355 - Radiator Fan Operation | FerrariChat
Buy

355 Radiator Fan Operation

Discussion in '348/355' started by Gialllo uno, Jul 31, 2023.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Gialllo uno

    Gialllo uno Formula Junior

    Jul 5, 2014
    345
    Reisterstown, Maryland
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #1 Gialllo uno, Jul 31, 2023
    I had my 98 F1 355 spider out on Sunday, as the morning was cool, and the heat seemed to be down a bit here outside of Baltimore. Car ran great no issues and temperature was pretty steady at 190 Degrees F. I don't remember hearing the fan come on ever while driving and my question is when I later went to put more gas in the car and turned off engine no fan ever coming on. When I went to start it up the temperature was probably 210 ish and quickly went down to normal or about 190 after it was started, but from memory I don't believe the fan ever came on. Doesn't the fan come on even when you turn the car off if the temp rises above its threshold? Fuse is OK and I do seem to hear a clicking noise coming from the area of the LH Radiator after driving the car and putting it in my garage. I usually open the engine compartment to help let the heat out until it cools down. I have looked at the diagrams and while I haven't looked at it extensively yet wondered if the switch possibly was bad on the radiator, but hearing the clicking almost leads me to believe the fan is bad. I guess I could apply 12 volts to the fan connection and that would tell me immediately if it is bad. I appreciate it.
     
  2. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,721
    #2 Mitch Alsup, Jul 31, 2023
    Engine has to be on for the fans to run
    fans start running at 210-213 and off at 205.
     
    ShineKen likes this.
  3. Gialllo uno

    Gialllo uno Formula Junior

    Jul 5, 2014
    345
    Reisterstown, Maryland
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #3 Gialllo uno, Jul 31, 2023
    So, if it is above temp and fan running when you turn the car off, doesn't the fan continue to run for a few minutes and then they go off?
     
  4. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,721
    #4 Mitch Alsup, Jul 31, 2023
    Mine (1995 USA) the fans stop with the key.

    The radiators actually cool well with the open bonnet and side mounted intakes without the fans.

    I have considered adding a switch in the cabin to run the fans at ½ power (for track use and pit cooling) but my car drops from 230º to 200º on the cool down lap.
     
  5. Gialllo uno

    Gialllo uno Formula Junior

    Jul 5, 2014
    345
    Reisterstown, Maryland
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #5 Gialllo uno, Jul 31, 2023
    I think I will monitor it and I can certainly have my Code reader hooked up to see the actual temp etc. Maybe that way I can see at what temp the fans come on.....or don't come on.??
     
  6. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    14,259
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    #6 Qavion, Jul 31, 2023
    The left hand fan (at least) should operate with the ignition on/engine off.

    Relay Q (left hand (supplementary) fan for engine cooling and AC gas condensing) seems to have two triggers.
    1) A thermoswitch on the radiator (190F/88C). Only ignition power required.
    2) Gas pressure switch on the AC receiver-dryer (15 bar). This would require the compressor to be running.

    Relay R (right hand fan for engine oil and water cooling)
    1) controlled by the ECU (5.2) according to engine block coolant temperatures (203F/95C). I don't know if the engine needs to be running (not specified in the manual).
     
  7. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,217
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    #7 johnk..., Jul 31, 2023
    Left fan requires ignition on, engine running or not. Comes on at 190F. Off at 175F I believe. Right fan is controlled by a thermo switch in the bank one coolant runner and come on at higher temperature. I don't recall if it requires engine running or not but both fan stop with ignition off.

    There is no point in keeping the fans on with engine off because the coolant is not circulating.
     
  8. Gialllo uno

    Gialllo uno Formula Junior

    Jul 5, 2014
    345
    Reisterstown, Maryland
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #8 Gialllo uno, Jul 31, 2023
    You do see a spike in temperature after shutdown with what you said makes sense as the coolant in the engine itself is not circulating and is absorbing heat. I have had other cars where the fans would still run after the car was turned out for a brief period of time. Maybe they had electric water pumps. When i looked at the WSM, I also did not see anything that referenced the engine had to be running. I guess if it was running, the LH fan with the car stopped but the ignition still on it really would only cool the coolant in the radiator, which isn't dropping the temperature of the motor..
     

Share This Page