Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Electrical Irritation

[Jim Conforti (lndshrk]

On 1/30/2011 2:29 PM, Charles Perry wrote:

> So normally my troubleshooting would start with just pulling fuses and
> links one by one until I see the short disappear and then start
> troubleshooting the attendant system.
>  
> Any better ideas out there?

  Make step #1 disconnecting your Alternator B+ lead, then check
  your Ohm reading again.

  I generally find that a short like 8ohms isn't going to "just appear"
  unless an electronic part fails.

  I always suspect the diodes/regulator in the Alternator first.

  Why?

  I've pulled every fuse on friends cars multiple times only to find
  the "drain" doesn't go away and that it was the Alternator.

  at a nominal charging voltage of 13.5v, the 8ohm "drain" is over 1.5A.

  So try the alternator first, and failing that - start pulling fuses
  and get ready for an expensive component replacement.

  Jim