Ferrari F355: The engine-out cam belt service every three years — and the rotten engine cradle it uncovers
The engine-out cam belt service every three years — and the rotten engine cradle it uncovers is a very common engine fault on the Ferrari F355 on the 1994–1999 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $9,000 to $20,000 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
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The F355's cam belts must be changed every three years regardless of mileage, and on this car the engine has to come out to do it — a labour-heavy job that runs into five figures once the seized hose joints, the oil-pump drive tensioner and the other things found along the way are dealt with. It is also when the tubular steel engine-support cradle gets seen, and that cradle is particularly rot-prone; a corroded one is removed, blasted and welded while the engine is out. A 355 with a recent engine-out service and photographs of the cradle is worth a great deal more than one that is due, and one that is overdue is a car whose engine you should not rev.
What you would notice
- No engine-out belt service in the last three years
- Rattle from underneath when running — the oil-pump drive tensioner
- Rust flaking on the tubular cradle visible under the rear of the car
- Coolant hose joints crusted or weeping
How to check it
Where to look. Cam belts and tensioners at the front of the engine, reached only with the engine out; tubular engine-support cradle under the rear
Ask when the last engine-out belt service was done, who did it, and to see the invoice — three years is the limit, and a car that is due has a five-figure bill that comes straight off the price.
Ask whether the engine cradle was inspected or repaired at the time and whether there are photographs.
Look under the rear of the car with a torch at the tubular steel frame the engine sits in for flaking rust or fresh paint over repairs.
Listen at idle for a rattle from underneath.
What it costs to put right
$9,000 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “When was the last engine-out belt service, and can I see the invoice?”
- “Was the engine cradle inspected or repaired while the engine was out?”
- “Was the oil-pump drive tensioner 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.
Where this comes from
- Classic & Sports Car — 'Ferrari F355 buyer's guide: what to pay and what to look for'
- Collecting Cars — Ferrari F355 Buyers Guide
- Classic Trader — 'Ferrari F355 buying guide. Berlinetta, Spider or GTS?'
Ferrari F355 buyer questions
Is the engine-out cam belt service every three years — and the rotten engine cradle it uncovers serious on a Ferrari F355?
We rate it critical and very common on the Ferrari F355. The F355's cam belts must be changed every three years regardless of mileage, and on this car the engine has to come out to do it — a labour-heavy job that runs into five figures once the seized hose joints, the oil-pump drive tensioner and the other things found along the way are dealt with. It is also when the tubular steel engine-support cradle gets seen, and that cradle is particularly rot-prone; a corroded one is removed, blasted and welded while the engine is out. A 355 with a recent engine-out service and photographs of the cradle is worth a great deal more than one that is due, and one that is overdue is a car whose engine you should not rev.
How much does it cost to fix on a Ferrari F355?
$9,000 to $20,000 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?
Ask when the last engine-out belt service was done, who did it, and to see the invoice — three years is the limit, and a car that is due has a five-figure bill that comes straight off the price. Ask whether the engine cradle was inspected or repaired at the time and whether there are photographs. Look under the rear of the car with a torch at the tubular steel frame the engine sits in for flaking rust or fresh paint over repairs. Listen at idle for a rattle from underneath. Look here: Cam belts and tensioners at the front of the engine, reached only with the engine out; tubular engine-support cradle under the rear