Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 " STARTER light stays on " | FerrariChat

Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 " STARTER light stays on "

Discussion in '365 GT4 2+2/400/412' started by KAA, Mar 10, 2025.

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

  1. KAA

    KAA Rookie

    Mar 10, 2025
    5
    London UK
    Full Name:
    Kristian
    As I drove my 365 GT 2+2 today the STARTER warning light remained on. I drove around with it on for a 45 minutes journey and it just stays on. Have check a few things after doing some research, but it still goes on and stays on when ignition key in driving position ( one back from crank position ). So if I turn the key to ON position ( without cranking), the Starter light also turns on ( without driving ).

    - Battery still charging as normal
    - Checked wires at warning light, ignition, fuse box, alternator, starter, battery, coils.... and could not find any faults anywhere.

    Car still drives and starts as normal, what can it be ? Should I be worried ?

    Appreciate any help - thank you.

    Picture attached. Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. raemin

    raemin Formula 3

    Jan 16, 2007
    2,276
    Lyon (FR)
    Full Name:
    R. Emin
    That's the wrong section, here it's about the 4 camshafts 365, that is slightly more modern than your "queen mary" you'd get better luck on the vintage sub-forum.

    If this light is related to the alternator, have you raised the rpm up to a certain range? On these early cars, the big alternators need to reach a certain rpm at least once in order to energize their windings. In ours cars they switched to two smaller alternators for this reason.
     
    71Vette likes this.
  3. 71Vette

    71Vette Karting

    Oct 24, 2023
    202
    Stuttgart, Germany
    Full Name:
    Esben
    Hi Kristian,

    Ask in the Vintage section.
    Is the light related to a choke mechanism that might be stuck on?

    Esben
     
  4. KAA

    KAA Rookie

    Mar 10, 2025
    5
    London UK
    Full Name:
    Kristian
    Hi Esben, I just posted in Vintage the same post now - new on posting here - thank you for help.

    By the way, maybe you could be right about the choke. One of the last thing I did ( as I added to the Vintage Ferrai post now ) was tuning the Webers.
    At the same time I notice that the Choke cable and choke butterflies were not all moving smoothly. I never use the mechanical choke, so did't think much about it. However, I just made sure the choke butterflies where completely open an all carbs by pushing them all to a straight angle so they were all 100% the same and readjusted the cable.

    Could this little choke adjustment have any effect on the STARTER light ? I didn't think about that, as it is a mechanical function ( not electric ).
     
  5. KAA

    KAA Rookie

    Mar 10, 2025
    5
    London UK
    Full Name:
    Kristian
    Problem solved: It was actually the choke lever. Esben you helped pointing in the right direction.

    At the the top end of the choke lever it touches a button. So when choke is pulled the light comes on and when pressed fully back it goes off. As I readjusted choke cable it didn't go as far back and electrical button was not pressed. This button was very well hidden and not visible for the eye, but managed to get my finger on it and solution found.
    I was fooled by the warning light saying STARTER rather than CHOKE and inspected the wrong places......
     
    71Vette likes this.
  6. 71Vette

    71Vette Karting

    Oct 24, 2023
    202
    Stuttgart, Germany
    Full Name:
    Esben
    Great!

    Interestingly, a friend also had a funny problem with his Triumph TR4 at the weekend. He told me that the car sometimes wouldn't turn right, and was worried that something in the steering was broken. It turns out that the choke cable had wrapped itself around the steering column :D
     
    Ak Jim and Rahtok like this.

Share This Page