My 355 mini-Restoration story | Page 13 | FerrariChat

My 355 mini-Restoration story

Discussion in '348/355' started by treedee3d, Oct 20, 2011.

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  1. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
    3,726
    Montreal
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    Fab
    Veramente non ho il tempo pero me lo so fatto per forza!!!!

    Ci vediamo martedi?
     
  2. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 14, 2003
    26,527
    Montreal Canada
    Full Name:
    Bernie
    Si.
    However, 6PM is too early for me. I'll be there around 6:30PM.
     
  3. cavlino

    cavlino Formula 3

    Mar 6, 2002
    1,740
    Ottawa, Canada
    Full Name:
    Carm Scaffidi
    Nice muffler! Be sure and share a sound clip with us :)
     
  4. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,631
    Sydney
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    Elliott Caras
    This thread is utterly inspiring. Great work.
     
  5. eyboro

    eyboro Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    May 30, 2004
    989
    Chicago
    Full Name:
    Eitan
    I think this thread name should be changed to ”major restoration project”
    one of the best threads on Ferrari chat.
     
  6. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
    3,726
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    Fab
    I asked the moderators to do that for me but they never responded so I just dropped it. Thanks for the kind words....
     
  7. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
    3,726
    Montreal
    Full Name:
    Fab
    After putting back in most of the interior, I charged the battery and turned the key and almost nothing electrical is working at the moment.

    instrument lights and gauges: Not working
    hvac panel & fan: Not working
    Radio: Not working
    gas, fuel gauges & clock: Not working
    Brake lights: Not working
    Headlights: Not working
    Wiper motor: Not working

    Door open beeping sound: Working
    door lock button switch: Working
    Hazard lights: Working

    I'm not very good with wiring diagrams and stuff so is this going to be complicated to diagnose?

    I am so discouraged right now.......

    Looking at the workshop manual, it seems that the stuff not working all pertains to the "circuits energized by the ignition key" except for the radio

    I did kind of screw up by starting to dissasemble the interior without disconnecting the battery, I removed the radio and guauges above it as well as half the connections in the instrument cluster before realizing that the battery had not been disconnected. I therefore disconnected it at that point and continued on....

    Every connection inside the passenger compartment and doors was disconnected and the battery. Every other connection on the car was left "as is" while the car got repainted.

    I also used a spare key that I had made for the first time but it seems to work fine. Is it possible the circuit is unresponsive because I am not using my original key?

    I am not sure how to go about diagnosing the issue.......any help here will be greatly appreciated
     
  8. lucky73

    lucky73 Formula Junior

    Mar 13, 2008
    257
    you knew there would be one seriously depressing moment and this might be it, you've hit bottom.

    its monday morning and whole country is drinking coffee and troubleshooting this for you right now, hang tight someone will respond with something more useful than my chat encouragement.

    the nice thing about hitting rock bottom is that is gives you something to push off of...

    "I am not sure how to go about diagnosing the issue.......any help here will be greatly appreciated"
     
  9. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
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    Fab
    #309 treedee3d, Mar 5, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thank you everyone for your help and kind words. All the above posts have helped me figure out the problem as well as Dave Helms and Bradan.

    I basically removed the steering column cover and looked at every single connection and they were all ok which was even more depressing. After cursing up a storm I went back in...

    I then spotted a red cable that was a little too exposed on the back side of the plastic connector so I opened the connection and, sure enough, there it was: the male from the red wire had gotten pushed back and arched crooked so there was no connection. I assume the red means power in automotive wiring so I adjusted the male, pulled it back into the plastic until it popped and placed it in line with the others.

    Popped that sucker back in and everything is working....Like everyone said: It will turn out to be something so small and stupid (and indeed it was...)

    I lost so much sleep over this issue over the weekend. what a relief!!!!!
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  10. dailyferraridriver

    dailyferraridriver Formula 3
    Owner

    Nov 12, 2010
    1,402
    New Jersey
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    Erik
    Congrats! Glad it was something basic that you were able to solve somewhat quickly.

    Erik
     
  11. lucky73

    lucky73 Formula Junior

    Mar 13, 2008
    257
    collective "sigh" of relief from the crowd...
     
  12. White Knight

    White Knight Formula 3

    Aug 22, 2011
    1,531
    Ogden, UT
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    Todd S.
    As said before, it looks great!

    Best thread I've read on here in a while.
     
  13. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
    3,726
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    Fab
    Thread count is now at 30,000+ views....amazing!

    Thank you all for following my story. Tomorrow the car should be completely put together and I will have more pictures
     
  14. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 14, 2003
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    Bernie
    Did you film it when you fired it up?
     
  15. JDG16

    JDG16 Karting

    Jul 25, 2011
    200
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Justin
    I can't wait... this has been a blast to follow
     
  16. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
    3,726
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    Fab
    Actually I didn't start it but all the lights came on the dash, the instruments, radio, hvac, headlights, etc... That was enough for me to jump for joy!

    If all goes well I should be able to start it tomorrow and let it idle for 10-15 minutes so that the car can reprogram itself.

    Once the body shop is finished, the car is going to Ralph at Monaco Prestige to install my new Nouvalari exhaust, change the power steering reservoir and remove some engine components for some Hydro carbon dipping detailing including refinishing the calipers and changing the brakes.

    I also plan on rechroming my wheel bolts
     
  17. tcannon

    tcannon Formula 3

    Feb 18, 2009
    1,763
    Norman, OK
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    Todd Cannon
    Congrats on the fix! Can't wait to hear the sound of it running! ;)
     
  18. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

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    #318 treedee3d, Mar 7, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  19. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
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    #320 treedee3d, Mar 7, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    New stickers under rear hood.

    In order to make sure the car looks original, I bought a new airbag sticker as well as a new paint sticker.

    Eurospares carries a ton of Ferrari original paint stickers but unfortunately did not have the Rosso Scuderia 323 so I bought a plain paint sticker from them and added the paint code by overlaying another sticker I made with a label maker.

    Looks great!!!! I can't believe I'm at this late stage in the game that I'm actually putting stickers back on the car.
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  20. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

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    #321 treedee3d, Mar 7, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  21. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

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    #323 treedee3d, Mar 7, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  22. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
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    #324 treedee3d, Mar 7, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  23. saw1998

    saw1998 F1 Veteran

    Jun 8, 2008
    8,237
    San Antonio, Texas
    Full Name:
    Scott
    Fab:

    You can also try Mother's "Back-to-Black" on your trim pieces. I've had very good luck with it.

    BTW, you have done a fantastic and extremely complete job. Feel very proud. :)
     

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