Anyone had a 355 overheating problem? | FerrariChat

Anyone had a 355 overheating problem?

Discussion in '348/355' started by Jack Corwin, Nov 2, 2006.

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  1. Jack Corwin

    Jack Corwin Rookie

    Nov 2, 2006
    3
    I have a '99 355 Spyder 6-speed with 4,000 miles which I have owned and barely driven since 2000. Recently the temperature gauge has begun quickly rising to the red area and today the warning light came on. This typically happens when I am driving in city traffic or when I have driven in city traffic, stopped for a while and then start driving again.

    There is plently of coolant in the car, and I have had a Ferrari mechanic look it over and he has not been able to find a problem.

    I haven't seen any steam or smoke yet (and I don't want to) so I don't know if I have a bad sensor, bad gauge, bad thermostat, bad mechanic or a bad problem. Has anyone else had a similar problem and found a solution? Many thanks.

    Jack Corwin
    Los Angeles
     
  2. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
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    Mr. Sideways
    Are your cooling fans kicking on?
     
  3. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
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    Jeff B.
    I think there is a pretty fair possibility that you have an air pocket in the cooling system, and the coolant isn't circulating properly. Does your mechanic know how to bleed the system? Are you getting any output from the heater? It is possible for the tank to be full, but for the actual coolant level to be significantly low.
     
  4. 1Turbo

    1Turbo Formula Junior

    Jan 26, 2005
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    LA$ VEGA$
    Full Name:
    Jimmy K
    That would be my educated Guess. They should Kick On in about 10 minutes, regardless of outside Temp.

    No "Noise" = No Good !
     
  5. tonyh

    tonyh F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 23, 2002
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    Tony H
    my guess too. Driver's side fan is known to pack up
     
  6. Jam

    Jam Formula Junior

    Oct 4, 2004
    368
    Aus-Asia
    Full Name:
    Jam
    Had similar problem, cooling fan causing it with the A/C on.
     
  7. J.P.Sarti

    J.P.Sarti Guest

    May 23, 2005
    2,426
    Make sure both fans are working, could be a bad themostat also

    A Fchat member here sells infra red temp guns cheap might be a good way to verify temps, coolant should be hot in both radiators if ciculating properly
     
  8. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
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    goth
    First things first, check your fuses and relays under the passenger side foot rest. :)

    I also had the thermal switch on top of the L/H radiator go bad. :(
     
  9. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,038
    USA
    My car has never overheated...but was surprised that it would occaisionally see the coolant temp gauge rise to the 1 o'clock position, which seemed rather high in the winter time. I was checking fuses for an unrelated issue (speedo sender died) and noticed the left (driver's) side 30amp fan fuse blown. Replaced it, and fan works fine, never blown again (been about 9 months now) even in the heat of summer (90 degrees plus, and stuck in traffic).

    Blown fuses are a not too uncommon problem...seems the fuse rating is right up against the current draw of the fan motors. I saw a friend's car actually had 40 amp (!) fuses installed. Been like this since before he has had the car, no problems or issue with them. Must have blown before and that was the solution.
     
  10. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,909
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    2 fans and they run on seperate temp senders at different temps. Do not go by noise. Stand outside car and feel for fan operation at both sides.

    Bad fan motors and bad temp senders account for about 80% of all 355 overheating issues.
     
  11. Llenroc

    Llenroc F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 9, 2004
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    Vern
    I thought there was only one temp switch in the left radiator that activates the right fan. The other fan(left) is the aux. fan that turns on with the A/C. There is a wiring kit on my challenge car that turns both fans on with the temp switch or a manual override to turn on both fans but, I only have one temp switch. Regards, Vern
     
  12. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Sep 11, 2004
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    yes they are kinda loud--
     
  13. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Brian Crall
    L fan by thermo sw in rad. R fan by Motronic temp sensor for R bank.
     
