Windows stopped working

Typical 400 electrical gremlin but has anyone had both of their windows suddenly stop working and the temp/oil pressure gauges go all the way to the right when either of the switches are pressed either up or down? This happens with the ignition on but only the temp gauge moves if the ignition is off.

Not only that, when I turn the sidelights on with the ignition off the Fuel gauge goes all the way to the right unless I turn the dashboard dimmer to counter clockwise until it clicks (I assume this is the off position). If the ignition is on the temp gauge also goes 3/4 to the right. Everything was working fine when I put her away at 7pm last night - very odd indeed!

There are other variables but you get the general picture. It's hot out (so was yesterday when i put her away) and I'm out for the day so have limited tools with me so whatever advice I get will be applied when I (hopefully) get home.

Thanks, Russell

 

Thanks Howard, I assumed it would be an earth, just wondered if anyone had encountered this problem and could point me in a direction as to where to check first.

 

Jean-Michel, that's very interesting. My car still has the original cigarette lighters fitted and I did disconnect the front one a few months ago because the connections had been played around with by the previous owner.

I'll check to see if there's a problem in this area ASAP, if it is this it's really odd that it was fine when I put it away yesterday and had a problem when i started her up today.

I suppose this is typical of an old ferrari.

Thanks for taking the time to post this suggestion.

 

Jean-Michel, I had 5 minutes this morning so quickly reconnected the cigarette lighter. As soon as both connections were in place the gauge problems occurred with or without the ignition on.

There's no guarantee that the problem is due to this wiring as it may be just another consequence of a bigger problem but at least I've found something else which causes the gauges to short out.

I'll keep you posted when I know more,

Russell

 

Thanks Greg, duly noted.

Now I just need to have a word with my mechanic friend and see if I can borrow his ramp at the weekend.

 

So I arrange with my friend to use his ramp this morning to check the ground straps under the 400 to see if this cures the window and crazy gauge problems but in true old Ferarri style the problem wasn't there when I got the car out of my garage - typical !

That said, the original problem I first encountered whereby the indicator lights on the dash both illuminate when the sidelights are turned on was back (this tended to happen when it was cold or damp but always went away after a while when the engine warmed up).

We're going to check the ground straps underneath today and see if anything obvious stands out or if a general contact clean up and reconnect solves the problem. Will keep you posted.

Due to the way things go wrong and then fix themselves I've decided to name the 400 'Christine' !

 

Found 3 ground wires under the car inc main battery ground and 2 on the gearbox. All seemed ok when removed but cleaned all and refitted with conductive grease anyway. Car was fine for hours but windows stopped working and the gauge problem returned later in the day (although went away after a brief period). Any one have a window wiring diagram as this will show the window grounding points.

One thing I forgot to mention is that a remote set alarm is fitted which also locks the doors (it works but looking at the remote it seems pretty old to me - maybe even going back to the 80's). Any thoughts ?

thanks, Russell.