1985 308 tries to commit suicide | FerrariChat
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1985 308 tries to commit suicide

Discussion in '308/328' started by more ron, Dec 25, 2011.

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  1. more ron

    more ron Rookie

    Oct 10, 2009
    4
    pittsburgh, pa
    Full Name:
    ron miller
    #1 more ron, Dec 25, 2011
    I took my 1985 308 gts in to get the required yearly Pennsylvania inspection. The car is brought home and put in the garage at 8. Seven and a half hours later I wake up from the smoke that has filled my house. I find out that the Ferrari is smoking and it smells like an electrical fire. I disconnect the battery and the smoking stops so I go back to bed and call my insurance agent in the morning who informs me that that my fire insurance will only cover a "fire" and to take it to the service station to verify. Has anyone else had a similar problem? I do not see any visable damage but I am afraid to connect the battery. Anyoye have a similar experience?
     
  2. Robz328

    Robz328 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 16, 2009
    6,299
    ATL, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Rob Hemphill
    #2 Robz328, Dec 26, 2011
    Welcome to FChat!

    If the car operated normally and you removed the key, my initial guess would be an alarm system or radio/entertainment system which remains powered after turn-off.

    Start searching and Good luck...I'm glad you just smelled smoke vice getting asphyxiated and that your car didn't burn down.
     
  3. Trainman

    Trainman Rookie

    Oct 13, 2011
    47
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Gene
    #3 Trainman, Dec 26, 2011
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2011
    Similar experience, but not in an F-car.

    If it was smoking up to the point you disconnected the battery, you probably have a short in the unfused side of the electrical system. (Unless there's a bad fuse that didn't blow!)

    Where was the smoke coming from? Front compartment? Engine bay? Passenger compartment?

    According to the 308 wiring diagram, there are only three unfused lines off the battery:
    Cable to the starter motor/alternator
    Power lead to the ignition switch
    Power lead to battery bus terminal board which then goes everywhere.

    If you have any aftermarket wiring, you'll have to track those wires on your own.

    If there was no smoke in the passenger compartment, I would start by inspecting the cable to the starter and alternator. Proximity to the exhaust manifold can cause melting of the insulation and shorts.

    After that, a peek behind the fuse box cover and under the dash for a burned wire would be in order. With that much smoke, you shouldn't have too much difficulty finding the fried wire.
     
  4. JV's89

    JV's89 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 18, 2006
    7,303
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    John
    #4 JV's89, Dec 26, 2011
    Welcome Ron

    What part of town are you from?
     
  5. tatcat

    tatcat F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2001
    11,013
    panama city beach FL
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    rick c
    #5 tatcat, Dec 26, 2011
    i'm thinking cable to starter. may have been crushed when the monkeys put the car on the lift.
     
  6. Champboat/Champcar

    Champboat/Champcar Formula Junior

    Jan 29, 2007
    885
    Freeport NY
    Full Name:
    Eric T
    #6 Champboat/Champcar, Dec 27, 2011
    I would start by looking in the area where you saw the smoke , look for any melted wires , separate them from any other wires that are close , you should be able to detect which wires got hot just by looking , , then trace the wires to wherever they go , and see if you can disconnect them at the source, by close inspection you can separate + cut out what needs to be replaced , buts its important to find where the hot wire got shorted out at .it must have touched a piece of metal on the car or a ground wire in the harness . You are very lucky the car + house or garage did not catch fire . you are very lucky .
     
  7. 350HPMondial

    350HPMondial F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 1, 2002
    5,325
    18 mi from the surf,, close to Pismo, CA
    Full Name:
    Edwardo
    #7 350HPMondial, Dec 28, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Yep,
    glad your house didn't burn down.
    (whew)

    Edwardo
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