MajorVery commonEngine

Ferrari F355: Cracked exhaust manifolds and cooked catalysts — the cold-start tick and the 'slow down' light

Cracked exhaust manifolds and cooked catalysts — the cold-start tick and the 'slow down' light is a very common engine fault on the Ferrari F355 on the 1994–1999 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 6 documented faults on the Ferrari F355.

Vehicle: Ferrari F355
Years: 1994–1999
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Ferrari F355 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ferrari F355 faults6 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Exhaust manifold or Catalytic converter yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The F355's thin stainless exhaust manifolds split near the air-injection pipes from heat, and the guides say every 355 either has cracked them or will. The sign is a ticking on a cold start that fades as the metal expands, and the consequence of ignoring it is a wrecked catalytic converter and the 'slow down' warning as the exhaust temperature sensors see the cat overheating. Manifolds are a four-figure job involving bumper and exhaust removal, and many cars now run aftermarket headers and sports cats.

What you would notice

Ticking or chuffing from the engine bay after a cold start, fading as it warms
'Slow down' warning on the dash
Rattle from the catalytic converters
White, ash-coloured exhaust tips — a failed cat
Exhaust smell in the engine bay

How to check it

Where to look. Exhaust manifolds either side of the engine, under the rear engine cover; catalytic converters behind them

See it started from cold and stand behind the car with the engine cover up, listening to the first minute for a tick that fades away.
Look at the manifolds with a torch for soot streaks and fresh welds, and ask whether they are original or aftermarket.
Look inside the exhaust tips — black is oil, white and ashy is a catalyst that has broken down.
Ask whether the 'slow down' light has ever come on and whether the catalysts have been replaced.

Parts involved: Exhaust manifold, Catalytic converter.

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.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the exhaust manifolds been replaced, and are they original or aftermarket?”
“Has the 'slow down' light ever come on?”
“Have the catalytic converters been replaced?”

Now check the Ferrari F355 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.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Classic & Sports Car — 'Ferrari F355 buyer's guide: what to pay and what to look for'
Collecting Cars — Ferrari F355 Buyers Guide
Apex Euro — 'Ferrari 355 & 360 Maintenance Guide: Common Issues & Solutions'

Ferrari F355 buyer questions

Is cracked exhaust manifolds and cooked catalysts — the cold-start tick and the 'slow down' light serious on a Ferrari F355?

We rate it major and very common on the Ferrari F355. The F355's thin stainless exhaust manifolds split near the air-injection pipes from heat, and the guides say every 355 either has cracked them or will. The sign is a ticking on a cold start that fades as the metal expands, and the consequence of ignoring it is a wrecked catalytic converter and the 'slow down' warning as the exhaust temperature sensors see the cat overheating. Manifolds are a four-figure job involving bumper and exhaust removal, and many cars now run aftermarket headers and sports cats.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ferrari F355?

$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 F355 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1994–1999 Ferrari F355. 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?

See it started from cold and stand behind the car with the engine cover up, listening to the first minute for a tick that fades away. Look at the manifolds with a torch for soot streaks and fresh welds, and ask whether they are original or aftermarket. Look inside the exhaust tips — black is oil, white and ashy is a catalyst that has broken down. Ask whether the 'slow down' light has ever come on and whether the catalysts have been replaced. Look here: Exhaust manifolds either side of the engine, under the rear engine cover; catalytic converters behind them