other end to the other side of the connector---so both wire ends are touching each of the connector terminals--See if the fan comes on--Key should be on...

 

The hoses mentioned that go to the expansion tank could be plugged if they were not replaced at the major. They are a known issue to swell and get plugged. New oem will fix it for a while, Dave Helms has a permanent solution.

As mentioned, try jumpering the thermo switch. If the fan comes on, then get a new thermoswitch. It if does not come on, then it is likely the fan that is bad. Get a new one here:
http://www.the-fan-man.com/shop/size-pull-part-2049-p-219.html?osCsid=c5b9027f5137ba744d1d40e666124cd1

Best price!

 

These are not replaced at the major. In fact, if you look at the end up the hose, it will look clear. Its the midddle that screws up. So if you cut one in half, you will see the issue. Unless you tell the dealer to replace them, they will not cut hoses in half to see if they are bad. I think all total, those hoses cost 3 dollars to replace. All 355 owners, should spend the 50 bucks and change those two hoses and the thermo switch and sensor every couple years.
If you were closer, you could come by and get it all done at my place in an hour. Maybe I should have a 355 cooling clinic at my place.

 

I just remembered that you had one of the other Swatters blue 355's. Very rare color for a 355. I'll be up in New York in a couple of weeks, if you haven't fixed it by then, I'd love to make a house call and see your two blue cars together.

 

Mine were...but Ferrari of Seattle is pretty thorough...

 

Mike I am confident a little diagnostic time, and you can figure this out...