| Author | Message | ||
| Joe (Spider)
Junior Member Username: Spider Post Number: 118 Registered: 9-2003 |
Oh many thanks guys thats excellant advise, ive got sumink to work with myself now. ill post the outcome Many thanks Paul@ ill pm you regarding meets etc, hope yr feeling betta mate, | ||
| Brian Kennedy (Kennedy)
Member Username: Kennedy Post Number: 509 Registered: 3-2002 |
Given the car won't run without a charged battery, I would think it almost surely you have a bad alternator. When the engine is running, the alternator should be making a steady voltage level independent of whether the battery is drawing current to charge or drawing no current because it is at roughly equal voltage. And that should be easy for your dealership to check. | ||
| Phil Hughes (Ferrarifixer)
Junior Member Username: Ferrarifixer Post Number: 242 Registered: 7-2003 |
To stop the frustration until the problem is found, you can turn the isloator off. It's under the front bonnet. To re-open the closed bonnet without the battery turned on, you'll need to use the back up cable (under the dash by your knee, kind of). Then turn it back on to re-start the car. Let it idle for 10 minutes to re-establish itself. To locate the current drain. Shut the car off as usual. Connect an ammeter in series between the positive terminal and it's cable (removed) and read the gauge. (Most mechanics ammeters will only be safe for 10 amps max or so, so check carefully). You should have only a few milli amps for radio, ecu memory and immobiliser operation. 0.5 amps would be about right if your interior lights are on. When the F1 pump cycles (door opening) (or tries to) you'll see around 8 amps. If your "at rest" current drain is more than 0.2 amps you have a problem. Systematically remove fuses and/or relays one by one until you find the circuit causing the drain and diagnose the problem from there. To jump start the car, there is a ground post and positive connection board behind the LH seat, under the carpet panel. | ||
| N'din (Abangdin)
Junior Member Username: Abangdin Post Number: 98 Registered: 7-2003 |
This happened to me as well. I had 3 battery changes before the Ferrari mechanics dicovered the culprit. It's a faulty Immoboliser ECU. Somehow it's draining the battery even when the car is switched off. Get it changed, if your's is still under warranty. If not, get it changed anyway. | ||
| Adam (Fasttalk)
Member Username: Fasttalk Post Number: 307 Registered: 8-2002 |
Sell the car, leave London, move to California, buy a new Spider.. That should eliminate the problem. Thats what I did  (I am originaly from London) Convertibles are much more fun here... | ||
| Paul Hill (348paul)
Member Username: 348paul Post Number: 427 Registered: 12-2002 |
Joe, Ask them what current drain they measured with the car parked up (doors closed, engine off etc.) Also ask what the current drain should be - would be interesting to hear the answers If you have got a voltmeter, just check the battery voltage with the engine not running - should be 12 Volts start the engine up and you should have just under 14 Volts. Paul | ||
| martin j weiner,M.D. (Mw575)
Intermediate Member Username: Mw575 Post Number: 1250 Registered: 5-2001 |
Sounds like something (prob the radio is drawing power)Same thing happened to my 360 Euro after I had a 6 Cd changer put in.Once the wiring was corrected-no further battery problems. | ||
| Nick Berry (Nickb)
Junior Member Username: Nickb Post Number: 148 Registered: 8-2002 |
Joe my battery died as well. For some reason when I turned off the ignition, current to the radio remained on. Though was was no radio sound, you could hear an audible faint crackle from the speakers. It proceeded to drain the battery. Once it was corrected, my battery recharged with no further problems. | ||
| Stephen S. Saia (Sssaia)
Junior Member Username: Sssaia Post Number: 54 Registered: 4-2003 |
get an optima maintainence free battery. | ||
| Joe (Spider)
Junior Member Username: Spider Post Number: 116 Registered: 9-2003 |
Nibble, You must be a clever guy, | ||
| Nibblesworth (Nebulaclass)
Member Username: Nebulaclass Post Number: 761 Registered: 11-2002 |
Turn off your headlights when you get out of the car. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member Username: T88power Post Number: 1794 Registered: 2-2001 |
Well, mine definitely wasnt up to par. Switched to die hard or something similar (i forgot), and have been problem free. Before, it would drain all the time. Ernesto | ||
| Joe (Spider)
Junior Member Username: Spider Post Number: 115 Registered: 9-2003 |
Ern, Do you think that three Fiam Batts were all faulty | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member Username: T88power Post Number: 1793 Registered: 2-2001 |
Again, dump the factory battery and get a good one at Pep Boys. I had the same problem, the factory battery, once drained, doesnt seem to hold a charge very well. Ernesto | ||
| Joe (Spider)
Junior Member Username: Spider Post Number: 114 Registered: 9-2003 |
Tony maybe I have a loan 360 coupe on Sat??? | ||
| Joe (Spider)
Junior Member Username: Spider Post Number: 113 Registered: 9-2003 |
Adam no warning light on on the insrument cluster, this has all been checked. Did you know that the 360 will not run if the battery is flat?? Even if you push start it, well mine wont, the battery must have a charge. The car has been checked by Ferrari and they have said they cannot find any prob :-( | ||
| Adam (Fasttalk)
Member Username: Fasttalk Post Number: 305 Registered: 8-2002 |
Alternator. | ||
| allan fiedler (Allanlambo)
Intermediate Member Username: Allanlambo Post Number: 1331 Registered: 6-2002 |
Good old F1 inspired technology! | ||
| tony hopkins (Tonyh)
Junior Member Username: Tonyh Post Number: 197 Registered: 12-2002 |
return the car to maranello,demand 360 coupe while they figure out what's wrong , sit back & wait for return of your �120 k car....? am i wrong tony | ||
| Ed Christophersen (Dr_c)
Junior Member Username: Dr_c Post Number: 90 Registered: 12-2002 |
I agree. It sounds like the charging system or a drain somewhere. Shouldn't be that hard to check out. Ed | ||
| Paul Bianco (Paulie_b)
Intermediate Member Username: Paulie_b Post Number: 1028 Registered: 1-2003 |
Joe, that would annoy anyone! It may not be the battery. Get the system checked. I always keep my car connected to a battery tender. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member Username: T88power Post Number: 1789 Registered: 2-2001 |
Get rid of the POS Fiam battery and get a good one at your local Pep Boys or similar store. Ernesto | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Advanced Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 2827 Registered: 10-2002 |
Joe IMHO the alternator/charging system is not working and or there is a short that is draining the battery. | ||
| Joe (Spider)
Junior Member Username: Spider Post Number: 106 Registered: 9-2003 |
I need some advice as ((Frustrasion)) is getting the betta of me on this, im a level headed guy but how anoying is it to go to your car and the battery is flat?? Your out in the car not knowing that the next fuel stop is gonna see you pushing that shiny red Ferrari off the forecourt cos the damn battery is Flat. Typical scenario :- 1. Charge Battery for 48 hrs(this is the second battery Ferrari have fitted) car drives for 8hrs and Battery is "dead" 2. Refresh the battery again 48 hrs, go out in car for 5hrs, parked overnight and "hey presto" dead flat 3. The only thing keeping my 360 going a �89.00 intelligent battery charger which is constantly on. "Help" cos Ferrari are running out of New batteries. What would you do if you were me?? Clean sensable suggestions below pls. |