308 windows.... ugh | FerrariChat

308 windows.... ugh

Discussion in '308/328' started by sfrazier, Mar 9, 2015.

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  1. sfrazier

    sfrazier Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    May 18, 2004
    51
    Concord, CA
    Full Name:
    SeanF
    guys and gals,

    need some help. Put my 84 308 away last weekend and the windows were working. got in it yesterday and neither window will go up. no clicking, no nothing.

    any ideas on where i should start looking? Since both are inoperable i was thinking fuse but i think they are on separate fuses, which wouldn't make much sense.

    any help is greatly appreciated.

    thx.

    - sean
     
  2. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
    5,327
    Montana
    Full Name:
    Kim
    As soon as I purchased my cars (all 3) The first thing I did was replace the OEM fuse block with bird man's fuse blocks, solved every ghostly electrical issue my cars had. $120, and about an hour and a half of your time. Very simple to install and worth every penny.
     
  3. pad

    pad Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2004
    1,426
    Tequesta, FL
    Full Name:
    Paul Delatush
    +1 on Birdman fuse block.

    Meanwhile, check the ground to chassis connection. IIRC, it's located under the dash left of center.
     
  4. Fave

    Fave F1 Rookie

    Aug 12, 2010
    4,157
    Tarana
    Full Name:
    L. Ike Hunt
    OMG people, would you start spending money properly on your cars and not some cheap home made alternative.

    Birdman's fuse boxes are junk. The OEM work perfectly!

    If I ever look to buy another 308 and see a birdcrap box in there I'm turning around and walking the other way.
     
  5. tomberlin

    tomberlin Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 9, 2005
    849
    Bethesda
    Full Name:
    tom berlin
    Interesting perspective.
     
  6. Ferraridoc

    Ferraridoc F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 20, 2012
    17,220
    Gold Coast, Aust.
    Full Name:
    Patrick
    .....yeah, well, hmm. Anyway Sean, lots of threads on this, but checking the fuse panel is a good start. Lots of current drain on the circuit, so if the fuses aren't blown, give them a twirl to clean the contacts. Lots more voltage with the engine running than off, so make sure you're testing with the engine on (and alt light off).
     
  7. Glassman

    Glassman F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    All the trappings of a joke without the smiley. Or not.
     
  8. Steve King

    Steve King F1 Rookie

    Feb 15, 2001
    4,367
    NY
    Did you check the relays?
     
  9. sfrazier

    sfrazier Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    May 18, 2004
    51
    Concord, CA
    Full Name:
    SeanF
    Thanks folks. Haven't checked anything yet (had to go out of town) but will be digging into it this weekend.

    Not opposed to the birdman's fusebox (not a purist) but they've worked fine (and slow) for 12 years so just looking for a place to start troubleshooting.

    Thanks again all!

    - sean


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. NoGoSlow

    NoGoSlow Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 29, 2014
    641
    Republic of Texas
    Full Name:
    Mark Jacks
    My, somebody's afternoon nap must have been interrupted. :)
     
    Andreas Engesvik likes this.
  11. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
    5,327
    Montana
    Full Name:
    Kim
    So which is it? Do you like them or not?

    I swear by the bird man fuse blocks! Even installed a pair in my riding lawnmower
     
  12. Kidasters

    Kidasters Formula Junior

    Oct 4, 2013
    546
    Houston, Tx
    Full Name:
    Ken
    So - instead of slinging crap - do you have anything to back this up?
     
  13. Argento839

    Argento839 F1 Veteran

    Oct 21, 2005
    9,103

    I can just tell everyone that this is complete nonsense. The OEM boxes are complete crap. The Birdman fuses boxes are excellent and eliminated the many wiring gremlins caused by the OEM boxes that melt..
     
  14. Fave

    Fave F1 Rookie

    Aug 12, 2010
    4,157
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    L. Ike Hunt
    Summed up perfectly
     
  15. Fave

    Fave F1 Rookie

    Aug 12, 2010
    4,157
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    L. Ike Hunt
    So I'll say it again... I sold my set to an automotive electrical engineer for his 308, he paid me $50, looked at them and asked if they were a prototype. I said no they are the real birdman deal, he put them down, told me to keep the $50 and was sorry for wasting my time.

    The OEM boxes aren't the problem. Keep telling yourself they are and put the window relays in, in time some of you may learn.

