Batterylamp is on when starting 355 cold

Spider,

I was involved with diagnosing and resolving the alternator ground issue, along with Gian Franco Fantuzzi and Thomas Mckellar, when we worked together at the factory dealership in '96. When we discovered the problem we began retrofiitting cars that came in for service with aftermarket cables. We would also install these cables on PDI's before delivering new cars to customers. Eventually 355's did roll off the assembly line with a factory installed ground cable, pretty sure it started during the '97 production year. This was a few years prior to rifledrivers reunion with the dealer network. If You or Brian would like to insatall the cable that the factory was installing on the later production 355's order Ferrari part #180904 from your favorite Ferrari parts vendor.

Also Spider,
If you follow the helpful hints above, chances are you will never need to replace or rebuild your alternator as long as you own your car. I see it as one less trip on the flat bed and one less repair invoice for my clients.

Adam

 

Gotcha covered Adam, thanks. My car has an on board Napa battery tender that was installed by Ferrari of Seattle when I purchased my car from them four years back. It also has a ground strap on the alternator, though it was made from some 12 gauge wire and stake on ring mounts, probably a dealer update at some point (my car is a Feb 97 production date). I later replaced it with a nicer braided 4 gauge ground strap from a local auto parts store for about $5. Couldn't bring myself to buy the factory one for $30. 50k miles and still have the original alternator, based on the stack of records I have. But I am still planning to go ahead and update my alternator this winter with the Regitar parts. I have them sitting on the shelf.

No one, myself included, is denying the fact that proper use of a battery tender, and ensuring your car has a ground strap on the alternator is good advice (in fact in my post, based on what was told to me by Rifledriver, I only stated that ALL 355 owners should check for a ground strap, as he stated none came with them from the factory, my 1997 didn't). The point is that even with these precautions, several people are experiencing premature failure of the ND alternator. Whether rebuilt or a brand new factory ND. The aftermarket Regitar and USI brand parts found by Ernie and others has been found to be significantly superior to the factory and Transpo parts, and significantly improve the ND alternators reliability, thats all.

 

I can only take credit for the supplier I used recommending the USI regulator. F-chatter jm3 gets all the credit for the research and testing of the Regitar parts. Then F-chatter jssans found the on-line hook-up for the parts at a SWEET price, which is what the REAL cost of this stuff is! Theeeennn f-chatter GeorgW and I figured out that there where two different size rectifiers used in the ND Alternators, when he tried to use the parts we were using. Aaaaaaand THeeeeeeeennnnn We have f-chatter ferrari.ace and others adding in the ground strap.

What I'm getting at here is that this is what is GREAT about FerrariChat! We all come together to help one another out, so that these cars are more reasonable to maintain. Any and all input helps.

 

Abolutely Ernie! I welcome Adam's experience and contribution as well. It is terrific to have these seasoned techs here to help us!