| Author |
Message |
Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member
Username: Mcharness
Post Number: 931
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2003 - 2:04 pm: | |
My '84 308QV had 21K miles on it when I bought it around 10 years ago. The first year was the most costly for repairs. But the car was IMMACULATE when I bought it... the previous owner was definite car guy. He had 12 cars inside his garage, and some of the cars had their own *rooms* inside the garage. The only problem with the Ferrari was that he didn't drive it enough... most of the 21K miles had been in the first few years of ownership, so seals dried out, fuel pump had to be replaced, a few hoses were a bit brittle, etc. But after that first year, it's primarily just been brakes, tires and tune ups! So take heart.
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Lee Pierce (Leepierce)
Junior Member
Username: Leepierce
Post Number: 202
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2003 - 1:04 pm: | |
Mike: Relax. Like everyone says, it takes a while to get them sorted. I've had my '78 for abot 8 months, and it's getting better by the day and worse by the day at the same time. I have faith, as should you, that once the little things get taken care of (and good luck that they are "little things"), you will have a very solid, drivable car. The guys on this site will always be able to help you work it out. |
Darryl - TR&328 (Tr328)
New member
Username: Tr328
Post Number: 47
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2003 - 1:07 am: | |
Mike Z,
Don't forget to let us know what the problem is with your car once you get it back from the shop. Good luck and I hope it's minor. |
James H. (Jamesh)
Junior Member
Username: Jamesh
Post Number: 213
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 10:54 pm: | |
I would recomend Continental over Lake Forrest, even if you have to wait a little longer for an appointment. |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 1088
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 9:59 pm: | |
Start with a full bottle of Chevron Techron concentrate per 1/2 tank of gas, 2 bottles if the tank is nearly full.
It will remove moisture as well as clean out the fuel system (injectors, etc.) It takes about 1/4 tank to see results from the cleaning, but the moisture removal is more immediate. If things haven't improved after 1/2 tank of gas, then
it's not likely moisture or fuel system deposits.
I'd also check the electronic ignition control units (aka Digiplexes). They're under a beaver board panel in a little pocket just behind the driver side rear wheel. Make sure they're good & dry.
There's supposed to be a plug with a drain tube sticking out of it in the bottom of the pocket just behind the wheel, but the tube always seems to get plugged up. When I 1st pulled the plug, I dumped over a pint of water out!
Now I pull the plug every few weeks just in case. Interestingly enough, I've never gotten any water out after that 1st time!
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Patrick Denonville (Arizonaguy)
Member
Username: Arizonaguy
Post Number: 554
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 8:26 pm: | |
Try putting a high octane, unleaded fuel in the gas tank, if your car is acting like this you could be getting detenation due to fuel sitting for a while and loosing it's octane level, and if the car has been run with leaded gas, it's possible sensors on the engine are fried and the cats are dead because they are coated in lead. |
Mike Z (Spike308)
New member
Username: Spike308
Post Number: 46
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 7:47 pm: | |
BTW... what the hell is a digiplex
(remember, I am NOT a mechanic!)...
is there a "Ferrari for Dummies"???? |
Mike Z (Spike308)
New member
Username: Spike308
Post Number: 45
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 7:44 pm: | |
I hope it is simple. I had a similar problem on a Lotus Esprit S1 that I am in possession of (it is great to have a sports car nut brother who insists on living overseas!) and it was the electrical connections of the wire harness.
I am unfortunately NOT a mechanic, however, after having a Lotus for 2 years and hooking up with the Lotus Corps, an excellent group of Lotus fanatics here in the Chicago area, I am slowly learning my way around an engine.
No, she has not been washed recently, so I dont think it is a water issue.
I did call FOD, but, much like calling your doctor, it is difficult to diagnose stuff over the phone.
I am taking her to Lake Forest Sports Cars tomorrow morning. The service guy seems really nice (on the phone)
I rattled around all wires to the spark plugs, and their connections, no avail. I don't trust myself trying to fix anything on her yet. I'll hang out their (LFSC), maybe learn a thing or two.
thanks for all your suggestions! |
Darrell Pardy (Dpardyferrari)
New member
Username: Dpardyferrari
Post Number: 25
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 6:07 pm: | |
Mike:
Sorry I can't give you any advice that is better than already posted, but I can tell you that when I purchased my 1984 308GTSi QV I had all kinds of problems primarily due to it sitting in a garage for 5 years prior (30K miles on it). It took me a year to get everything siorted out, but now it is essentially "bullet-proof". The 308 once you get it working right will be a load of fun and pretty reliable. So stick with it, follow the advice of the posts, read the old technical journals and enjoy both the frusteration and joy when it finally runs right. |
Ken Ross (Kdross)
Member
Username: Kdross
Post Number: 420
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 5:16 pm: | |
Mike Z:
I too have a 308QV. I agree that the problem is electrical in nature. I would open the trunk (engine lid) and check the digiplex's under the carpeting. It's a well known problem that water can collect on the units and cause problems. I would also check your grounds while you have everything apart. This is all easy to do and should take less than an hour. Good luck.
