308 Wiper/lights problem

Hi all
I’ve got an issue with the wipers and lights, with the lights turned on I turn on the wipers and I can hear the relays clicking and the pods dip slightly whilst the lights flicker off, then I pull the wiper switch down again and everything turns off. It also happens when I wiggle the wiper switch. I have had the column switch out and checked for damaged or burnt wires, cleaned the contacts and all looks OK. I've also cleaned earth piont, No fuse has blown and I’ve replaced both Bosch relays. Could it be the intermittent box ? It's a 77 308 GTB, at some piont in it's life it's had the Birdman fuse box upgrade installed.

Steve

 

Steve,

With Italian electrics, it's always a bad earth first - try tracing the circuit and shorting out the earths.

Good luck

Patrick

 

Can you identify (by touching) which relays are clicking?

 

I've just pulled the intermittent wiper unit, it was clicking and buzzing like crazy. it's totaly donald ducked but not the problem. I then by-passed the intermittent unit by connecting red and blue (feed and return) and they work fine, allbeit constant. But still if I have the lights on they go off when wipers are turned on !!!!! I'm now ckecking earth connections. The relay that's clicking when I'm turning on the wipers is the main lift motor relay. This one's realy getting to me !!!

 

Checked all earth connections, all OK, don't know what to do now !!!! looks like I will have re-wire a separate circuit for wipers ! I just can not find out why the bloody lights go out when I put on the wipers, idea’s anyone ?

Desperate steve

 

It sounds like a mis-wiring to the stalks. I would check with the correct wiring diagram all the wires going to that area. If fruitless then the wires going to the clattering relay, the light relays and the intermittent wiper relay. Somewhere two or more wires are wrong, my bet. Also, if you don't have the wiring diagram it is available here:

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&drKey=1140&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fferrarichat.com%2Fforum%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D369947&v=1&libid=1347454524558&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ferrari308gtbi.com%2F&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fferrarichat.com%2Fforum%2Fforumdisplay.php%3Ff%3D55&title=1981%20308%20gauge%20wiring..%20help!!%20-%20FerrariChat.com&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ferrari308gtbi.com%2F&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13474545363811

 

Thanks for the input, I’m going to start again tonight.

I’ve just completed a dashboard swap, put in a 328 (nice) and re-located the oil temp and clock, I must add that this problem was there before I started the dash swap so I’m sure it’s nothing I’ve done. I did however; notice that when the lights go out, the one in the clock remained on but not as bright!!! I disconnected it but still have the same problem. I don’t have the instrument cluster in the car, would this cause a problem?? Yes, I bought the wireing diagrams some time ago.

Steve

 

Just to add another observation: It seem that all the relays are clicking! I’ve pulled them out 1 by1 but still have the problem, could it be that some power is getting fed into the earth somehow, surly this would blow a fuse ?

 

Oh didn't realize that you were putting a 328 dash in a 308. Oh boy. I will look over the schematics but need to know 1)is your car US or Euro and year 2)is the transplant US or Euro and year. It might make a difference. Euro cars are wired differently for the light stalk (flashers on later QV) The instrument cluster in the 328 I think is minus a gauge that was moved to the center console. You may literally have to rewire just about everything, connectors, relays, fuses. Big task here. Or, maybe just some lighting and blinker stuff. Need more info. I would also caution even applying power until this is resolved. You may be asking for some serious melted wire,fusebox and potential fire hazard. I'm just sayin'.

 

First, please indicate what version 1977 308 you have -- standard (euro) or US/NA?

Yes, that would be very bad. However, if something that should always be connected to ground isn't, then that wire can get "pulled up" to +12V when you turn something else "on" (and if that same something that should always be ground goes somewhere else -- like to a relay that should be held "on" -- then that relay will go "off"). IMO, the easiest test for you to do would be (per Patrick's suggestion):

You should have a 5-pin, a 6-pin, and an 8-pin connector going to the stalk switches. In the 8-pin connector is an NZ (black-purple) wire. This NZ wire is (or should be ) the ground for both the headlight switch and the wiper switch. With everything still plugged in, you should be able to connect a jumper wire from the metal terminals of this NZ wire that you then connect to a known good ground -- see if this has any (beneficial) effect on the symptom that you are suffering.

 

Just to put the record straight, it’s only the dash I’ve swapped, the only things I’ve moved are the clock and the oil temp gauge into the centre console, not a big job. The biggest problem was getting the door handle remade to suit a 328 dash, slightly different angle. The instrument cluster is the original from the car. It’s a 77 308 US carb. As I’ve said before, the problem seemed to manifest itself a few weeks ago, long before I started the dash swap.

I’m trying to think what I did a few weeks ago that could have caused the problem. I installed two new electric fans in the front, they are meant to pull but I reversed the wires so they push instead, normally not a problem, they work just fine.

The other thing that springs to mind is that I replaced all the lever switches between the seats I,e choke, temp and air etc, and connected up the warning light to the choke. It needed an earth so two connectors on that switch, it works fine.

The other thing I’ve done is to install a CD/radio, it also works ok. I know what you’re thinking, but I’ve been working with cars most of my life, not a total dork.

 

Just going out to the garage now to disconnect the two fans and look at the choke lever and try grounding the purple and black wire, I’ll keep you posted.

 

Yep, broken black/purple wire at the earth piont, I should have checked it more carefully. Thanks again to all.

Steve

 

Glad it was a simple fix. Can you please confirm the physical location of that "earth point" -- is it inside the passenger cabin, and LH or RH side?

 

That was lucky! I was envisioning all sorts of problems doing that conversion. I am glad Steve was able to get you on the right track. Looking forward to your pics.

 

"Can you please confirm the physical location of that "earth point" -- is it inside the passenger cabin, and LH or RH side? "

It's inside the cabin under the dash to the left of the relay board. it has 5 earth wires attached.

 

mille grazie! (If someone has a photo -- please post)