308 GT4 Emergency Window Crank Operation

I had a problem with my Euro GT4 drivers side window on my stopped raising, lucky it turned out to be a switch, which I replaced with the correct early style switch, I had bought many years ago.

I decided to try my emergency window crank as I had never used it, or needed to use it, and was curious how it worked. I got it out inserted it and it felt like something was going to break and with no response from the mechanism, except some clunking, I stopped. I got the one out of my US GT4 only to find out it was different style, and obviously the correct one for these GT4's with a split pin inserted in it, that would engage in the grooves in the hole. But when I tried that one in both GT4's I could not get either one to work at all, and fearing unintentional damage, decided to ask if anyone had ever use one of these and their experience??? I assumed it would spin easily but all I felt was some clunking like the crank was jumping out of the hole and grooves. I have learned never to force anything on these old cars and hoping to hear from anyone that has made this work?

Rob

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I tried my window crank out of curiosity once and couldn't get it to turn either. As you described, there was far too much resistance to make it turn. I gave up fearing a catastrophe, put the crank back in the pouch and haven't tried it since.

 

You need not only to engage the pin / flats in the slot but then to push inwards in order to disengage the gear from the worm on the electric motor. If you don't do so, you'll break something. Even when you can freely push the handle all the way in (against a spring), you need to push pretty hard. If the car has not had the winder inserted fully in recent years, then it's probably stuck or corroded and might require quite some force (and penetrating oil). And finally, when you've managed to disengage the motor by inserting the handle fully, it will turn smoothly but still takes quite a bit of effort. It's a good idea to insert the handle fully from time to time and get some lubricant in there - not only does it mean it will work in an emergency but it helps that part of the mechanism to turn more freely in normal use.

 

Thanks for the responses! My 74 is the frame off restoration and grease came out on the pin. I did not feel the spring on that car but did on the 75 US version, but still neither would turn. Just glad my window is working now!!!

 

Played with them again today. My restored car may have motors that do not have the spring loaded part installed, and my factory car would not work no matter what I did and like I said Id rather not break anything. Kind of sad as I always though I could use it in an emergency......

 

It is quite hard to turn and it does sort of feel like you are going to break something. Not only that but it makes an awful noise as you are doing it. I have used them often and never an issue.

 

Brian,
I spend more time fixings things I broke, while trying to fix something that isn't broke! I will try again next time I have the door panel off as it sounds like its jumping out of the slots. Do the later cars have a different engagement for the other crank above?

 

Maybe Ferrari should have included the same emergency window tool as the Countach... A hammer.

 

Yes, as I understand it there's an early and a late window crank....

 

will both types of cranks work? pinned or finned in all windows ?

 

Paul,

No they won't. I have an original and a restored car and could not get either to work at all. I tried till I felt I was going to break something that was working fine. Not sure whats up with that but I carried the tool for 15+ years incase of emergency only to not have it work at all. Others say its works easy but that was not my experience....