Ken
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Dave Burch (Merlyn)
Junior Member
Username: Merlyn
Post Number: 120
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 12:54 pm: | |
Almost definitely electrical. When the tach goes crazy it's a usually result of insufficient voltage which obviously will affect the ignition system. |
Mark (Markg)
Member
Username: Markg
Post Number: 576
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 12:00 pm: | |
Your lucky - my 308 didn't run for crap from 10 minutes after the carrier pushed it off the trailor (wouldn't start)...but 2 weeks and $15k later it ran fine for quite a while. I has similar problem early this year, traced to combination bad fuse block and thermo-time switch screwing up fuel mixture.
I am pro-actively replacing in-tank fuel filter, main fuel filter, fuel pump and accumulator this week in prep for my annual Vegas road trip. |
Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member
Username: Parkerfe
Post Number: 2857
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 10:51 am: | |
If you got five days with no problems out of the thing you're lucky. Just kidding. It will take you a while to get it fully sorted out once you start driving it a bit. |
Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member
Username: Jimpo1
Post Number: 2414
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 10:43 am: | |
I had similar problems last week, the problem was with the electrical contacts in the engine wiring harness. |
Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Member
Username: Pupz308
Post Number: 494
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 10:25 am: | |
Check your alternator output (check battery with a voltmeter when the car is "sputtering"). A failed voltage regulator in the alternator caused the same symptoms for me (ignition coils weren't working properly), though I did not have the tachomoter behavior you describe.
There are ALWAYS things to get sorted out on these cars. It's been one year to the day since I've bought mine--lots of little bits need to be dealt with on cars this old. (For example, it would seem most folks replace their fuel pump after 20 years or so!)
Do search the archives, and DO post back here when you figure it out!
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John Pray (Juanito308)
New member
Username: Juanito308
Post Number: 35
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 9:17 am: | |
Mike, you may want to give your contact at FOD a call. While they cannot anticipate problems when performing PPIs, they may be a source of info. Was the car from Colorado originally? Usually only affects carb cars tho when moving from altitude. |
Dom Vitarella (Dom)
Member
Username: Dom
Post Number: 406
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 9:09 am: | |
Another suggestion- Could it be a prob with the ignition? Did you wash the car recently? Sometimes water will get into the spark plug wells, and cause the sputtering, backfiring.
Dom |
Bruce Wellington (Bws88tr)
Advanced Member
Username: Bws88tr
Post Number: 2697
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 6:47 am: | |
hey mike
you agree with me..WOW..THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE GREAT DAY FOR ME...
BRUCE |
mike 308 (Concorde)
Member
Username: Concorde
Post Number: 283
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 4:58 am: | |
The QV ECU is in (under) the rear luggage area.
I agree with Bruce (!) about it potentially being a gasoline moisure problem. Also, if the car has indeed sat and not been driven much by the previous owner, you'll find that things do start to go wrong (electrical, seals, etc) once you begin to drive it regularly. Even though mine was a great car, it took a year of "little things" like fuel pump, seals, etc to get it right after I bought it. Been pretty much a dream car since then. |
Joe Craven (Rscapri2600)
New member
Username: Rscapri2600
Post Number: 30
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 9:54 pm: | |
This sounds like it might be caused by the flywheel sensors. Which one controls the tach? |
Bruce Wellington (Bws88tr)
Advanced Member
Username: Bws88tr
Post Number: 2695
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 9:48 pm: | |
CAR COULD HAVE SIT FOR A WHILE AND ALOT OF CONDENSED WATER IN THE TANK..MAYBE PUT IN HIGH-TEST GAS, 2ND..MAYBE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP...
GOOD LUCK
BRUCE |
Henryk (Henryk)
Intermediate Member
Username: Henryk
Post Number: 1113
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 9:23 pm: | |
With the instant problem, and then OK to get gas, and once again instant problems......sounds like a bad electrical connection. Check the plug(s) going into the ECU(s)......is there one on a QV? |
Mike Z (Spike308)
New member
Username: Spike308
Post Number: 44
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 9:10 pm: | |
HELP!
I have had my 308QV for 5 days (48.7K miles) and I am already having trouble!
she passed the PPI with flying colors, compression test was great. 30K service done several months ago...
Driving home last night, suddenly began losing power, a lot of "sputtering", a few backfires, sudden bursts of power.
I drove her to get gas earlier. No problems.
Go to drive her again tonight, nothing but problems (sputtering, backfiring, etc). Interestingly, if this helps, the tachometer is all over the board, having no real relationship to what the engine is doing (not the case before this all started, over the whopping 75 miles I have put on her!)
Oh god, please help! |