2006 F430 Heater Core Questions | FerrariChat
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2006 F430 Heater Core Questions

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Smurzes, Mar 21, 2025.

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  1. Smurzes

    Smurzes Rookie

    Mar 12, 2025
    3
    #1 Smurzes, Mar 21, 2025
    Recently purchased a 2006 F430 with 21k miles. On the test drive the vehicle never blew any hot air no matter what we tried. Wasn’t expecting perfection out of a 20 year old car but I paid top of market so expected and was marketed a well sorted car with lots of recent repairs/service and properly sorted etc. I told them to fix the heating issue and we have a deal so that’s in the they owe me portion of the contract.

    The vehicle goes in to Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo where it’s discovered that the heater core has been bypassed. Dealership said they won’t work on the car any further and have no solution to offer for repairs.

    For starters I’d say it’s safe to assume the reason it’s bypassed is it’s leaking, also I would guess dealership doesn’t sell new heater cores for an 06’ F430 anymore.

    Has anyone else run into something similar and is there a way to fix it? Next step is selling dealership wants to take it to another independent mechanic and at this point my 16 days of Ferrari ownership has been total ****. Car has been out of my possession longer than in my possession. Worked my ass off all my life, turned 40 and wanted to make a childhood dream come true which is proving to be more of a nightmare.

    Any insight or recommendations for a good independent Ferrari shop in Portland, Oregon is greatly appreciated.
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  2. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 fatbillybob, Mar 21, 2025
    Bad deal...should have walked. This could get ugly...
     
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  3. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
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    #3 Qavion, Mar 21, 2025
    It may be repairable or replaceable, but you're going to have to pull the entire evaporator unit out of the car. Lots of man hours.

    This looks like a viable replacement:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/233572486549
     
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  4. Smurzes

    Smurzes Rookie

    Mar 12, 2025
    3
    #4 Smurzes, Mar 21, 2025
    Thank you really appreciate that I’m not worried about the cost of the dealership has to pay for everything related to it and if they can’t bring it back to factory, then I’m making them buy the car back.
     
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  5. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 fatbillybob, Mar 21, 2025
    I'd work on a buy back now. Be strong get your lawyer to do it. It will be cheaper that way and less emotionally draining.
     
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  6. Smurzes

    Smurzes Rookie

    Mar 12, 2025
    3
    #6 Smurzes, Mar 22, 2025

    Vehicle has been returned for a full refund.
     
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  7. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 fatbillybob, Mar 22, 2025
    That's awesome!!! Good job! There was going to be nothing but pain ahead of you. The hvac unit is right in the middle of car and super pain to get out. Probably only unit you could find would be from a wreck. Large amount of plastic bits to break while removing and reinstalling and there is no guarantee after all that work that the hvac works or if some other weak electric ferrari connection has been disturbed and now not work. You made a good choice here. Go get another good car but don't accept a car with ANY "Due bills". Dealers almost never come through. Make sure with next ferrari you get all the keys and red key fob and PIN to start car. There are work around but more emotional pain that is worse than the under $1k to get that stuff. There are a lot of good cars out there. A ferrari without working HVAC is only worth making into a racecar...IMO
     
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  8. craze

    craze Formula 3

    Mar 5, 2021
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    #8 craze, Mar 22, 2025
    I dont understand the big deal

    if everything else checks out keep it?

    dealer says they will pay but wont fix it?

    its their problem

    just leave it with them

    also a ppi would pickup hvac issue anyway
     
  9. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
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    #9 Qavion, Mar 22, 2025
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2025
    Like the expensive PPI that I had done on my F355 which missed 30 faults... including an HVAC fault?
     
  10. craze

    craze Formula 3

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    #10 craze, Mar 24, 2025
    Thats a shame re your last ppi

    I generally dont do a ppi, i inspect the car myself, then i only have myself to blame, its worked out quite well
     
  11. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky F1 World Champ
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    #11 tbakowsky, Mar 27, 2025
    Huh..i don't think I have ever seen an actual heater core failure on a 260/430. Was there a reason why they wouldn't just hook it back up to test the system?
    In my eyes, that would be the first thing i would do. Only then, after returning it back to a normal configuration would I make a determination of what it needs. People do weird things all the time.
     
  12. windsock

    windsock Formula 3
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    #12 windsock, Mar 28, 2025
    As already stated been working on 360/430 for 25 years now and it would be the first heater core I have seen fail on a 360 or 430. Hook it up and see what the actual failure is.
     
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