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10 MPH Standing Still?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Paul308, Aug 22, 2006.

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  1. Paul308

    Paul308 Formula Junior

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    #1 Paul308, Aug 22, 2006
    I just saw the thread where one of the guys was asking about the two slow down lights on the 83 where the 85's have just one (like mine). There was a picture attached which shows the speedometer at 10 MPH. Just today I noticed that when I'm at a red light, my speedometer reads 10 MPH as well. I think the speedometer is relatively accurate once I get going but wondered if anyone else has an issue where their speedometer doesn't read 0 MPH when the car is at a dead stop. Perhaps our 308's are simply so fast they're never standing still! ;-)

    Paul
     
  2. GTHill

    GTHill F1 World Champ
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    #2 GTHill, Aug 22, 2006
    I thought the same thing when I got my 328. Look really, really close. You will see that there is a needle holding from going less that 10. Why? Who wants to know when they are going slow?

    Gene
     
  3. 328gtsfan

    328gtsfan Formula Junior

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    #3 328gtsfan, Aug 22, 2006
    Could it be so the needle does not block the trip meter?

    Greg
     
  4. GTHill

    GTHill F1 World Champ
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    #4 GTHill, Aug 23, 2006
    It would slightly block the tripmeter, but I'm not sure that is the reason. My guess is that Ferrari noticed it was inaccurate under 10 MPH so they just did what they did. Well, that is a complete guess, and most likely wrong.

    Gene
     
  5. moretti

    moretti Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 moretti, Aug 23, 2006
    I've heard it was because Enzo considered his cars were never meant to standstill or something similar .... but it seems it was done intentionally at Enzo's request
     
  6. lusso64

    lusso64 Formula 3

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    #6 lusso64, Aug 23, 2006
    You are almost correct :) Legend has it that all Ferraris are made this way per Enzo himself. "Even at rest, a Ferrari looks like it is moving, and so says the speedometer" or words to that effect.

    I have read this in a few different places and in the absence of a better explanation, seems good enough for me.
     
  7. moretti

    moretti Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 moretti, Aug 23, 2006
    Dave, we are in sync dude :D

    get back to the States OK ?

    Sorry we missed you

    JM
     
  8. 328gtsfan

    328gtsfan Formula Junior

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    #8 328gtsfan, Aug 23, 2006
    I can't imagine it is due to bouncy/inaccuarte needles, as other manufacturers didn't suffer from this problem back in the 80s.

    However it sounds like company policy has changed.. as the newer cars show zero :)
     
  9. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

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    #9 Birdman, Aug 23, 2006
    The needle fell off my speedo when I first got my 308, so I carefully opened the case and snapped it back on, not realizing that it was supposed to be 10 MPH at rest (it is) and now my speedo reads 10 MPH too slow. I have to always remember that I'm going faster than I think so I won't get busted.

    Anyway, YES, it is supposed to be 10 MPH when standing still.

    I'm guessing that the pulse generator in the sending unit doesn't work below 10 MPH (the pulses are too weak) and so the needle doesn't move until you hit 10 MPH, so they just tweaked the speedo resting position to account for it. That whole story about Enzo can't possibly be true!

    Birdman
     
  10. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 DGS, Aug 23, 2006
    That's a wonderful story about Enzo.

    But the speedos in all my Alfas had the same thing. :p

    I'd guess it's an MM/Veglia thing.
     
  11. Crallscars

    Crallscars F1 Rookie

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    #11 Crallscars, Aug 23, 2006
    Well at least your/our speedo has numbers over "85"

    What a great idea our government had!

    Doug Crall
     
  12. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

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    #12 Birdman, Aug 24, 2006
    "But officer, I was only going 85."
     
  13. jon s

    jon s Formula Junior

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    #13 jon s, Aug 25, 2006
    birdman: what did you do to open the speedo case? jon s.
     
  14. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

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    #14 Birdman, Aug 26, 2006
    The speedo is held together by a chrome ring around the bezel which you have to carefully peel off without damaging it. Not really hard to take apart. Just be careful because the plastic case is old and the lip that the ring grabs is very fragile. If you crack it off, there is nothing for the ring to clamp again.

    Birdman
     
  15. branko

    branko F1 Rookie
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    #15 branko, Aug 26, 2006
    It may not be correct but it works for me.
     

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