Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Battery for 348

[Dennis Liu (BigHeadDennis]

Oh, jeez, Steve, just how much time do you want to waste on this problem?
Back on Sep 19th, you posed your problem to the list.  A few of us, me
included, thought that the simplest and easiest solution to try was to
replace your battery.  It's cheap, it's easy, and you can do it yourself.
So why chase gremlins when there's a high likelihood that even if you do
track down a short or drain somewhere, you would STILL need to replace the
battery (the drain having killed it)??

As for using a battery tender, I'll just _repeat_ what I wrote to you
directly two months ago (see below).  If you use a battery tender, you don't
need to worry about storing over the winter.  You can buy a regular battery
AND a tender for LESS than the cost of an Optima (and do NOT buy a deep
cycle; not for automotive use).  Some folks love the Optima, but more than a
few have had really bad experiences with them.  Just go buy a regular
battery.  Install it, and stop worrying about it.


I wrote:

>First question - how old is your battery? It may be as simple as the fact
that your battery is a couple of years old and isn't holding much of a
charge. If the battery ever was discharged completely or almost completely,
and it sat for awhile in that condition, it may be gone for good (too much
sulfation). Even if you hook it up to a charger, and the charger shows it to
be completely recharged, it may still drain quickly, and just running it
won't be enough to maintain it.

And if the battery is poor, when you do start the car, even with a booster
attached, it may be drawing enough amps that it effectively kills the draw
to your clock, thereby necessitating the reset each time.

My cheap and easy first suggestion - go to Wal-Mart (yes, Wal-Mart, and
let's not start a thread on THAT) and buy a new battery for your car. Just
take your old battery in, find one in the right size with the terminals in
the right place, and buy it. And, yes, they do sell one that fits, as I've
got Wal-Mart batteries in both my Ferraris. (Trade in your old one for the
$5 core charge.) Total cost, about $60 and an hour to jack the car up and
take out and install the battery.

I'll wager that this will "cure" your problem. But consider also installing
a Deltran Battery Tender, by hardwiring the connectors to the jump points in
the engine bay (I'm assuming the 348 has them as well as the 355; your '95
has the battery in the front, by the RF wheel, I believe). That way, if
you're going to park it for more than a day or two, just plug in the charger
and voila (or buy the accesory that allows you to plug it into the lighter).

Also, try using a voltmeter to see if your alternator is performing
properly, especially at idle with the a/c and radio running. If it's
problematic, you may need to swap in the Nippondenso unit for the AC Delco
(though I dunno what Ferrari was using by '95), or, just have your old
alternator rebuilt to a higher output spec. But try the battery first. From
what you describe, the battery is probably toast anyway.

Vty,

--Dennis

 

-----Original Message-----
From: BRIGANDBAR [at] aol.com [mailto:BRIGANDBAR [at] aol.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 9:42 PM
To: Dennis Liu
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Battery for 348

Despite all of my best efforts, nothing else seems to show any problems so
it is off to the shop for a new battery for my 348 Spyder.
 
Right now I'm thinking about an Optima gel battery, as apparently changing
out the battery is not simply open the battery box cover and remove the
battery.  Does anyone know if Optima even makes a battery in the correct
size and post  position for these cars?
 
Second thought is going with one of those marine deep cycle batteries
(Optima if possible) as in the winter time the car may go for a month or so
without being started. Any thoughts pro or con?
 
Finally, any recommendations for battery tenders? Installed or external?  
Position and wiring? Any brand or specification recommendations?
 
Dr. Steve
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