Got a new 348 today...It broke down

That's terrible to hear!

Need more info: "beeped"? "chirp"? Is there an alarm/immobilizer system?
Did you have to jump start the car when it was delivered?
No warning lights? ("Slow Down" / "Check Engine" / Alternator)?

I want you back out on the road having FUN as soon as possible!

 

First, sorry to hear of your troubles so early in your ownership experience.
Second, this sounds like corroded or poorly connecting battery cables or the notorious two-piece ground strap problem. If you perform a search on this site you can find out more on the remedy to these gremlins.

Best,
pino

 

Your alternator is not charging..basicly you were running on the battery only. Once the battery volatge dropped, your car shut off. Rebuildt the alternator and test the battery.

 

This is what I was thinking also. Did the car start up a couple of times fine AFTER it shut down or before....If AFTER, then that would rule out the alternator...unless you recharged it.

 

What year is the car? If you do a search you will see that a lot of alternators fail because of leaky cam seals leaking oil onto the alternators...If it is the alternator check to make sure you dont have a cam seal leak, if you get the alternator rebuilt again and dont fix the leak...it will fail prematurely again. I'm not a mechanic, guys like Tom are...but this is a well known problem with the car.

Also, if it is the alternator....I would for sure bet that the PO or Dealer knew of this problem...if they did not diclose this, that is VERY wrong of them.

 

Does your 348 have the battery in the back (left rear corner) or in the front (beneath the splash panel)?

It doesn't seem likely that the battery is the problem, if it started OK when it was delivered, but we need to establish that the cable connections are OK before condemning the alternator.

What's your level of "expertise" in mechanical work? Do you have hand tools?

 

Topper,

its time for me to chime in. I sold the car to Matt around the 6th of June. We had a PPI done on or around that date, the car passed without issue. I also had a PPI done on the car when I purchased it back in Feb.....again no issues.. Also a full service was done Dec 2004 by Bobileff in California.

Out of respect for Matt I didn't drive the car from the date he paid for it. The car was picked up on Wed of this week, the 22nd. The car fired up right away and was put on the Intercity truck by the IntercityT Driver without issue.The car had a brand new battery put in in Dec 2004 by Bobileff.

So to answer your doubt there was no intent to disclose a "funky" alternator . If that indeed is the case.

My suspicion is a lose battery bullet.

 

Even with no expertise, there are a few things you can do.

First, let's establish whether or not the battery is dead. What happens when you turn on the key and try to turn on the headlights? Do they raise up and come on with a bright light, or stay down. Do you get nice bright warning lights on the dash?

Second, I'd just grab the cable terminals on the battery and see if they are attached tightly. It MIGHT be possible that they were disconnected and just set back in place without being tightened.

We'll go from there. It's entirely possible that the alternator isn't charging properly, for whatever reason. It isn't the end of the world, they can be removed and rebuilt fairly easily. There should be no reason to need to have the alternator replaced, as opposed to rebuilt. The warning about oil leaking onto to the alternator is a good point.

Don't fret too much. You're off to a bad beginning, but this problem isn't going to be a wallet buster.

 

Hi Matt,

glad you like it.........with the exception that it won't start. The battery "Bullet" is just what I call battery terminals.

Did the car fire up right away at time of delivery?
I would check the connections at the battery.

Theres plenty of guys on this site that are a whole lot smarter than I when it comes to F-cars............I'm sure you/they will get it sorted.

I'll keep my eye on the thread.

Chas

 

Glad you like it Matt!!
Keep me posted please.

Chas

 

a 1990 348 uses a delco alternator, the same one used on a cadillac that year. no reason to go to a shop, this is a do it yourselfer.

you do need to put the car on a lift or on jackstands, the alternator is easily accessed from underneath... this job takes about an hour, a rebuilt alternator at napa is about $130.00... easy to do, and very, very common.

 

Battery in back - pull the heat shield cover and put a battery charger on it - see if it is dead. Check the two bullet connectors - one right above the battery and one under the air filter box - both may come loose and cause the fault you are having.

Here is a link on the bullet connectors - http://www.ferrariforum.com/tech/view.php?id=22

 

Yep!

Also if the terminals are loose, the battery will fail to be charged by the alternator and will shut down.

I just had mine rebuilt in May. My alt. guy rewound it from it's 105 amp to 140 amps, replaced the bearings, and replaced the rectifier and brushes. Total=$185.00.

If you can remove and replace it yourself, you'll save some coin.

 

I would highly suspect the battery being the problem if it only 6 months old however you cant ever tell about the characteristics of a battery if has been fully dis-charged...which is possible if it sat that long without cranking. Chas seems to know the car so I would go with his hunch first and check the connections, plus the are easy to check.

Question...Do they test alternators on PPI's (if someone fully charged the battery before taking it to a PPI, would it pass?).

While I'm not trying to imply anything about you Chas (I know nothing about the car, the deal, or the parties), if a car were to die 30 miles after buying it and it was the alternator....if sure you would be suspicious....as would I.

I think its a VERY stand up thing for you to kill that suspicion from the start and address the problem immediately. I wish other dealers did that instead of try to beat around the situation...i hope they take a page from your notebook.

 

I have sold cars that check out 100% on the PPI, and a week later either a window stops working,or something else silly happends. When dealing with used cars..espeacialy cars that are 15 years old..things like this are bound to happen. No big deal.