348 window dead most of the time | FerrariChat

348 window dead most of the time

Discussion in '348/355' started by yelcab, Oct 8, 2011.

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  1. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,673
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    So I got this 348 with windows that act up 90% of the time. They do down but don't always come back up unless I keep pushing on the button repeatedly. Finally got tired of it so off came the door panels ... for troubleshooting

    Motor disconnected at the motor, apply 12v directly to the motor, it goes up and down quite nicely. Likely not the motor.

    Activate window switches from driver and passenger side, measure the voltage at the motor connection without connecting them to the motor. +11.5V is seen with polarity switched back and forth with the switch direction. Likely not the switches themselves.

    Connect the motor back, put a volt meter on the connections, activate the window switches and ... 0V is seen when the window is not working, and then sometimes 8.5V is seen when the motor is working.

    My theory: The circuit goes from the battery, through the ignition controlled relay, and then to a second relay for the windows, and under a load, the window relay is crapping out.

    Does my theory hold water?
     
  2. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
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    Jeff B.
    Sounds to me like a classic case of bad connections or broken wires at the twist connectors in the door jamb. Have you checked there? Just open the door and look for the rubber bellows by the hinges. Peel back the bellows and look where the wires attach to the back of the pins. I suspect that the problem will be apparent.
     
  3. dertizjos

    dertizjos Formula Junior

    Jul 20, 2011
    453
    New Jersey
    I had this same problem with my windows. They would always go down but going up, especially the passenger side when using the drivers side switch, was a hit and miss proposition. Even when they did work they were very slow.

    I finally got the window accelerators and hooked them up. This did help to speed the windows up a bit, certainly not perfect, but better. But, the problem of the window up situation continued. I finally took the switch on the drivers side out and tested the system with another switch I had lying around. They worked perfect. I then cleaned the contacts on the original switch and had to "bend" a couple of the prongs to make the plug fit tight.

    After all this, the windows work perfect. They go up and down as they are supposed to everytime I use the switch. The passenger side is still a little slow at the very top but I can live with that.

    So, if you have not already done this, I would pull the switches, make sure the plug is holding tight and clean the contacts. It worked for me so hopefully it will for you as well.

    Good Luck.
     
  4. Dave Monk

    Dave Monk Karting

    Apr 23, 2010
    213
    SW Virginia
    Full Name:
    David Monk
    For some reason my passenger window wigs out every so many months. My problem is in the switches. I pop them out, spray some contact cleaner in them and I'm good to go for a few more months.
     
  5. GTDoc

    GTDoc Rookie

    Sep 6, 2011
    23
    I've had an intermittent window problem also. Do the switches just "pop" out? Any special tools or precautions ? Thanks too all :)
     
  6. dertizjos

    dertizjos Formula Junior

    Jul 20, 2011
    453
    New Jersey
    Mine just popped out. I used a plastic interior tool and popped it out. Very Simple. Good Luck.
     
  7. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
    13,673
    San Carlos, CA
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    Mitchell Le
    Yes I did. They looked clean, uncorroded, and likely not the problem here.

    The switch just popped out, but I have cleaned them. And without a load, they worked fine when I measured the voltage across the motor pins.
     
  8. mdsassaman

    mdsassaman Karting

    Nov 4, 2006
    246
    Reading, PA
    Full Name:
    Mike Sassaman
    I had the same problem but found one broken wire in the harness on the drivers side right at the connector to the door jamb. I pulled back the rubber bellows and found it. I fixed it and all works well again.
    Mike
     
  9. jim94-348

    jim94-348 Formula Junior
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Aug 19, 2010
    981
    Greenville, NC
    Full Name:
    Jim
    There are only a few things it can be. A bad switch, bad relay, or bad wiring. Sounds like it happens on both windows so it is had to believe that both switches are bad. I would leave that for last in the trouble shooting.

    The weight of the window and seal resistance are what makes the window going up such an issue if they go up fine then I would think that the wiring is fine. These are DC motor so reversing the voltage to the motor reverses the motor. There should only be two wires on the motor. These same wires feed it up and down so if it goes up I would assume the wiring was fine.

