Ferrari 360: Cracked exhaust manifolds — a cold-start tick that ends with cooked catalysts
Cracked exhaust manifolds — a cold-start tick that ends with cooked catalysts is a common engine fault on the Ferrari 360 on the 1999–2005 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $5,000 to $12,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 7 documented faults on the Ferrari 360.
- Vehicle
- Ferrari 360
- Years
- 1999–2005
- Fuel
- petrol
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The 360's thin-wall stainless exhaust manifolds crack at the welds and at the collector, and the 2002–2003 cars are the worst for it, though no year is immune. The first sign is a ticking or chuffing from the back of the car for the first minute after a cold start, which fades as the metal expands and seals the crack. Left alone the leak upsets the fuelling, dumps heat onto everything around the manifold and eventually wrecks the catalytic converter behind it, at which point the 'slow down' warning appears and the bill doubles. Most cars will have had at least one manifold replaced by now, and many owners fit aftermarket headers rather than pay for another set of the original design.
What you would notice
- Ticking or chuffing from the engine bay for the first minute after a cold start, fading as it warms
- Exhaust smell in the engine bay or cabin
- Check-engine light for oxygen sensor or catalyst efficiency
- 'Slow down' warning on the dash
- Soot marks around the manifold-to-cat joints
How to check it
Where to look. Exhaust manifolds either side of the engine, visible under the rear engine cover; catalytic converters immediately behind them
Arrange to hear it started from stone cold — if the engine is warm when you arrive, that test has already been taken away from you.
Stand behind the car with the engine cover up and listen hard to the first sixty seconds for a tick or chuff that fades away as the engine warms.
Look at the manifolds with a torch for soot streaks, heat-blued patches or a fresh weld, and ask whether they are original or aftermarket and when either side was last replaced.
Watch the dash for a check-engine light and ask whether the 'slow down' light has ever come on, because that means a catalyst has already suffered.
Read the service history for manifold or catalyst replacement — on a 360 it is normal to find one and reassuring to find both.
What it costs to put right
$5,000 to $12,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Have the exhaust manifolds ever been replaced, and are they original Ferrari or aftermarket?”
- “Has the 'slow down' light or a check-engine light ever come on?”
- “Have the catalytic converters been replaced?”
Now check the Ferrari 360 you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- FerrariChat — '360 Exhaust Manifold Cracks' thread
- FerrariChat — '360 Cracked Manifold' thread
- Collecting Cars — Ferrari 360 Buyer's Guide: Problems and What To Look For
- Apex Euro — 'Ferrari 355 & 360 Maintenance Guide: Common Issues & Solutions'
Ferrari 360 buyer questions
Is cracked exhaust manifolds — a cold-start tick that ends with cooked catalysts serious on a Ferrari 360?
We rate it major and common on the Ferrari 360. The 360's thin-wall stainless exhaust manifolds crack at the welds and at the collector, and the 2002–2003 cars are the worst for it, though no year is immune. The first sign is a ticking or chuffing from the back of the car for the first minute after a cold start, which fades as the metal expands and seals the crack. Left alone the leak upsets the fuelling, dumps heat onto everything around the manifold and eventually wrecks the catalytic converter behind it, at which point the 'slow down' warning appears and the bill doubles. Most cars will have had at least one manifold replaced by now, and many owners fit aftermarket headers rather than pay for another set of the original design.
How much does it cost to fix on a Ferrari 360?
$5,000 to $12,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Ferrari 360 years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 1999–2005 Ferrari 360. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Arrange to hear it started from stone cold — if the engine is warm when you arrive, that test has already been taken away from you. Stand behind the car with the engine cover up and listen hard to the first sixty seconds for a tick or chuff that fades away as the engine warms. Look at the manifolds with a torch for soot streaks, heat-blued patches or a fresh weld, and ask whether they are original or aftermarket and when either side was last replaced. Watch the dash for a check-engine light and ask whether the 'slow down' light has ever come on, because that means a catalyst has already suffered. Read the service history for manifold or catalyst replacement — on a 360 it is normal to find one and reassuring to find both. Look here: Exhaust manifolds either side of the engine, visible under the rear engine cover; catalytic converters immediately behind them