355 alternator fault & location ?? | FerrariChat
Buy

355 alternator fault & location ??

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by spiderscott, Dec 27, 2004.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,662
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    #1 spiderscott, Dec 27, 2004
    Can anyone tell me the best way to access the alternator on a 96 355 ??. Im guessing its jacking up the car and taking the rear floor pans off, but just want to check incase there is another way.

    While im on the subject and the reason for the question, my 355 dash battery light started to flicker a couple of times today on a long journey (about 1.5 hrs) and in heavy traffic, the car then started to sound and idle wrong. I also noticed my rev counter die and what I thought was my fuel gauge just drop by 1/2 a tank so I pulled over to check it out, couldnt see anything obvious in the engine bay and went to restart the car ...... NOTHING there no juice, just faint dash lights and the starter click noise, battery dead. So sounds to me like a possible alternator ?? Are these common problems on 355 (I dont recall reading any threads on it).

    Any difficulties changing an alternator myself .... or is it back to dealer again (had cam belts 5 weeks ago).
     
  2. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,662
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    #2 spiderscott, Dec 27, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    By the way if anyone was wondering.....yes that was me today on the side of the M3 motorway for 2 hours waiting for the recovery truck!! Sorry about the traffic jam I caused, seems everyone wanted to look at the broken down 355.

    And thanks to the 40+ motorists who beeped and the other 100s who drove past laughing.... keep me entertained in the freezing weather. Luckily I managed to get the hood up using the emergency backup procedure.

    Had one guy call out "should have brought a Porsche, more reliable" and a couple of girls who told me it was the funnist thing they had seen all day !!

    Heres a pic just for your amusement.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  3. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,620
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    #3 ernie, Dec 27, 2004
    Hey Scott I feel your pain. I had to push my 348 because the alternator went out. I told one guy, I would rather push my Ferrari than drive a Porsche. Hahahaaa. As for getting to the alternator that is easy. Yes all you have to do is get the car in the air, and then remove the rear undertray. The alternator is on the right hand side of your car, looking at the back towards the front. Since you are in England, call up QV London and ask for Mike. They sould be able to rebuild your alternator for you. Don't waist your money on a new one from the dealer.
     
  4. GTO84

    GTO84 Formula Junior

    Dec 13, 2003
    566
    #4 GTO84, Dec 27, 2004
    If your cam belts were just done, check the battery cables on the right side of the engine bay under the access cover. They may have been left loose.
     
  5. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,055
    USA
    #5 f355spider, Dec 27, 2004
    Early 355's did not have a proper ground strap from the alternator to the engine. There is a "upgrade" part you can get from the dealer for $10 or $15. Basically a heavy wire with terminals on each end. Connect one to the alternator, the other to the engine (I think a oil pan nut). That's it, problem likely solved. (unless the lack of said ground fried your alternator)

    As others mentioned, check all your other cables, grounds and such, and probably not a bad idea to have the battery and alternator tested to be sure.

    Dave
     
  6. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,662
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    #6 spiderscott, Dec 28, 2004
    thanks for your help guys, I will take a look under the car and report back with my findings.

    Scott
     

Share This Page