I went to a free tech inspection on Sat. at the Auto Gallery. I was planning some very high speed driving on Sunday (around 150 mph) so I thought I'd let Eric, one of the best techs around look at the car, check tires, breaks etc...I told him my plans and everything checked out O.K. I said thank you, went to fill up and do a test run through mulholland highway. I drove about 5 blocks and saw my temp gauge was up at the last line before going into the red .... well it's a hot day, but I had never seen that before so I drove back to A.G. (lucky they were open for this tech inspection) And after alot of checking.. it was the radiator that wasn't working properly. All I could think was what if it happened the next day and I'm in the middle of nowhere or on Tues. and I'm on the way to Vegas. So I am one very lucky guy ! cheers, Bill
Repaired, They sent it out, and while doing it I asked them to move the drain plug to the back, my car is a 98 so it was the lowest point under the car take care, bill
Bill- Glad you survived that one, and with 113 deg temps in LA this week, a good time to fix two problems with your radiator. Have to love those Santa Anna winds. Taz Terry Phillips
Terry it all worked out great... I never did drill the hole that I talked to Brian about, I have to say the skid plate worked out to be a very good idea, the other day on mulholland highway going into a right hand turn at about 80 there it was a very large rock (no place to go) and crash it hit the pan dead center looked at temp gauge O.K. looked in mirror the skid plate had broken it to 100 little pieces ... so now I love my skid plate ! remember the skid plate http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289913 Take care, Bill
I sure am today was the day I would have been driving to vegas.... I hate to even think about that ! Take care, Bill
good news. but i have a question...how did the tech manage to find nothing when you brought it in, but then the car demonstrates this issue 5 minutes later?
Don't know how to answer that, I think something like that just happens when it happens, it was fine driving over there. That's why I was so lucky.. it might have showed up on the way to Vegas. Maybe Terry has a better answer, he knows a lot more about everything than I do. Terry ? take care, Bill
Bill, Ross- I know nothing, but during an annual service, the tech changes the fluids and then warms the car up to make sure everything is working. With no airflow, the water temperature tends to go up very quickly in a Maranello before the fans come one and cool things down. What your tech saw undoubtedly looked normal to him as the water and oil temps went up, the fans came on and he shut it down. No telling what caused the radiator failure. Finally enough clogging in the tubes to seriously slow down water flow, just like a clogged artery causes a heart attack. Just good you caught it and it was easily remedied. Could have been bad if you had not been paying attention. Warped heads, blown head gaskets, water in the oil, etc. You were lucky. Taz Terry Phillips
Bill, what did your water temperature gauge do on the way back to A.G.? Also, were you getting normal oil temperature readings?
Bill, Barry, Ross- One problem is none of the late model Ferrari tech data calls for regular changes of coolant. Unusual because of the strict maintenance routine for everything else. Because of that, I believe a lot of these cars did not have their coolant changed because nothing told the owners or technicians to do it. Once the corrosion inhibiters wear out, the cooling system becomes very vulnerable to corrosion and clogging. The Porsche service manager told me the Wasserboxers have permanent anti-freeze in them. No such thing I told him and had the Boxster's coolant changed. Not much there, but expensive. Car long gone, but had fresh coolant when I sold it. Taz Terry Phillips
Barry, it went just past the last white marker, did not go to the red. I think not sure that the oil temp was O.K.
Terry, You got it ! when I brought it back they were all over it with 3 different temp guns, checked all the hoses the thermostat, new rad cap Nothing. Then they checked the radiator one side was only 150 the other was up to temp.... Clogging in the tubes driver side. so glad it picked just then to do it. I AM LUCKY MY FRIEND! Bill
