Help!!! car wont start... '03 360 spider | FerrariChat
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Help!!! car wont start... '03 360 spider

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013.

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  1. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #1 Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013
    just had the car delivered this morning, the truck driver fired her up, backed her out of the carrier and then turned her off while we completed the paperwork... Immediately thereafter, I got into the car after the carrier left and started her right back up... car started and was running fine... while I let the car warm up, i decided to pop the hood both front and rear to inspect the engine and trunk etc... I closed all latches and proceeded to walk towards the drivers side door (with both windows already down), reached into the car and went to turn on the headlamps (making sure they work) and boom, car just turned off... I got back into the vehicle attempted to restart the car and got nothing... let me explain what "nothing" means... Basically when i insert the key in the ignition and go to crank her up, no lights come on the dash right through the final turnover and u dont hear anything at all... instrument cluster, radio, windows, fuel door, NOTHING works... thought maybe the battery but the power seats works fine, horn, etc..and when the alarm arms/disarms the hazard light logo appears on the instrument cluster, and healthy too, no fading in/out etc.. here is a list of stuff I already tried:

    1)- made sure all latches, doors, etc are closed properly...
    2)- hit the remote/fob and wait for two beeps before trying to start the car
    3)- alarm works fine, locks and unlocks when you press the fob, no issues there
    4)- turned the main cut off in the front hood off and waited 15 seconds, then back on, tried to fire her back up, nothing...

    My service shop doesnt open til tomorrow morning and the car is sitting in front of the service facility all morning with the windows down... totally stumped... even called Andy Falbo who just finished servicing the car before its delivery.. and like I said she fired up twice and it was fine... so he helped me go through the avenues exhausted above..... thanks for any and all help guys, really appreciate it...

    *If there are any techs that get a hold of this post, please feel free to call me directly and maybe you can walk me through something I may have missed....

    Thanks in advance guys...

    Ali- 973-951-2365
     
  2. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2004
    7,777
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Bruce Bogart
    #2 plugzit, Aug 25, 2013
    Where are you geographically? Your profile gives no clue. Perhaps there's somebody local to you who could help....
     
  3. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #3 Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013
    Bergen county, NJ...
     
  4. PT 328

    PT 328 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 1, 2005
    4,004
    #4 PT 328, Aug 25, 2013
    Do you have any service records showing when the batter was last replaced? Can you check the battery with a volt meter to see what it is reading?

    Might get lucky and just be a bad battery given the extra load from the lights shut her down. There might be enough juice in the battery to run the accessories you described but not enough to turn over the engine.

    Hopefully it is a simple and cost effective fix.
     
  5. Mozella

    Mozella Formula Junior

    Mar 24, 2013
    905
    Piemonte, Italia
    #5 Mozella, Aug 25, 2013
    A couple of months ago my battery suddenly failed without any of the typical warnings. The starter wasn't slow, the car fired right up hot or cold, I didn't have any warning lights, and everything was working OK right up until when the battery shot craps. Thank goodness it died in my driveway.

    The electrical system didn't go completely dead, but the car wouldn't even try to start; no reaction at all. This is quite unlike a typical Chevy and I initially suspected a bad starter motor, but I also had odd instrument displays and strange reactions from some electrical accessories.

    Unfortunately I don't remember if my symptoms were exactly like yours, but if I were you I certainly would test the battery voltage with the ignition off, with the ignition on, and again during a starting attempt. Mine looked pretty good until I added the starter load when it went down to less than two volts.

    Remember, a new battery can die too, so age is only a hint. Good luck.
     
  6. apex97

    apex97 Formula Junior
    Owner

    Nov 25, 2006
    593
    Stockbridge, GA
    Full Name:
    Edward Zabinski
    #6 apex97, Aug 25, 2013
    Clean the battery terminals at the battery and also all of the chassis grounds and starter leads. Most of them are not too hard to get to. This behavior is very often a result of high resistance in these areas. They all need to be Shiney!
     
  7. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #7 Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013
    wow.. what a day!!! we finally determined that there is a short somewhere.... basically, when you turn the headlights on, the car just dies... it blows a 20 amp fuse (or maybe 15, not sure right now as my brain is fried also...) which is located in the fuse box directly behind the driver's seat... so until further notice, the car drives just fine as long as I dont turn on my headlights lol.... so no driving after dark lol..

    *I want to thank all you guys for all your input today, i appreciate this community very much and hope I can return the favor with my experiences one day..

    Ali-
     
  8. fmaderi

    fmaderi Formula Junior

    May 8, 2005
    258
    clearwater Fla/NY
    Full Name:
    frank maderi
    #8 fmaderi, Aug 26, 2013
    im going to take shot in the dark here and ask if they had the bumpers off ? pinched a wire and now you blow lights... not the first time ive seen that happen . hopefully you can find it quickly .
     
  9. Mozella

    Mozella Formula Junior

    Mar 24, 2013
    905
    Piemonte, Italia
    #9 Mozella, Aug 26, 2013
    Gosh, I hope not. I haven't taken the time to trace the wiring diagram of my 360, but I would hope it is wired so that if the headlight (or tail light) wires are shorted to ground, it would blow the headlight or tail light fuse and they would stop working, but not the WHOLE FRACKING CAR.

    But who knows? I've got a mysterious washer fluid low level caution light but after turning on the headlights the other day, it went out and it has stayed out. Perhaps the headlight switch is more powerful than I imagined. ;)
     
  10. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #10 Njsp78, Aug 26, 2013
    I asked and they said no, the bumpers were not removed... In any event Frank, they got the car this morning and Vinny from Auto Elite is gonna see whats going on... I will keep you guys posted and where the problem ends up being..

    Ali-
     
  11. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #11 Njsp78, Aug 26, 2013
    LOL I know right.. kinda bugged me out too knowing a blown 15 amp fuse can shut the entire car down to pitch blackness and get nothing!!!!
     

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