WINDOW ACCELERATORS

Search the forum archives (STFA.) This has been discussed before. But to answer your question, yes, I did order a set and they work exactly as described. You should clean the old grease (which has the consistency of hardened concrete) from the electric motor and spool while you're in there. Doing both will help with window speed.

 

I think cleaning the grease is a must do - if you increase the voltage to the motor without doing so I think you run the risk of possibly burning the thing out.

 

One of FChatt's sponsor, RICAMBI sells such a product. If fact I have a box with two sitting in my garage that I have yet to install ... I've just been so busy or lazy to install yet...I will soon though and post how well it works. http://www.ricambiamerica.com/door.htm

 

If you replace the grease and freshen all the electrical connections you'll get the same result.

Check the connector where the wires pass from the door to the car body. If they look like this (pretty common) you have to fix it first.
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How about after doing this plus add the accelerator would that be ok?

 

Alright then, lets see if I have a handle on this. The window accelerators work by providing a positive (good) ground to the chassis. Is this correct? However, the REAL problem is lack of 12 volts to the motors due to the length, and connections, of the wiring. Is this correct? I'd really like some input before I tackle the windows on my 308 GTSi.

Thanks in advance, Steve Schroeder

 

Based on a number of other's posts, I believe that is not necessarily true. The accelerator seems to help with voltage issues that cannot always be fixed by cleaning, greasing, and fixing/cleaning electrical connections alone. The accelerators seem to be a real improvement over the original design, even when the original components and electrical parts are working at their optimum.

 

There are 2 problems:
1) The old grease in the regulators & window cable rollers - Take care of it first by following this procedure:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/114996.html

2) Low voltage to the motors due the marginal size wiring, & switches with tarnished contacts.

IMHO, the 'accelerators' only half address the problem for 308s & Mondials. The best fix for low voltage is Mike Tarrant's relay fix as it addresses losses in BOTH the power & ground circuit paths. Here's Mike's write-up:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/2175.html

Unfortunately, the original wiring diagram & pix for that thread were lost with the hard drive crash. Sorry the following scan of the printout isn't more legible, Can't seem to find the original printout:
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"2) Low voltage to the motors due the marginal size wiring, & switches with tarnished contacts.

IMHO, the 'accelerators' only half address the problem for 308s & Mondials. The best fix for low voltage is Mike Tarrant's relay fix as it addresses losses in BOTH the power & ground circuit paths. Here's Mike's write-up:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/2175.html

Unfortunately, the original wiring diagram & pix for that thread were lost with the hard drive crash."

quoting from post above ^^^^^^

does this (4) changeover relay fix recommended for 328/Mondial cars, have any relation to 355 models? I like this idea, but wonder if the application and instructions are pertinent?

 

I wasn't aware F355s had an issue with slow windows. Myself and five friends that had them never did. Might just be a process of cleaning up the connectors and grounds. But then I never really had issues with my 328 either. My 308 improved considerably by the simplest of fixes. I lubricated the window felts at the front and back with some silicone spray. Did it once every 6 months. There is a lot of friction at those points, particularly with decades old and hard rubber felts. I never got around to replacing them due to the silicone trick working so well.