348 replacement battery

Cheers for the update.

Happy motoring!

 

See my first post in this thread: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270437&highlight=battery&page=2. Actually, it was closer to $200. After almost a year, the batt and the trickle charger are both doing great!

 

I reckon trickle chargers are the answer to battery longevity.

My 348 battery has lasted five years so far (touch wood) and is constantly connected to a mains powered trickle charger when not being driven.

 

Having recently purchased a 1990 348 ts I noticed that when I disconnected and re-connected the battery I can hear a relay clicking somewhere in the right rear engine compartment area.I can only assume that this is causing the battery drain that I experience if the car is left for a few weeks.This car has only 9600 miles on it and looks very orriginal as is the wiring loom.This problem seems to be very common with these older Ferrari models. Has anyone done the leg-work to determine if there is a common design flaw in the wiring harness that can be easily corrected ? All this talk about battery's I believe is just dancing around the problem. From my experience a battery in any car should last 5-7 years on average. Looking forward to your responces, Thanks Glen

 

Batteries last 5-7 years on a daily driver that is driven regularly which keeps the battery charged up. You have (pardon the expression) a 20 year old "Garage Queen", that has been on average, driven less than 500 miles per year. Most cars get drivne that much every couple weeks. Unless you use a battery tender, ALL cars will draw down the battery after several weeks of not being started and driven. A month or two, and the battery will be dead. This is more of a problem with newer cars, which have more parasitic draw. But even an older 348 could sap a battery down in 6 or 8 weeks...especialy an older battery. Continously drawing the battery very low, greatly shortens the life of the battery. This is why it is critical to use a battery tender with a car that is rarely driven such as yours. Batteries cannot sit for months on end and expect to get the same life span out of them.

 

Sorry I did not clarify my question.My point was if there is a relay latching when battery is connected this will obviously drain the battery.Has anyone determined which relay is causing this and is there an easy fix ? If not I will do some trouble shooting and post my results. Thanks JGW

 

I hear they sell cheap 348 batteries at the Aussie Fair K-Mart at Southport, Qld.

 

Can someone update me on the best battery for my 1991 Ferrari 348ts. Also is there a consensus on the debate as to how to remove battery. Better from the top or wheel well? The current battery is a interstate battery in the car now. Also any suggestions if I should jump battery. My thought is no with sensitive electrical system in the car.

I could give battery a charge but it is three years old and most batteries die here even with a trickle charger on it. If I charge I assume I should disconnect the connector below or at the terminals.

Carnab

 

Get a Sears Platinum in group 34. Access the battery through the wheel well.
Jumping is not recommended. But the reason is then your alternator is working overtime trying to recharge the dead battery....greatly shortens the life of the alternator...which is a weak point in the 348 already...so why possibly make matters worse? Either charge it with a battery charger, or swap it out.

The other reason for an AGM battery (Absorbed Glass Mat) technology, is they are sealed, and will never spill electrolyte, nor do they ever require topping up with water. Access is a pain on the 355 and 348, so it just saves a lot of work trying to get in there and check the electrolyte level every 6 months to a year.