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Need help with HVAC

Discussion in '348/355' started by Brambleworth, Jan 3, 2022.

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  1. Brambleworth

    Brambleworth Formula Junior
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    Ted
    #1 Brambleworth, Jan 3, 2022
    Image Unavailable, Please Login Purchased a 1998 Euro 355 spider a few months ago. Air was only coming out of the defrost vents. Just pulled the evap/heater core out and found the rotating drum jammed by a mix of the remains of a screen that was over the evaporator and the foam sheet that was on the drum. All that is now clean but I have found that the motor doesn’t turn. How do I determine if it is the motor or the electronic control under the dials? Both are out of the car. How do you test these? I know finding a replacement motor is difficult, but what about the board? Can’t seem to find these answers on the 355 forum.


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  2. Carmellini

    Carmellini Formula Junior

    Jul 16, 2019
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    #2 Carmellini, Jan 3, 2022
    With the electrical pig tail connected, remove the motor/actuator from the tambour/drum and run thru your direction controls; If you can feel or hear the motor working but the shaft is not moving you will know that the internal gears are stripped and your control board is fine.
     
    308 GTB likes this.
  3. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
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    #3 Qavion, Jan 3, 2022
    The HVAC ECU is another possible culprit.

    This is the probably longest thread we have on air direction problems:

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/new-owner-with-ventilation-problem.514304/

    I don't expect you to wade through 9 pages (some with links to other pages) however. Basically:

    Use a small 9V battery to run the actuator motor (You'll find a pinout in that message thread). i.e. with power on the red and black wires. Reverse the polarity to change motor direction. If ok, then check the resistance of the potentiometer. In many cases, the internal gears have stripped. Since the actuator is unobtanium, a few folks have been creating 3D printed cogs. Currently, I think only one person is currently selling them.

    The control panel is generally the least likely component to fail with respect to ventilation direction. We know just about every pin assignment on the panel except for the fan direction. So it is hard to check.

    The ECU seems to be a common cause. The driver chips fail. Another long thread on these here:

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/f355-hvac-ecu.526186/

    The chips seem to be readily available.

    Wiring diagram for the 5.2 car here:

    https://www.dropbox.com/t/sxa3UFvWgOZnrBoq

    Link expires in 6 days.
     
    05elise and 308 GTB like this.
  4. Ferrarium

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    #4 Ferrarium, Jan 3, 2022
    Guaranteed its the gears stripped.
     
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  5. Brambleworth

    Brambleworth Formula Junior
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    #5 Brambleworth, Jan 3, 2022
    Turns out it is a stripped gear. Any idea who the fchatter was that made them? Saw the post that mentioned a company in Japan that makes one offs.
     
  6. Qavion

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    #6 Qavion, Jan 3, 2022
    @Takeya Niwa was making and selling them ($$$)
    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/conversations/actuator-gear-3d-printing.1604656/

    @MAD828 Elliott has found a source in Japan (a broker may be required)
    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148236306/

    @RobKuelbs is looking for broken actuators so that he can repair them.
    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148164557/

    @F-86 is working on various solutions
    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148235956/

    @steved033 is making some
    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148219729/
     
    WATSON and 308 GTB like this.
  7. Brambleworth

    Brambleworth Formula Junior
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    #7 Brambleworth, Jan 4, 2022
    Found this part clipped to the evaporator, assume it was a screen that disintegrated, ultimately jamming the air direction drum. Anyone know what this is?


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