    That said, it really sounds like a bad relay. I would believe that the relay switches the polarity. Try swapping the relay for the window with another relay that is the same. I would think that it is the quickest test. If that doesn't work try jumping out the window switch and see if it always goes up and down. If that doesn't work it has to be a wiring issue. I really think the relay should take care of it.

    Hope this helps!
     
  10. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
    13,673
    San Carlos, CA
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    Mitchell Le
    The relay part number is 40130007. I could use a source. Any pointer?
     
  11. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
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    Jeff B.
    40130007 is the Ferrari part number. What you need is the Bosch number, which is 0332014113. According to the wiring diagram, there are nine of these relays in the panel in the footwell, should be easy to swap one of the others into the position of the window relay, for test purposes.

    I don't think the relay switches the polarity, it just opens and closes the circuit.
     
  12. chipbiii

    chipbiii F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2008
    11,026
    SC
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    chipb
    #12 chipbiii, Oct 11, 2011
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2011
    Here's one for you: On my 348 Spider when you open the DRIVER'S side door beyond ten inches from closed and hit the driver's door rocker switch to raise the PASSENGER side window it goes up and down just fine. BUT, close the driver's side door to within about 10 inches or less from being shut and THEN the same switch will no longer raise the PASSENGER window, although the window switch actually ON the passenger door panel raises and lowers it every time. Go figure. Anyone have any insight on THAT one?
     
  13. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
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    Jeff B.
    I have to ask, have you pulled back the bellows and checked the back of the twist connector? If things change as you open and close the door, I think there is a strong possibility that one of the wires is broken and is moving around under the boot, making intermittant contact.
     
  14. chipbiii

    chipbiii F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2008
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    chipb
    As soon as I get my car back from the belt and cam service I'll try it. What you suggested really does seem logical and I appreciate your help. Thanks!
     
  15. mdsassaman

    mdsassaman Karting

    Nov 4, 2006
    246
    Reading, PA
    Full Name:
    Mike Sassaman
    My windows did the same thing dorr open window worked door closed it didn't. it even affected the passenger window sometimes. Mine was one broken wire at the connector on the drivers side at the door jamb. I think it was a white and blue wire. When I fixed the wire to the connector by stripping the wire, prying open the connector and re-crimping it everything works fine. I think when you closed the door it streched the wire and pulled it away from the crimp connector. Luckily I have the tool for the Scuderia Rampante Gold kit to use to remove the crimped connector from the plastic plug. I got lucky and found the broken wire easily and fixed it. My windows are fine and fast now.
    Mike
    Reading, PA
     
  16. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
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    Update:

    changing the relays did not fix the problem.
    Found one broken wire blue/purple at the driver side connector, fixed it, and did not fix the problem either.
     
  17. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Dec 1, 2004
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    Bruce Bogart
    IIRC, yellow/red is power, but all those wires are a pita.
     
  18. redzone

    redzone Formula 3
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    Mar 31, 2007
    1,218
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    John
    mine are slow,have been slow,will always be slow,BUT my interiors not sticky
     
  19. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Dec 1, 2004
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    Bruce Bogart
    YOUR windows WORK?
     
  20. fdekeu

    fdekeu Formula Junior
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    Jun 19, 2008
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    Belzium
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    Frank
  21. tamf328

    tamf328 Formula Junior

    Mar 9, 2005
    477
    you need a volt/ohm meter.. I had that problem with my 348. wires in the door jam, usually the driver side because it gets used more.
    I also ordered those pins for the connector and fixed other things that would work
    "sometimes" like the mirrors....
    Someone mentioned they had problems in the area with the connector part on the fender side.

    the quality control on that car of mine was lacking..
     
  22. redzone

    redzone Formula 3
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    Mar 31, 2007
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    #22 redzone, Oct 25, 2011
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2011
    LOL yes but slow,I know I know, Im one of the lucky ones..too funny....so embarrasing when I pull up to someone & go to roll down the window and....its...slooooowly goes down.Now Ill admit there are times where the passenger side will stick up & I have to open the door to let it go down...equally lame.
     

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