Relay question

I just replaced the protection relay in my '85 QV. Now my battery has developed a drain, which I feel pretty confident is because I may have the wires run incorrectly. I had to go with the relay thats used in the 328/TRs, so its not quite exactly the right part (the qv version is no longer available). I used the info from Steve Magnusson in my "not running right" thread, but there were some oddities in my wiring during that adventure.

Can someone verify which wire goes to which connector on the relay?

There are four wires:

large tan
two smaller tan
black
three wires together

the connectors are:

15
30
31
87

Thanks for any and all help.


PDG

 

Ok, so here is the story:

I followed all the steps in my "Update on my not running right" thread -

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=254951


Well, finally last week I got in a new Frequency Valve. I spent a little time and got it in place. Once I had that done it didnt do what it was supposed to do. So, I went back and reconnected the original QV protection relay just to see what would happen. Once I did that the FV started running on its own without the key in the ignition. Then I started the car and it ran great!! I made a quick jaunt about town to get some fresh fuel and to feel the car again. Now I KNOW what should be happening at the FV, that was a very interesting lesson.

Once I got it back home I simply unplugged the FV to stop it running. I checked Fchat and found this thread:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=256969&highlight=frequency+valve


The next morning I thought, "Ok, I can fix this tonight. I will just drive it to work so people stop harassing me about my F-car not running." (its become a running joke about me and this car) I drove it to work and simply unplugged the FV when I wasnt driving.

At lunch, it ran great. When I went to go home the battery was dead, I had to get a jump from another co-worker. So, once I got it home I put it back on the trickle charger which went into a cycle (telling me that something wasnt right). Once I unplugged the protection relay the charger acted as normal and did not go into its "warning mode." This is what clues me in to it being something with the protection relay that caused a drain. I let it charge the battery, then restarted from scratch reconnecting the Protection Relay. Now, it is not getting power to the FV at all.

I tried using the jumper as outlined by Steve Magnusson in post #8 of the Update thread and it worked great!

So, now whether I have the QV relay plugged in or the brand new 328 relay plugged in I am getting the same result - no power to the FV.

Before I go ordering another relay I want to ensure that I have the right wires plugged into the right connectors, or is there something else I am missing.

Boy, am I learning a lot dealing with this!!! Its fun though!! However, I think I would have more fun driving my car.



PDG

 

@Paul - your information is EXTREMELY helpful as well. Thank you!!


Just measured the voltage as Steve suggested with the 328 relay in place correctly and came up with the following:

31-15 was 1.48V
31-30 was 12.02V
31-87 was 12.02V

So, appears that 15 is the "bad guy"

When I get this car running right again I am going to need to do something super nice for you Steve. Thank you!!



PDG

 

For my clarity which is the safety switch? Its possible that I undid the wrong plug to get the measurements earlier.



As per your suggestion I measured using the engine as a ground and got:

Off position

15 = 0
31 = 0
30 = 12.52
87 = 0

On position

15 = 0
31 = 0
30 = 12.06
87 = 10. 5


Is that radically different or does it explain something?


PDG

 

Let's try this again.

With the correct plug unplugged I retook the measurements and got the following results using the engine as the ground:

Off position

15 - 0
30 - 12.45
31 - 0
87 - 0

In the on position

15 - 10.42
30 - 11.98
31 - 0
87 - 0


In the on position I fo hear what I believe is the fuel pump, but no sign of the fv buzzing.


PDG

 

I finally found the time to run this next step.

I found:

15 - 10.3
30 - 11.98
31 - 0
87 - 0

The fuse was fine.

So it appears that my "new" relay from Ricambi is bad. Gotta love that huh?


PDG

 

So last night I am out just playing with my car and the relays and how its all connected and I just decided to try the old original relay. I connect it and re-connect the battery and lo and behold the FV starts running. Mind you - the engine is off and the key is not in the ignition, but its getting juice now?

So, I drove it up the street to get some fuel and drove it back (just had to get behind the wheel). Then when I got home I disconnected the battery and went on about my business.


To summarize the whole story:

On my way back from the dealership (six hours away), two weeks after I got the car it had a sudden loss of power. I limped back home (about four hours). Did some research and it appeared that the Protection Relay was bad. I got a new one. Plugged it in - no change. Did more checking, found that I needed a new Frequency Valve - got it. Car ran with the FV on all the time, caused a battery drain. Disconnected the new relay, reconnected it. Nothing at the FV worked at all. Did more electrical tests, pointed to the NEW relay being bad. Disconnected it, then put the old one in. Now the FV is on all the time (as outlined above).

Whats going on with my car now??? Is this a halloween thing?? Someone playing a joke on me?

I intend to re-run the tests I have already done to get to this point, but this isnt making any sense to me at all. One time I run it and shows one thing, the next time it does something completely different?


PDG

 

But here is the thing: I got a new Protection Relay for a 328 and just had to re-run a few wires - a minor issue and it did the same thing.

I dont mind getting yet another one if thats what the issue is. I just want to drive the car and not have to disconnect the battery when I get out because the FV will continue to run or not run at all.

Could there be a short or something earlier in the system that would cause it to do this? Or is this most likely an internal issue within the relay(s) themselves?


PDG

 

Actually, the car seems to be inconsistent with its issues. One time I hook a relay up and the FV runs non-stop, then I unhook it and reconnect it and it doesnt run at all.

That has been the case with both the original relay and the new 328 relay.


PDG

 

Thr fuel pump is definitely off when the key is on, but the fv is running. This again points to a bad relay. I hate that, because I had just bought a new one.

Is there any harm running the car around until I get another new one? I have simply disconnected the battery to keep it from draining the battery when not driving it. So far, that has worked ok, but I dont want to damage anything of course.

Steve - you are truly one of F-Chats most valued members. Thank you.

@Cliff - thanks for that info. I got the one from Ricambi for the 328, probably the same part, but Ferrari prices, etc... That is a valuable piece of info, so I guess I will look for that and see if its cheaper as a 928 part.



PDG