Lovely new battery for the TR but what is this wire? | FerrariChat
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Lovely new battery for the TR but what is this wire?

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by dradambbb, Feb 2, 2017.

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  1. dradambbb

    dradambbb Karting

    Apr 24, 2016
    128
    London
    Full Name:
    Adam
    #1 dradambbb, Feb 2, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I've just fitted a new Exide Premium battery to the 1987 Testarossa as shown. In the process discovered an unattached wire. Shockingly it's permanently live, showing 12.5V to the battery's 12.7V. Any ideas what it is for?
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  2. rpissm

    rpissm Formula 3

    Aug 11, 2013
    1,620
    Salt Lake City, UT
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    Joe
    #2 rpissm, Feb 2, 2017
    Alarm? Radio amplifier? Espresso Machine? My '87 doesn't have any TR-related extra wires on the battery.
     
  3. 302Tim

    302Tim Formula 3

    Jul 2, 2011
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    Tim
    #3 302Tim, Feb 2, 2017
    Agree, can only be for something aftermarket. Looks like you actually have 3 extra wires (red, orange and black)? All you can do is trace it to see where it terminates. With that large a terminal in that location I'm not sure what it would hook to--most aftermarket components like stereo, cell phone (80's), radar detector(s), alarm, etc. would not typically be in the battery bay...let us know what you find.
     
  4. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Mar 18, 2008
    32,280
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    Dave
    #4 Jedi, Feb 2, 2017
    Chop it off and see what no longer works :)

    Jedi
     
  5. vincenzo

    vincenzo F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2003
    3,373
    #5 vincenzo, Feb 2, 2017
    "Shockingly" 😜

    By "permanently live" do you mean that it is connected to another battery? If so, it sounds like an alarm.

    Cheers,
    Vincenzo
     
  6. lear60man

    lear60man Formula 3

    May 29, 2004
    1,829
    Los Angeles
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    #6 lear60man, Feb 3, 2017
    Or some type of lojack. Part of getting a TR back to proper running is gutting 30 years of aftermarket add ons.
     
  7. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 25, 2008
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    Mel
    #7 Melvok, Feb 3, 2017
    Isolate the wire(s) until you find time to trace it ...
     
  8. dradambbb

    dradambbb Karting

    Apr 24, 2016
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    Adam
    #8 dradambbb, Feb 3, 2017
    Dank je veel, Mel. Indeed, that's what I've done. I wonder how long it's been bobbing about like that. It does seem that bodge jobs are just as common on pricey Ferraris as on lesser marks.

    Thanks to all the advice. I'll do some investigating when I can and report back. Curious myself...
     
  9. OptimusPrime

    OptimusPrime Formula Junior

    May 10, 2011
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    Florida
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    Tom
    #9 OptimusPrime, Feb 3, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    ryalex likes this.
  10. 2dinos

    2dinos F1 Rookie

    Jan 13, 2007
    3,038
    #10 2dinos, Feb 3, 2017
    I've wound up with extra bags-o-wire as well. Yes - "interesting" wiring is common.
     
  11. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
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    Jul 25, 2008
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    #11 Melvok, Feb 4, 2017
    We removed even more in my 512TR + 2 extreme amplifiers + tweeters ... WHY do people molest our car ? :eek:
     
  12. ika-kun

    ika-kun Rookie

    Jan 7, 2025
    3
    90274, USA
    #12 ika-kun, Aug 4, 2025 at 4:24 PM
    I just started tearing into my 87 TR. Clifford alarm, LoJack, K40, and some Sony CD head unit with a HUGE remotely mounted amp/FM tuner that was behind the passenger foot plate. And miles of loom...
     
    ryalex likes this.
  13. ago car nut

    ago car nut F1 Veteran
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    David A.
    #13 ago car nut, Aug 4, 2025 at 5:06 PM
    Why do you need any kind of stereo in a TR with nice sounding exhaust?
     
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  14. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 6, 2003
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    #14 ryalex, Aug 4, 2025 at 5:21 PM
    Because when you commute in it, it's nice to have some music. I daily drove my 4 months of the past 12, and the stock stereo is awful!
     
  15. ika-kun

    ika-kun Rookie

    Jan 7, 2025
    3
    90274, USA
    #15 ika-kun, Aug 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
    Much prefer a nice sounding exhaust...but it's literally thousands of dollars more than a sensible head unit, and I don't have to replace the head unit every two years to pass an emissions check.
     
  16. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #16 Rifledriver, Aug 5, 2025 at 9:43 AM
    I much prefer to hear the stereo. I got over loud exhaust in my 20's.
     
  17. ago car nut

    ago car nut F1 Veteran
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    #17 ago car nut, Aug 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
    Not loud exhaust, mellow 12 cylinder. sound.
     

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