Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Ferrari 348 Electrical Drain

[Jeff Greenfield (coyote]

Dr Steve - 

Could be a lot of things.

First the battery should be fully charged and then tested. The battery could
be failing which causing too much a voltage drop during starting, which in
turn is causing the clock to lose its memory.

Next, also with a fully charged battery, the charging system should be
tested just to be sure that there is not a problem there. It's possible that
a bad alternator could cause an excessive voltage draw when the car is
parked.

If all that checks out and the problem is still present, you need to measure
the parasitic draw of the system. To do so, you will need a multi-meter
capable of reading up to at least a couple of amps.

Make sure all electrical accessories, interior lights, etc are off.
Disconnect one of the battery terminals and connect the meter in series with
the battery. IOW one lead of the meter will go to the battery, the other to
will go the cable, the battery remains disconnected from the cable so any
current has to go through the meter.

Typically a modern car should measure somewhere around 150 mA or less. If
you measure something much larger, start pulling fuses one at a time until
the draw drops. This way you can identify what circuit(s) might be the cause
of the problem. Most likely, you'll find something like a failed interior
light relay, a problem with the stereo or power amp (if equipped), or an
alarm system. (aftermarket alarms are notorious sources of drain even if not
armed).

LMK what you find, or if you need further help.

I'll now go back into hiding for another month or so, ok Dennis?

Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: BRIGANDBAR [at] aol.com [mailto:BRIGANDBAR [at] aol.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 1:03 PM
To: Jeff Greenfield
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Ferrari 348 Electrical Drain

In deference to some whom I've offended with OT postings on the list,
though 
I found Dennis' summary description of the list pretty darned accurate".  I 
need some basic suggestions on tracking down what must be a hidden draw  
electrical demon on my '95 348.
 
First problem is that if it isn't driven for about 10 days or more, it
needs 
a booster to start. I know the owner's manual talks about driving it every
2 
weeks or so, but that isn't enough for this car. Battery may be getting on 
its  design life, but if it is driven every 5-7 days it does just fine, with
one 
 exception, which I hope might help in the ability of some to help in the  d
iagnosis.
 
No matter how well charged the battery appears, gauged by its ability to  
promptly turn over and start the engine, the clock always seems to go into
the  
flashing reset mode. This just started this driving season, but it is a real

PITA to have to reset the clock every time I start the car, and while in the

daytime it can be somewhat ignored, the flashing green light on the console

while driving at night sucks.
 
I'm open to most any reasonable suggestion, remembering that the nearest  
dealers that I know of are an overnight trip from here for repairs and INMSH

experience dealers are fiercely expensive and time consuming (in terms of  
billable hours) in troubleshooting, diagnosing and correcting an electrical
issue, 
many times doing so only by sequentially replacing expensive part until  one

of them solves the problem. No offense to any dealers who may be on this
list 
as most of that experience is with U.S. brand autos.
 
Dr. Steve  

1964 Rolls  Royce Silver Cloud III    1975 Pontiac GV Conv.
1980 MB  450SL                 1982 RR  Corniche
1994 F-350 Powerstroke  4x4          1996  Bronco
2000 Lincoln Town  Car                   2004  Excursion
1995 Ferrari 348 Spyder
+ Audrey's 3x MB's

Dr.  Stephen B. Spies, CES, CFI
Director, Forensic Sciences  Laboratory
Explosives Engineering Technologies

Legal  Notice:

This message does not constitute legal or other professional  advice, nor 
does it create an Attorney/Client, or other confidential or  fiduciary 
relationship between the sender and/or any other  party

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail (including  attachments) is covered by 
the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U. S.  C., Sections 2510-2521,
and 
is intended only for the person or entity to which  it is addressed, and may

contain confidential or privileged material. Any  unauthorized review, use, 
disclosure, dissemination, copying, forwarding or  distribution is
prohibited. 
If you are not the intended recipient contact the  sender by reply e-mail
and 
destroy all copies of the original message. If you  are the intended
recipient 
but do not wish to receive communications through  this medium please so 
advise the sender immediately.

Electronic  Transmission Security Notice: E-mail transmission cannot be 
guaranteed  to be secure or error-free. The sender does not accept liability
for 
any errors  or omissions in the contents of the message that arise as a
result 
of its  electronic (e-mail) transmission.
_________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
http://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/coyote%40acme-ltd.com

Sponsored by BidNip.com eBay Auction Sniper