What is this????

I have always wondered what it was also. I just assumed that it was a diagnostic plug that hooked up to some obscure piece of hardware that let the mechanic know whether timing belts needed to be changed.

 

it actually was a plug the Ferrari dealership would use to download your checking acct info so they would know how much they could charge you(and you still be able to pay for it). Now it's all done wireless

 

WOW! You have stumbled onto a rare "plug-in hybrid" 308. They were a very early iteration of hybrid technology Ferrari experimented with in the late 70's - early 80's. Rumor around Maranello is that they only made 3, because Enzo killed the program after he heard some sissy enviornmental-nut types from California actually liked the car, and he really disliked those sorts of people.

Actually, I have no idea what that is! It does look a lot like a diagnostic port on mid-80's BMW's, fwiw.

 

Year of your car?

Looks just like a diagnostic port from the '80s. Not uncommon to monitor the ignition, TDC sensor and a pulse for the tachometer.

 

Yup, diagnostic port. Also on the 328s.

Originally I thought it was an extra lighter for the chain-smoker mechanics back in Italy.
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Very clever reply. LOL!

 

What plugs into it exactly? I have never seen a shop ever touch that thing. I wonder if it is some sort of proprietary Ferrari equipment

 

Want to find another little mystery plug? Look under the dash by your left knee.

 

Here's another; pull the driver's seatbelt to the side and look at the neat little handle coming out of the firewall up by the window.

 

One more, fish around under the dash on the left side and find the little steel cable with the ring hoop handle. Pull it and see what it does.

 

Is the little green lightbulb burned out under the emergency brake lever? If it is I bet you didn't know you had a light under there.

 

diagnostic port, the electrical diagram has a reference to it and what each pin goes to. never seen the 'tool' or reference to it either.

 

Does this help?
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Thanks Mike, for posting the sketch. That's exactly what I thought it would be. Classic '80s test port.

 

If you replace the bulb - or if yours works, NEVER wrap your fingers around the handbrake arm with the lights on. You'll get a nice little bulb-shaped burn on your fingers.

 

And here I thought it was the plug for the trailer lights?

Cheers!

DT

 

It's a diagnostic port for a dealer device called a Jofatron.

it'd be nice to come up with an interface to run it to a device like a palm pilot.

 

It was a piece of equipment called the Jofatron. We called it the Jokeatron.

Pretty useless with one exception. It did track the electronic advance in the Digiplex's and Microplex's and told you if they were working correctly.

More than anything else it is a handy place to get a 12v source or hook up a tach.

 

If someone wanted to buy an old Jofatron that is just sitting around collecting dust, would anyone know of one available?

 

Emergency release for rear deck. Handy if you break the cable on the primary release.

 

fortunately I was one of those Fchatters

 

You crack me up!!