[snic86]

Can anyone tell me why the windows in my '81 308 GTBi go up very slow and sometimes stop an inch or two from closed position? Last week I took the car in for a clutch adjustment and while it was there I asked that they repair the windows. They improved somewhat but now the driver's side window is extremely difficult to close. Is there a common problem associated with these and what is the solution??
Thanks!

 

[j brosseau]

it is a pretty common thing for the windows to be slow. i guess they were slow when new. you can buy new motors that are way faster then the stock parts. i think they run like $150 a piece. im not 100% sure though. mine were pretty slow so i took the door skin off and cleaned and regreased the cables and pulley system. works alot better.

 

[snic86]

I will pull the interior door panel off and have a look, but the mechanic that worked on the car said he did what you've described. I had a Pontiac with the exact same problem and it utrned out to be the switches. I only found that out after spending several hundred dollars on new window motors. I don't want to make the same mistake twice. The switches were only $30! As for the 308, do you know who sells the motors you referred to?? I noticed yesterday that when the window stopped going up, there would be a clicking sound. It would click again several seconds later before the switch would work. Sounds like some sort of circuit breaker. Thanks for your help.
John

 

[justynb]

I'm not sure what the cause of the problem is but you can buy parts at reasonable prices at owners.ferrari.com (they ship worldwide).

You need to register by supplying your serial number but its well worth doing. There is loads of other stuff on there as well as just parts.

Justyn.

 

[justynb]

Sorry that URL should be: https://www.owners.ferrari.com

Justyn.

 

[mstocker]

I shouldn't really say this but I've read on another site that adding relays ensures the correct amount of current reaches the motors. I'm yet to fix my window problems but it could be worth putting the meter onto the motors to see what the current is.

 

[nickpm]

The new relays do the trick perfectly. I have recently had them fitted to my GT4 by QV London In Ascot England (about $50 per window) and they now fly up and down (horrible noise though, but that is just standard!).

 

['75 308 GT4 (Peter)]

The additional relays are one of the best methods for speeding up the windows. The reason is there is incredible amounts of resistance through the window switches, resulting in only 8 volts reaching the windows. It seems the power drop is in the line from the switch, going to the doors. The extra relays relieve the current from the switches, so you get the full 12 volts at the motor.

I haven't done this since greasing and cleaning pulleys and new cable worked fine on my GT4. Slower than a modern car, but much better than originally.

 

[4kids3fish]

Is relay placement critical? Near the motors sounds best but they probably aren't very well protected from water. Under the dash?

 

['75 308 GT4 (Peter)]

Is relay placement critical? Near the motors sounds best but they probably aren't very well protected from water. Under the dash?

Location shouldn't be too critical. If I were doing it to my car, I'd probably put them next to the stock relay board, with clear, identification lables - logical location.

If in the doors, some of the older Ferraris use felt for the lower, horizontal window seal and those do nothing for keeping water out of the doors.

 

[Philjay50]

I did the relay job on my Mondial as well as cleaning etc, they now work OK !

 

[Spasso]

If the original grease is still in the window mechanisms of your car clean it all out. I am told that by now it has the consistancy of wax.

Another simple fix is to pop the switches out and carefully pry them apart. You will find rocker assemblies inside with contacts that are usually flattened and dirty. I reveresed the orientation of the rockers to compenstate for the wear of the contacts and the cleaned the contacts with CRC cleaner the eraser of a #2 pencil.

My windows are fast and I haven't changed motors or installed relays, which, by the way, I was just about to install when I tried the above first.

DJ

 

[Andrew]

Spasso,

Welcome to the site. You have some great Tech knowledge (I also looked at your other post in this section). I hope you stick around and share it with us all so we can learn even more.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Spasso]

Thanks for the welcome,
I must admit that my knowledge is based on experiences gained from owning/building over 25 cars, trucks and motorcycles in the past years and what paltry amount I know of Ferrari is from owners on sites like this one sharing their experiences (and mistakes) with the rest of us.

In the past 13 months that I have owned my 308 I have learned far more from you guys than I could ever have learned from the Work Shop Manual. I hope I can return the favor.

Can you imagine what it would be like trying to learn about our Ferraris WITHOUT the internet? The Dealer as our only source?
I shudder to think!

DJ

 

[Andrew]

Thanks for the welcome,
I must admit that my knowledge is based on experiences gained from owning/building over 25 cars, trucks and motorcycles in the past years and what paltry amount I know of Ferrari is from owners on sites like this one sharing their experiences (and mistakes) with the rest of us.

In the past 13 months that I have owned my 308 I have learned far more from you guys than I could ever have learned from the Work Shop Manual. I hope I can return the favor.

Can you imagine what it would be like trying to learn about our Ferraris WITHOUT the internet? The Dealer as our only source?
I shudder to think!

DJ

13 months!!!! I'm glad you finally joined. It is about to get even more exciting ha:

I like your dealer comment. While all of them aren't bad I do understand what you mean.

 

['75 308 GT4 (Peter)]

...Can you imagine what it would be like trying to learn about our Ferraris WITHOUT the internet? The Dealer as our only source?
I shudder to think!

DJ

I've often thought about that too. Shortly after I bought mine, I was in the dark about what were the specific issues/idiosyncrasies of a Ferrari. The internet saved me (expensivecar.com, ferrarilist.com, etc...)! Now, I like to share what I've learnt, so it may help someone else who's just starting out.

I guess, years ago, it would've been tech sessions/newsletter articles through the car clubs. Some of the earliest issues of the FCA magazine contained articles of how to rebuild Lampredi V-12's!

 

[Spasso]

Now with the advent of easily attainable information from anywhere in the world we can all be 'experts' HA!

DJ

 

[bell47]

old Hard Grease

I have repaired slow windows on both TRs, and mondels and the factory grease was as hard as a rock (Soft Rock). That made a big diferance. the Hard part was getting the cables back on the spool.
John

 

['75 308 GT4 (Peter)]

Re: old Hard Grease

... the Hard part was getting the cables back on the spool.
John

I agree. In fact, I gave up since they had such a severe curl/twist, that it made it impossible to rewind on the spool. I installed aircraft cable and it worked well after that.