328 Electrical problems---Can You Help?? | FerrariChat
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328 Electrical problems---Can You Help??

Discussion in '308/328' started by Robert T. Kohlman, Jun 11, 2006.

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  1. Robert T. Kohlman

    Robert T. Kohlman Rookie

    Feb 20, 2004
    4
    Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin
    Full Name:
    Robert T. Kohlman
    #1 Robert T. Kohlman, Jun 11, 2006
    My 87 328 GTS has suddenly lost its dash lighting. The tach, speedo, and all gauge lights are affected. The dash warning lights, however, seem to be functioning fine. I have also recently noted I have no exterior fog or side marker lights as well. All other exterior lights including headlights, brake and tail lights, directionals, and reverse lights seem to be working just fine. I have checked the fuses and even replaced the exterior light relay---no Luck ! What gives? Can anyone out there help?

    Bob Kohlman R. Ph.
     
  2. msouza

    msouza Formula Junior

    Mar 14, 2005
    292
    Tennessee
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    Milton Souza
    #2 msouza, Jun 11, 2006
    Bob,

    Before you star tearing the dash apart looking for broken/shorted wire (don't ask how I know it), take a close look at all external light bulbs, most likely you have one burned out.

    Open the rear trunk, take the carpeted panels out, and look at the brake and turn signal light bulbs. Also look at all side makers light bulbs.

    Regards,

    Milton
     
  3. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    15,139
    Atlanta
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    Tom Spiro
    #3 spirot, Jun 11, 2006
    most likely a fuse or relay... simple check on the fuse pannel...diagram should be on the back of the fuse pannel
     
  4. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    May 27, 2003
    72,047
    MidTN
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    DGS
    #4 DGS, Jun 11, 2006
    I had a similar thing on my '88 -- most instrument lights. After checking all the bulbs and doing some tracings, I found a burned connector on the edge of the relay board.

    One thing I noticed on mine: thumping the dash over the relay board would bring them back, when it first happened. It got worse after that until I fixed the connector.
     
  5. MufflerMan

    MufflerMan Formula 3

    Jun 12, 2005
    1,564
    Sacramento Ca
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    Colby Sandman
    #5 MufflerMan, Jun 11, 2006
    It is not uncommon for the solder traces to fracture on the board of these cars, remove the main board and inspect all of the traces, I repaired a customers Testarosssa doing this last week. Before you go that far be sure to check fuses and relays first, always start with the easiest option first. Good luck!
     
  6. AJS328

    AJS328 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Apr 23, 2003
    7,520
    New Jersey
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    Augustine Staino
    #6 AJS328, Jun 12, 2006
    I don't know if this helps but when I got my '87 last year, the gauge lights weren't working. I didn't notice this until night time of course. It turned out to be a broken dimmer switch in my case which the dealer corrected for me.
     
  7. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 DGS, Jun 12, 2006
    Parking lights, instrument panel lights, and front fog lights all go through fuse 16 (15amp).

    Sometimes the fuse may look okay, but is broken where you can't see. (The fuses have openings on each end so you can check for voltage. If the fuse is okay, it should always be zero volts ... not just low (digital meter) but exactly zero.)

    Also, relay "o" drives this fuse. If it clicks it should be okay, but you need a voltmeter to tell for sure.

    These were exactly the symptoms I had on my 328: No instrument lights, fog lights, or parking lights. It wasn't the fuse, it was the connector on the edge of the board that the fuse leads to. (Connector J, yellow wire with red trace. -- at the top of the board, alas, so not quite so easy to inspect without unmounting the board.)
     
  8. Robert T. Kohlman

    Robert T. Kohlman Rookie

    Feb 20, 2004
    4
    Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin
    Full Name:
    Robert T. Kohlman
    #8 Robert T. Kohlman, Aug 10, 2006
    Thanks to all who responded. The problem continues, but does not hamper my daylight driving. My only night-time drive came in Mid-July coming home from a 220 mile jaunt up to Road America for the Brian Redman Vintage Races. I had my headlights up and on just before sunset. Sometime after dusk, the interior and exterior lights just mysteriously flicked on!! When I got home, I turned the car off briefly, then proceeded to start it up again---NO LIGHTS AGAIN! Spooky Huh ?? Since I have had limited time this summer to work on the problem, I haven't solved the puzzle. I have checked the fuses and relays with a voltmeter. I have shaken the fuseboard and "tapped" on the panel. I have also checked and replaced all exterior light bulbs (all were ok). The dimmer switch (WITH THE EMPHASIS ON "DIMMER") was working fine at the time the interior lights were on. At this point, I'll either have to take it to Lake Forest Sportscars or try DGS's suggestion (which I personally feel might be right-on). I am a little hesitant to screw with the Fuse-relay panel--I have not worked on electronics in cars very often. Any tips would be appreciated. I'll keep you posted !
     
  9. wolftalk

    wolftalk Formula Junior

    Jan 27, 2004
    367
    san franciso area
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    phil
    #9 wolftalk, Aug 10, 2006
    just to add a little to DGS description.

    The circuit splits from connector J to the instruments lights and the external lights (there's two yellow/red wires in the connector), so the problem has to be at/between the fuse and connector J if you have 12V on the fuse.

    Relay O is on the opposite side of the fuse from connector J, so if the fuse has 12V, the relay and everything back to the battery is working.

    connector J is the second from the right on the top of the fuse box, and the yellow/red wires are third from the left.

    You should be able to remove a couple screws at the bottom of the fuse box and pull the assembly down far enough to poke a voltmeter onto the yellow/red wires and confirm you lost the 12V. At that point, pull the connector and see what's up. If you are lucky, the pin has just pulled out of the connector shell and you just need to stuff it back in. Second easiest is just a dirty/corroded pin in the connector. Worst case is you have to unplug the entire fuse box and dig into it looking for a cracked solder joint like mufflerman said.

    also, swap the fuse with another one. Could just be a little crud on the fuse blade/socket which will scrape off when you reinsert.
     

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