Stranded in Laguna Beach..@#$%^%$$!!! | FerrariChat
Buy

Stranded in Laguna Beach..@#$%^%$$!!!

Discussion in 'California (Southern)' started by clokey, Apr 15, 2004.

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

  1. clokey

    clokey Karting

    Feb 11, 2004
    51
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #1 clokey, Apr 15, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    After one of my more leisurely drives down the 405 to Laguna Beach this afternoon....hardly exceeded 65mph......I experienced my first f-car failure. While in the center of Laguna Beach, right at the beach where crowds are abundant, my car decided to eject clouds of steam into the bemused crowd. Fortunately there was a place to pull in....the emergency vehicle lane adjacent to the beach. After a quick inspection I determined the culprit was likely just a damaged hose. So, after topping up with water I limped to a friends place where the AAA kindly removed lots of $'s to get the car back home to Redondo. Oh well.....something new for me to do over the weekend.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. Bmyth-FDC

    Bmyth-FDC F1 Rookie

    Oct 4, 2002
    2,742
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Byron
    #2 Bmyth-FDC, Apr 15, 2004

    Paul,
    Sorry to hear about your mishap... we all have to experience this at some point! (Mine was on the 405 fwy, near LAX, when my gears were stuck!!)

    Glad to see you made it back home safely - must have been a sight to see in LB!!

    Byron
     
  3. Chiaro_Slag

    Chiaro_Slag F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2003
    7,789
    CA
    Full Name:
    Jerry
    #3 Chiaro_Slag, Apr 15, 2004
    :(

    I only have 3000 miles of f-car ownership & I'm not looking forward to my first encounter.
     
  4. clokey

    clokey Karting

    Feb 11, 2004
    51
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #4 clokey, Apr 15, 2004
    Dang Jerry.....only 3,000 miles in how long....a little over a year? I'd better calm down a bit.....just hit 4,000 miles in my first 10 weeks! So exactly when does the novelty wear off ???
     
  5. Chiaro_Slag

    Chiaro_Slag F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2003
    7,789
    CA
    Full Name:
    Jerry
    #5 Chiaro_Slag, Apr 15, 2004
    lol

    I don't think the novelty ever wears off! :)
     
  6. F-passione

    F-passione Karting

    Mar 31, 2004
    173
    Orange County, CA
    #6 F-passione, Apr 15, 2004
    Of all the spots to get stranded........was it embarassing? Did you stand around pretending the car must belong to someone else?
     
  7. Nationaltec

    Nationaltec Karting

    Dec 22, 2003
    157
    North County
    Full Name:
    Patrick
    #7 Nationaltec, Apr 15, 2004
    Paul, ( and all 328 owners should read this problem)

    My problem didn't happen in front of a crowd.. but still required a AAA tow.. This is something for all us 328 owners to look for and check..!

    Status: Just 3 days back from a 30K major.. car is running awesome.
    Problem: Next morning - Completely dead- no alarm, no horn..nothing !

    Sure, sounds like a simple battery or current draw problem right? Well it wasn't simple !! We quickly determined an aprox 8 AMP DRAW and after spending several hours troubleshooting with Mike (Ferrari Serv of Costa Mesa) pulling fuses one by one, removing old electronics, bypassing the Viper Alarm we still had a draw. Now we're pissed !! We remove the fuse panel connectors, then pulled the whole fuse panel out.. still draws! Mike says "lets split the car in half" thus we pull the console and disconnect the "main connectors" Now were puzzled.. all that leaves is the starter cable! We know the starter/solenoid is good and then WE FIND IT!!

    CAUSE: The AIR HOSE
    This hose is a pick-off from the air induction intake that runs down to the front of motor for additional cooling.. Well it's similar to a vacuum hose and it contains a rigid coiled steel wire... Well at the end of the hose the material peeled back and steel coil wire shorted across the starter... !!!!!

    Boy were we pissed.... Mike installed a new rubber boot as a precaution and secured the hose to prevent reoccurrence..

    So! Check the condition of your cooling hose !!!!!!!!!! Install a rubber boot if needed...

    Good luck.
    Patrick
    (met you at CC a few weeks ago)

    Also: Prop's to the guys at "Ferrari Service of Costa Mesa" for standing behind their work. They have done so many extra things for me their customer service deserves mention! Thanks Mike!
     
  8. clokey

    clokey Karting

    Feb 11, 2004
    51
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #8 clokey, Apr 15, 2004
    You're right...it couldn't have been a worse spot.....but you'd be amazed at how many tourists asked if I minded them taking a photo (without the steam it just looked parked up).

    Cheers!
     
  9. clokey

    clokey Karting

    Feb 11, 2004
    51
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #9 clokey, Apr 15, 2004
    Thanks for the heads-up Patrick, it sounds like a mega-pain....I'll be sure to check this out while I'm "evaluating" the damage.

    Cheers! Paul.
     
  10. SAF1

    SAF1 Karting

    Jun 26, 2003
    247
    OC CA & Bangkok
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #10 SAF1, Apr 15, 2004
    You should have collect $5 for every pic.
     
  11. clokey

    clokey Karting

    Feb 11, 2004
    51
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #11 clokey, Apr 15, 2004
    Hey...a new business opporunity! I can smell that 360 getting closer.
     
  12. need4speed

    need4speed Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,616
    Pacific Palisades
    #12 need4speed, Apr 15, 2004
    When I bought my Dino, I decided it would be cool to drive back to LA from Los Gatos. The car had been checked out and was fine. After a cool "getting to know you" 5hr drive, I see white smoke in my rear view mirror. Luckily, I'm about 20 minutes from my house and my exit is up ahead. I'm stroking the wheel and patting the dash saying "come on baby, just a little more". Well, needless to say, she stopped 10 minutes from my house on a curvy, tight stretch of Sunset Blvd. I had to call AAA for a flat-bed. And as I was waiting there, a big GMC truck came by and the guy yells out "buy a CHEVY!". :(
     
  13. Marc G

    Marc G Karting

    Feb 22, 2004
    67
    Costa Mesa, CA
    #13 Marc G, Apr 15, 2004

    I Passed your car on the tow truck @ 8pm going north on Mac Arthur in a Green 355, They don't call them f-cars for nothing. I stop traffic on the 405, According to the radio the backup went for two miles. Some give you thumbs up but most gave me the bird. Your lucky you were in Laguna Beach. I was heading North on the 405 @ Carson on a friday early afternoon. You can't hide in the middle of the 405 Freeway or in an f-car. Good luck! I know the feeling.

    Marc
     

Share This Page