355 start up sound - high pitched whine | FerrariChat
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355 start up sound - high pitched whine

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Robin, Jun 23, 2005.

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  1. Robin

    Robin F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,931
    Arlington, VA
    #1 Robin, Jun 23, 2005
    Ok I know this was discussed at sometime in the past but I can't for the life of me find it with the search function. About a month ago my 99 355F1 started making a high pitched whining sound after cold starts, kinda like an extended beeeeeep (take that, onomatopoeia haters :) ). It comes from the very back of the car and lasts about a minute or two before stopping. Everything works fine and I'm sure it's just some kind of pump starting up, but I'm just wondering if anyone knows what it is so I have an answer the next time someone asks me "wtf is that squealing sound?"

    -R
     
  2. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
    BANNED

    Jul 22, 2003
    8,520
    Melbourne
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    Phil Hughes
    #2 ferrarifixer, Jun 23, 2005
    Air injection pump. Normal.
     
  3. brian.s

    brian.s F1 Rookie
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Nov 3, 2003
    3,809
    Midwest
    Full Name:
    Brian
    #3 brian.s, Jun 23, 2005
    You can replace it at a ridiculous cost or live with it as the new one will fail too.

    Brian
     
  4. Eric308gtsiqv

    Eric308gtsiqv Formula 3

    Nov 26, 2001
    1,956
    Orange Park, Florida
    Full Name:
    Eric Eiland
    #4 Eric308gtsiqv, Jun 23, 2005
    Mine did the same thing too, Robin...sort of a faint high pitch wistle that lasted for about a minute or two on cold start-up. Whenever it would stop, then I figured the car was warmed up and ready to roll -- LOL :D
     
  5. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,462
    Winston Salem, NC
    #5 Ricambi America, Jun 23, 2005
    Robin -

    If the beeep is annoying, you should hear our 348's "moooo" like cows when the doors are closed after a hot run. Seriously.... mooo, mooo.
     
  6. griffith_500

    griffith_500 Karting

    Sep 14, 2004
    96
    Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Andy
    #6 griffith_500, Jun 23, 2005
    Have the same..

    So, is it normal or does it mean the air injection pump is on its way out?
     
  7. Robin

    Robin F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,931
    Arlington, VA
    #7 Robin, Jun 23, 2005
    !!! haven't heard that one yet. I did however own a VW GTI with the 1.8 turbo in it... the compressor bypass valve was a chinsy plastic piece by Bosch that would get stuck and make a horrible goose honking sound at part throttle. That's the only thing that's ever actually embarrassed me in a car I've owned. Like a giant goose stuck in my engine bay every time I'd hit 3000rpm....

    Thanks for the info guys. Figured it was just a pump doing it's thing. It's good to know though...

    -R
     
  8. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,930
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    #8 Steve Magnusson, Jun 23, 2005
    (Just want to rant here a bit so please bear with me)

    IMO, the word "normal" gets substituted incorrecly for the word "typical" -- i.e., it might be typical for an air pump to start making undesirable noises or for a F engine to weep oil, but I don't like calling either normal. I can assure you that no 355 ever made an undesirable "squealing sound" during start-up at the Auto Shows where it was featured -- JMO.

    (OK -- rant off)
     
  9. jakermc

    jakermc Formula 3
    Owner

    Jan 17, 2004
    1,804
    Palm Beach, FL
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    Rob
    #9 jakermc, Jun 23, 2005

    That reminds me of my friend's car when I was in college. He had a Yugo that the horn went off everytime he made a right hand turn. BEEEEP!!! I hated riding with him. The last thing you want to happen when you ride in a Yugo is have the horn go off, drawing attention to yourself. I would slump down in the seat and hide everytime he made a right hand turn. :)
     
  10. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,053
    USA
    #10 f355spider, Jun 23, 2005
    Yup, my 1997 355 spider does the same thing...my buddy is a Ferrari tech, and said it is considered normal, it is the air pump, for emissions. It shuts off after a couple minutes.
     
  11. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
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    Jul 22, 2003
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    Phil Hughes
    #11 ferrarifixer, Jun 23, 2005
    Ok, some are more normal than others!!

    True, the pumps could fail I guess, but I've not seen it yet.

    There's a foam/paper/sponge type filter over the pump inlet which should be changed periodically, but the pump is just an electric motor that really is quite reliable as it does little work.
     
  12. richard_wallace

    richard_wallace Formula 3

    Feb 6, 2004
    1,957
    Cincinnati, Ohio
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    Richard Wallace
    #12 richard_wallace, Jun 23, 2005
    Actually the Air Pump whinning at start up is "normal". It is building pressure - and thus there is no way to avoid the noise. It should last between 1 and 3 minutes... They do it when they are new, and they do it when they are old... (should only do it when cold) after running it a while and you shut it down for a few minutes - it should not do it when it is warm - since already primed.

    Rich
     
  13. polartech

    polartech Karting

    Mar 4, 2004
    228
    East Yorkshire
    Full Name:
    Geoff
    #13 polartech, Jun 23, 2005
    I experience an annoying high pitched whine whenever I start my 348. Lasts for about ten seconds until I get off the drive. Then nothing.

    Local Ferrari specialist recommends a full wife replacement...

    ;-)
     
  14. tonyc

    tonyc Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2003
    1,673
    Monterey, CA
    Full Name:
    Tony C
    #14 tonyc, Jun 23, 2005
    Hi Robin,
    I have the squealing sound also. It is extremely annoying. The fuse for it in the passenger foot well :) I asked what it was for and mitch_alsup wrote:
    Luckily the pump is on only for cold starts and turns off after 2 or 3 minutes.
    --tony
     
  15. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
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    Mr. Sideways
    #15 No Doubt, Jun 23, 2005
    That option has been known to cost *far* more than your car!
     
  16. pino

    pino Karting

    Nov 1, 2003
    208
    South Central PA
    #16 pino, Jun 25, 2005
    I took my noisy airpump apart thinking there was something inside that could be rubbing or needing lubricated. What I found was a plastic impellar that was totally disintegrated and cracked. Needless to say, I reassembled sans the impellar and it is quiet as a mouse. Not very effective, but quiet.
     

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