Electrical issue racking up mileage

Pete04222 · 07-12-2010, 07:35 AM

Here's one for the books. The car won't start. Barely turns over. I've got the battery charger on it and as soon as I turn the key on the speedometer goes to 40 mph and the odometer starts ticking off the miles. I've put 5 miles on the car trying to start it in my garage and I've not had any luck. Any ideas?

wetpet · 07-12-2010, 08:22 AM

don't know about the speedo, but if it will barely turn over the best place to start is the battery. if you have let it charge long enough and it won't crank, i would take the battery in for a check. Or use a jump box or other known battery.

Artvonne · 07-12-2010, 11:38 AM

Check the chassis to engine grounds. They are uninsulated web straps on either side the gearbox under the car. If the engine isnt fully grounded back to the battery, current will pass through other sources and can potentially damage them.

Resist the temptation to use insulated ground cables. The uninsulated webbing allows static to discharge, or "wick", into the air.

Sucks that your car gained mileage. One morning after a long run I noted a loss in mileage. I dont know how much because I hadnt noted it after the run the day before. But it seemed it was less than I originally started out with the day before,a loss of over 400 miles. I thought if I kept the car long enough and drove it a lot, it would eventually be a low mileage car. But it would be bad if it rolled below zero and read nearly 100K miles, lol. Why anyone would ever trust these odometers is beyond me.

bill ward · 07-17-2010, 03:33 PM

Pete-
For what it's worth my money is on grounds too.Do you know how to test grounds? If so, start at battery and work back. bad/dirty connections can be cleaned and or replaced.Never hurts to add new grounds. A good test could be- jumper cable from battery to ground at starter and see if she'll spin.Probably ground problem at ignition or fuse box due to speedo prob. Good luck, bill

07-12-2010, 07:35 AM	#1
Pete04222 Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA & Singapore Ferrari Life Posts: 5,405	Electrical issue racking up mileage Here's one for the books. The car won't start. Barely turns over. I've got the battery charger on it and as soon as I turn the key on the speedometer goes to 40 mph and the odometer starts ticking off the miles. I've put 5 miles on the car trying to start it in my garage and I've not had any luck. Any ideas? Capt. Pete '79 308 GTS, '82 Jeep CJ7 Jamboree "Time is what prevents everything from happening all at once."

07-12-2010, 11:38 AM	#3
Artvonne Owner Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: War Eagle Arkansas Ferrari Life Posts: 166 Name: Art	Check the chassis to engine grounds. They are uninsulated web straps on either side the gearbox under the car. If the engine isnt fully grounded back to the battery, current will pass through other sources and can potentially damage them. Resist the temptation to use insulated ground cables. The uninsulated webbing allows static to discharge, or "wick", into the air. Sucks that your car gained mileage. One morning after a long run I noted a loss in mileage. I dont know how much because I hadnt noted it after the run the day before. But it seemed it was less than I originally started out with the day before,a loss of over 400 miles. I thought if I kept the car long enough and drove it a lot, it would eventually be a low mileage car. But it would be bad if it rolled below zero and read nearly 100K miles, lol. Why anyone would ever trust these odometers is beyond me. Last edited by Artvonne; 07-12-2010 at 11:47 AM.

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07-12-2010, 08:22 AM	#2
wetpet Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chevy Chase, Md Ferrari Life Posts: 6,603 Name: Ed	don't know about the speedo, but if it will barely turn over the best place to start is the battery. if you have let it charge long enough and it won't crank, i would take the battery in for a check. Or use a jump box or other known battery.

07-17-2010, 03:33 PM	#4
bill ward Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Three forks, MT,USA Ferrari Life Posts: 90	Pete- For what it's worth my money is on grounds too.Do you know how to test grounds? If so, start at battery and work back. bad/dirty connections can be cleaned and or replaced.Never hurts to add new grounds. A good test could be- jumper cable from battery to ground at starter and see if she'll spin.Probably ground problem at ignition or fuse box due to speedo prob. Good luck, bill