355 timing actuator (air direction motor) removal

[HardtopManual]

I've been attending to a broken HVAC system on my 355 and it seems that everything that could have gone wrong, has gone wrong - faulty control unit (now repaired), faulty water valve (now replaced, hoping to find a replacement for the knackered DC motor in the old one so I can have a spare) and faulty redcirc flap motor (3D printed a new gear in polycarbonate). The "timing actuator" (blower direction motor) is also not working, but I can't for the life of me get access to the screws holding it to the HVAC unit. I've contorted myself in the footwell, removed the central air vents and the instrument binnacle, but cannot get to those screws. It looks like I might have to remove the entire HVAC unit, which I really don't want to do.

Has anyone here done it (on a RHD), and if so, how?!

[Cactussed]

I've managed to get the motor off. It's a c**t of a job. Ended up using a stubby Phillips head. Remove the stereo and (I think) one or 2 other things and you can do it.

I removed the window ECU and the gave me enough room to check the flap moved (which it did) and also check the motor operation.

FWIW, mine was playing up and I ended up doing a battery reset then I put the fan speed and vents to a manual setting rather than auto.
Hey presto, the motor decided to work perfectly. NFI why, but it did.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/conversations/35...

[HardtopManual]

Ha, I just set it to manual mode and did a battery reset, lo and behold, some whirring emanated from behind the dash and my air direction motor has now joined the party, thanks Drew! My HVAC system now appears to be working properly, for the first time in years.

[HardtopManual]

btw if anyone needs a repair on their HVAC control unit (p/n 64324800 for future Googlers), I can recommend https://crashdata.co.uk - they charged £200 to supply and replace all the op-amp chips plus a few other components and had the board back to me in a matter of days.

[Cactussed]

Excellent result, and also thanks for the heads up on the fixing guys.
Presumably any other ECU / boards would also be within scope

[355spider]

My heater only works on manual also, Im not entirely sure why but a previous owner has wired up a fused tripped circuit breaker in the luggage compartment instead of the 30amp fuse popping, I’m not sure why, although it’s not trippped for a few years now so haven’t bothered looking.

Will that place be able to repair the cat ECU’s? I’m
Getting error codes for all 3 and apparently there prone to going wrong again, not bad for £1200!

[HardtopManual]

Cactussed said:

Excellent result, and also thanks for the heads up on the fixing guys.
Presumably any other ECU / boards would also be within scope

Assuming components are still available, I don't see why not.

[HardtopManual]

355spider said:

My heater only works on manual also, Im not entirely sure why but a previous owner has wired up a fused tripped circuit breaker in the luggage compartment instead of the 30amp fuse popping, I’m not sure why, although it’s not trippped for a few years now so haven’t bothered looking.

Will that place be able to repair the cat ECU’s? I’m
Getting error codes for all 3 and apparently there prone to going wrong again, not bad for £1200!

Cat ECUs probably not worth the faff, being very heavily potted. The cheap solution is to take the bulb out of the dash, the more expensive one is to replace with improved aftermarket units, see https://technistrada.com/catalytic-temperature-con...

[gotoPzero]

I did this job on mine, the motor was very difficult to get too, my ribs were sore for days. but you can get it without removing anything top side. You just have to get in on the screws from the footwell.

Getting it back in was worse tbh.... so prepare yourself for that!! GL!