Help!!! car wont start... '03 360 spider | FerrariChat
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Help!!! car wont start... '03 360 spider

Discussion in '360/430' started by Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013.

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  1. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #1 Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013
    just had the car delivered this morning, the truck driver fired her up, backed her out of the carrier and then turned her off while we completed the paperwork... Immediately thereafter, I got into the car after the carrier left and started her right back up... car started and was running fine... while I let the car warm up, i decided to pop the hood both front and rear to inspect the engine and trunk etc... I closed all latches and proceeded to walk towards the drivers side door (with both windows already down), reached into the car and went to turn on the headlamps (making sure they work) and boom, car just turned off... I got back into the vehicle attempted to restart the car and got nothing... let me explain what "nothing" means... Basically when i insert the key in the ignition and go to crank her up, no lights come on the dash right through the final turnover and u dont hear anything at all... instrument cluster, radio, windows, fuel door, NOTHING works... thought maybe the battery but the power seats works fine, horn, etc..and when the alarm arms/disarms the hazard light logo appears on the instrument cluster, and healthy too, no fading in/out etc.. here is a list of stuff I already tried:

    1)- made sure all latches, doors, etc are closed properly...
    2)- hit the remote/fob and wait for two beeps before trying to start the car
    3)- alarm works fine, locks and unlocks when you press the fob, no issues there
    4)- turned the main cut off in the front hood off and waited 15 seconds, then back on, tried to fire her back up, nothing...

    My service shop doesnt open til tomorrow morning and the car is sitting in front of the service facility all morning with the windows down... totally stumped... even called Andy Falbo who just finished servicing the car before its delivery.. and like I said she fired up twice and it was fine... so he helped me go through the avenues exhausted above..... thanks for any and all help guys, really appreciate it...

    *If there are any techs that get a hold of this post, please feel free to call me directly and maybe you can walk me through something I may have missed....

    Thanks in advance guys...

    Ali- 973-951-2365
     
  2. Piper

    Piper Two Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 6, 2010
    25,415
    Northern Virginia
    Full Name:
    Bob
    #2 Piper, Aug 25, 2013
    Make sure it's in neutral by pulling back on both paddles before trying to start.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
     
  3. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #3 Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013
    6 SPD manual... sorry, should've mentioned that
     
  4. spikes360

    spikes360 Formula Junior

    Apr 1, 2013
    420
    Niles, IL
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #4 spikes360, Aug 25, 2013
    Did you have your foot on the brake? cause I just bought one and I keep forgetting about the brake!
     
  5. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #5 Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013
    Yep, sure did...
     
  6. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,665
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    #6 greyboxer, Aug 25, 2013
    Checked all the fuse boxes - all fuses ?
     
  7. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #7 Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013
    A few people have mentioned the fuses, waiting on my friend to bring his tester.... I just don't know how a blown fuse could have shut the car off completely....
     
  8. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 13, 2009
    16,528
    Charleston, SC
    Full Name:
    Curt
    #8 vrsurgeon, Aug 25, 2013
    OK my checklist.

    1) go to front trunk, feel under the steering wheel. Pull the little handle there. That will open the front trunk.
    2) Little knob on the left hand side of the compartment by the windshield. Turn it (either clockwise or counter clockwise)

    3) Go back in the car and take a phillips screwdriver and at the passengers feet there is a panel. Remove the two phillips screws. Fold it back. This is the battery.
    4) Take a voltage meter and measure the voltage. If its less than 12.5 volts, battery is probably toast. If its still at 12.5 volts, replace the battery anyway... they go bad in 3-4 years. Oh and wiggle each terminal on the battery to make sure they're not loose.
    5) if voltage is 12.5volts, go back in the front compartment and turn the switch the opposite direction then turn on the key.. are there any lights on the dash?

    Sounds like a crap battery to me..
     
  9. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #9 Njsp78, Aug 25, 2013
    wow.. what a day!!! we finally determined that there is a short somewhere.... basically, when you turn the headlights on, the car just dies... it blows a 20 amp fuse (or maybe 15, not sure right now as my brain is fried also...) which is located in the fuse box directly behind the driver's seat... so until further notice, the car drives just fine as long as I dont turn on my headlights lol.... so no driving after dark lol..

    *I want to thank all you guys for all your input today, i appreciate this community very much and hope I can return the favor with my experiences one day..

    Ali-
     
  10. bgmix

    bgmix Formula Junior
    Owner

    Aug 1, 2009
    612
    AZ|NYC|FL
    Full Name:
    Bob Giammarco
    #10 bgmix, Aug 25, 2013
    God I hate to say this as Andy is a local AZ guy and very well regarded but the headlights weren't checked in the PPI????
     
  11. BSU

    BSU Formula 3

    Mar 30, 2008
    1,012
    TX
    #11 BSU, Aug 25, 2013
    Glad to hear that you identified the problem and that it can be driven. I hope finding and fixing the short turns out to be not too complicated.
     
  12. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #12 Njsp78, Aug 26, 2013
    Andy is PHENOMENAL!!!! and he did admit that yes, the headlights were working properly during the PPI inspection... He has reassured me that he will make it right, so lets see what they find as it is currently being diagnosed at Auto Elite by Vinny...

    Ali-
     
  13. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #13 Njsp78, Aug 26, 2013
    Thanks.. really appreciate that..

    Ali-
     
  14. up4speed

    up4speed F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 16, 2012
    3,693
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #14 up4speed, Aug 26, 2013
    Do the headlights work ok if the car is not running? Maybe that's how they were checked?
    I'm just trying to figure out a way that the lights were checked...and worked.
     
  15. Njsp78

    Njsp78 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    102
    Northern NJ
    #15 Njsp78, Aug 27, 2013
    Not sure how or in what position they were checked to be quite honest...

    Ali-
     

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