  14. Llenroc

    Llenroc F1 Veteran
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    Jun 9, 2004
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    Vern
    Hi Brian, So the motronic uses the info from one of the water temp sensors in that crossover pipe in the V of the engine to turn on the aux. fan and not the radiator temp switch? What was the reason for that do you know? Regards, Vern
     
  15. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,909
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    Brian Crall
    I quit trying to figure them out long ago. Single temp sw for 2 or 3 fans always worked before. New car, new kid at the drawing board.

    One problem with the system in Italy is you retire after 20 years. Walk around town and you see guys our age sitting around at a coffee house doing nothing. As soon as you have been around long enough to really know your job you get pushed out and retired. Every time a new project comes around somebody that has never done it before gets to design it. Relearn all the mistakes again. Here or in Germany you don't even get to design something important until you have been around long enough to be pushed out and retired for a few years already in Italy.

    Walk around the factory some day, you will never see anyone our age.
     
  16. Llenroc

    Llenroc F1 Veteran
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    Jun 9, 2004
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    Vern
    LOL... I should have known there wasn't a real answer. Kinda like the header tube debacle I suppose, maybe too much wine at lunch.
     
  17. 348SStb

    348SStb F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Where might one find these infra red temperature guns?
     
  18. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
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    Mount Isa, Australia
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    Pap

    Our local auto parts shops carry them mate. :):)

    Maybe the same over there?? :):)
     
  19. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,038
    USA
    Dave, try GOOGLE... ;) seriously. They are very common, and not particularly expensive. You can probably find them on Ebay too. I bought mine years ago from another Fchatter....I forget now, but if you search you can probably find the thread. He ran some sort of hobby store and sold them to hobbyists working on their remote control cars/airplanes/boats.
     
  20. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Fchatter PeterS use to sell them also---I got a few from him awhile back...
     
  21. ferrari.ace

    ferrari.ace Karting

    May 25, 2006
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    So.Cal.
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    Adam Cox
    Left fan by thermo switch on readiator or A/C, right fan by motronic via oil temp



    Check fuses, relays, fan motors (dead or slow), thermo switch, both "small" return hoses to the expansion tank (they become internally obstructed) and cause overheat...
     
  22. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    28,766
    socal
    That's really funny and sad and very believable. I think the problem is with some "experience" you learn the value of your labor. New guys at the factory have a Ferrari red mist and will work for free just because it is Ferrari, and when did you ever know Ferrari to not take the low bidder? It would not surprise me one bit if Ferrari itself was behind the bad parts you have been seeing. We are not seeing that with hotrod Chevy's by the way. I tell you if it was cheaper to use lower case letters we would see "f" errari on the cars not "F" errari.
     
  23. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    28,766
    socal
    Jack,

    Good to see you on Fchat. Will you be at Saxton's for the 11/1/08 WSIR race/trackday? If you bring the 355 to the track that day I bet I could fix it. Look for me in a Blue Z06 this time. Your 348 race buddy
     
  24. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,038
    USA
    Adam,
    Oil temp, not water? I was always under the impression the right side fan was triggered by the Motronic via the water temp sensor located near the oil filter mount. Page B71 and B79 in the workshop manual confirms this, but I realize there can always be errors. Can you please confirm?
     
  25. davehelms

    davehelms F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2004
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    Full Name:
    Dave Helms
    Check the connections on the fusebox plugs. I have seen a few of these going bad now on the 355's. Upside is the only weak link identified on these is the left fan. I redesigned the circuit on 2 cars with a quick patch fix to test the idea and it appears to be working just fine. If these cars finish the summer in proper order I will clean up the design and it should be a simple plug and play fix. Noticed fault with this type of failure is very short duration (2 seconds) fan running spurts or no fan.
    Also have seen a rash of the bleed hoses as per Adam's suggestion. Highly restricted or completely closed off just down stream of the header tank fittings and at their sources in turn not allowing the radiators to bleed out the air to the tank. Air rises.... where did Ferrari see fit to put the sensor? Right in the top tank.... Im sure there is some type of logic behind this yet I fail to see it.
     

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