BB lights on runs hotter

Well, my car never runs over 90 C but from time to time the gauge hits 100. Yes im contradicting myself, read on.....When my car reads 100 I tap the gauge with my finger, presto 90C again. My friend spent over $1000 going through his cooling system to solve the same problem I have only to find a tap of the gauge glass put the gauge back to 90 C LMAO, I rub that one in on the regular basis. Verify your engine temp is indeed what the gauge says, easy to do with an infrared temp gun. Perhaps not your problem but something to keep in mind.

 

That brings back memories. My BB512i routinely ran 85-90c water temp on the hottest summer day. A few years back my BB512i started running a 95-100c water temp. I replaced the temp sensor, thermostat, had the radiators rebuilt... all with no change. A friend of mine then ask had I had the alternators checked...so, I drove the old girl down the Autozone where they plugged one of those electronic auto electrical system diagnostic machines up which showed that both alternators were bad. I had the alternators rebuilt at a local auto electric shop for about $200 each and my water temp went back done to 85-90c even in these 100f Georgia summer days...teh battery alone does not put out enough current to spin all three fans at fun speed...after the rebuilt alternators were installed you could hear and feel the air from the fans was much stronger...you can fly a kit over the front vents now! LoL...Ferrari's are odd machines...take you Boxer to Autozone, Pep Boys or NAPA and they will check your alternators in their parking lot for free..report back what you find...

 

It might be your alternator, or it might be your fans too.
My car started overheating a little last summer. Turned out the brushes in the fan motors were pretty well shot. There were still making full contact, but were so short I don't think the spring pressure was great enough to allow full voltage. After replacing the brushs the fans all ran with noticeably more gusto!
John

 

many of my lesser v8 Ferrari's would have changes in the gauge readings with the lights on. i never worried about as it was a predictable change that i could duplicate during the day with the lights on.

 

nope,never had a issue.
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This observation is spot on... Both the oil pressure and water temperature readings will increase by approximately a
"needle's-width" or so, with the headlights on. My BB has done this for 20 years...and have seen this in many 308's, as well. The vehicle does not even have to be moving, or the engine running to see this oddity. Just one of those quirks that makes these cars so endearing...

Regards,
David

 

they are so underated IMO,great to drive with all that noise and drama.

 

Aftermarket fans are not necessary. If everything is working as designed, a Boxer or any other Ferrari for that matter will not run hot at all. My BB512i water temp runs ~90c even on these recent 100f+ Georgia summer days with OEM fans...unless you are racing it, if a Boxer needs aftermarket fans you must have some other problem that needs repair. I would not mask that problem with aftermarket fans...just my HO...

 

On my BB512 my gauges go up around 10% when I put the lights on. I believe that this is just due to the old grounding of the instruments behind the dash ro maybe the gimpy rheostat. One of these days I will pull the dash to recover it. When I do I'll make sure to clean these points. For now it's just not a big deal.

As a foot note, my Daytona's ammeter use to swing wildly until I went through the entire car and cleaned every friggen ground and major connector. Took a day. But now the gauge is rock solid.

Drew Altemara

 

I wish I could see my gauges at night, I just look for the glowing red ball in the fuel gauge area of the dash and know I at least wont run out of fuel. As for temp and other readings at night, I need night vision goggles or I need to make the lights brighter.

 

I think that's the rheostat. John Corbani in the Dino section had a good post about why the interior lights on these period cars as so dull. Basically, you can modify the rheostat so that contact is made more directly when in the full position. For the heck of it, pull the tach and short through the rheostat by connecting the two wires. I bet you will be amazed how much brighter the interior lights are.

 

I plan to, the time is the problem, the 308 suffers the same problem - great italian wiring and switches.