    Funny how people expect Ferrari money when they sell their car, but don't spend it when they own it.
     
  16. Argento839

    Argento839 F1 Veteran

    Oct 21, 2005
    9,103
    #16 Argento839, Mar 9, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    You flat out don't know what you're talking about. The OEM fuse blocks are complete garbage. Like the redesigned water pump, Birdman's fuse blocks are a vast improvement over OEM..
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  17. Brian Harper

    Brian Harper F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 17, 2006
    4,078
    San Jose area
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    Brian Harper
    Which relay should he check?
     
  18. Corrupt File

    Corrupt File Karting

    Jun 17, 2013
    111
    Canada.
    I have heard and read many people complaining about widows, personally mine go up and down quite quickly and reliably. Only once did my fuse (original from 1977) blow. Replaced it and everything worked fine and dandy. Would I ever think of replacing Ferraris OEM, fuse box, no. No I wouldnt.
     
  19. Kidasters

    Kidasters Formula Junior

    Oct 4, 2013
    546
    Houston, Tx
    Full Name:
    Ken
    I'm waiting for you to give us a fix, rather than just complain about someone else's work. By not giving anything specific to remedy that which you trash talk - you make yourself irrelevant.
     
  20. Fave

    Fave F1 Rookie

    Aug 12, 2010
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    L. Ike Hunt
    You going to put a Chevy engine in when the 308 needs a rebuild?

    Wonder how many of the restorers here are putting birdflu boxes in their cars
     
  21. AN-M

    AN-M Formula Junior

    Jun 30, 2012
    367
    Norway
    Full Name:
    André
    The solution is a soldering iron and some abrasive. No more oxidation round the rivets.
     
  22. Fave

    Fave F1 Rookie

    Aug 12, 2010
    4,157
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    L. Ike Hunt
    Pretty sure I said it, use OEM fuse boxes. You can still buy them.
    Look up window motor repair. Lots of threads on cleaning and fixing them without using relays. Replace connectors and track down poorly working electrical components fix/replace. It's a basic 12v system but it's old and needs maintenance.
    If your fusebox is rusty, you got issues elsewhere as well, no cheap alternative is the solution.

    Is that better?
     
  23. scowman

    scowman F1 Rookie

    Mar 25, 2014
    2,550
    Scottsdale AZ
    Full Name:
    Stu Boogie
    #23 scowman, Mar 10, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2015
    I have no dog in this fight over Birdman's product as I have never used it.

    Regarding the OEM fuse block and the one shown in the pics above I have a couple of thoughts.

    The one above is highly corroded and looks like it was exposed to a moist environment for years. If yours looks like that you probably have problems. Mine is much more shinny than that (CA car) and I have only had one problem that I fixed.

    You can improve the stock OEM block by soldering the rivets (both sides) pinching the clamps inward, and burnishing the contact points with a drill bit. My problem went away:)

    Birdman has helped me (and I assume others on fchat) with his technical guides. Birdman seems to me to be a hobbyist rather than a commercial vendor. Because of that I feel that more respect should be paid to him and his products than Fave did in his original post.

    Humility does not come naturally to me (I own a Ferrari for god's sake) so I have said things like Fave did ever since I can remember (my mother breaks out my kinder garden report card to remind me all the time). I struggle with that all the time.

    I'm not religious and only attend church for things like weddings. Anyways, when I go, we always end up saying the Lord's prayer which strikes me as a simple but true philosophy of life... "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us."

    Guys, let's please be respectful of each other on fchat. This is a great place to find community with others who share a love of something. And when someone steps over the line, let's forgive them just as we hope they will forgive us when we step over the line.
     
  24. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jan 11, 2008
    41,692
    Sarasota
    Full Name:
    David
    I don't know that the subject deserves such passion either way.
    ;)

    By this time many of the original fuse blocks need replacing. If you're doing a full restro or are a purist the OEM is the way to go. If you're just looking for something that will reliable over the long run go Birdman. They're a quality product and they replace the ceramic style fuses with the more "modern" glass type fuses which are much more humidity tolerant.
     
  25. Argento839

    Argento839 F1 Veteran

    Oct 21, 2005
    9,103
    I'd say you owe Birdman an apology but you owe yourself an apology. I'm embarrassed for you.
     

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