Test drove a nice 355 yesterday but the check engine light came on. I retained a highly respected Ferrari mechanic to do the PPI next week. Presumably he'll get to the bottom of the CEL. To my surprise, however, he didn't seem to think that a compression / leak down test was necessary. Since the exhaust valve sleeves were never replaced I would have thought a compression test would be necessary. What do you guys think? The car starts and idles with no smoke and pulls strong in every gear. This is a fairly low mileage example with a solid service history. The seller is asking over market, so I would expect the car to be pretty much perfect with no stories.
I'd get the leakdown and compression tests done regardless of what the mechanic says, but that's just me...
I bought my 1997B with no PPI. but I had a lot of history on the car and it had the valve guides done. when I got the the car to my mechanic he forgoed the leakdown after the compression results were solid and even. definitely get the CEL looked at. and since you know the valve guides weren't done a compression and leakdown would be ideal in your case.
Getting some values for compression is always good because it gives you a baseline. The next time you get a compression test done, you can see if there is any significant degradation. If you plan on doing some of the maintenance yourself, I wouldn't go for the cheapest compression tester on eBay. Get a quality one. Cheers
U need to get someone else to do the PPI, his comment that u don't need one shows he is not familiar with the model.
I was thinking the same as above, also you might post in the NYC regional area and find a close by F chatter to talk to. Might go with you when the PPI is getting done or know a mechanic familiar with the 355, hell might even find a new friend or two also
! Or has a relationship with the seller Compression and leakdown are both required, they tell different stories to those that know how to take and read them "Pulls strong" based on what size sample group and conditions there in?
Dave, I got very good results on the leak down for my PPI. ('96 355 with replaced guides.) The shop said that compression test wasn't necessary. I know (imagine) that the shop had a backlog, and really didn't want to spend more time on a car that would leave the area. May I please have your thoughts?
I had two 348s, and the check engine lights came on so frequently, I eventually placed a band aid over each one. That pretty well did the trick.
Leakdown is good start to see how everything is sealing. Still good to have compression as a dynamic rather than static test as a problem here could still reveal a valve problem or incorrect valve timing. (compression low on one cylinder? high on one bank?). That being said I didn't do a PPI on the 95 that I bought. If it becomes a problem I will fix it or just do the heads during the next service.
James nailed part of it, valve timing problems are instantly identifiable with a compression test. Low leak down - low compression = hydraulic lifter problems not opening the valves as well as they are supposed to. There are at least 15 different conditions that can be identified by variations of both tests, performed at the same time with like conditions. To suggest these are not required is simple foolishness. BINGO Vracer..... how complete of a test/PPI would you imagine you are getting when a shop is being paid to find everything wrong with what was a customers of theirs car, possibly critiquing their own work, that is now leaving town and wont be a profit center in the future? The ppi system had problems, some quite perplexing BUT.... fixable. That is until the Net Chat Room Mob Mentality started with the litigation threats and character assignation if something was missed on a few hundred dollar check over! NOW you get nothing worth paying for as a result.... its as simple as that. Those with half a brain would never expose themselves to something with this level of liability.... why would you... and for a few hundred dollars?! The net result of the NCRMM syndrome, regarding ppi's, is the entire system now needs a reboot with a whole new set of rules and expectations. What once was the most powerful and important tool that a prospective owner could ever wish for... no longer exists on a level worth paying for.
In my case the mechanic I hired for the PPI is uncomfortable doing the compression test at the seller's shop so he won't do it unless they flatbed the car to his own shop. The seller, however, said it is their policy that only they do the compression test and moreover would charge me for it in the event I do not buy the car. That struck me as a little fishy. As a compromise I suggested that the seller's shop do it while my mechanic oversees it.
Having then do it, and charge you for it is lame. If you go forward with it, I would recommend being there yourself along with your mechanic. I'm not sure why your mechanic couldn't do it at the other shop, it's not something that requires a whole lot of tools. Could be a liability thing I suppose.
Dave, if I owned a shop, I might not do them either; I understand. That said, anything is better than nothing - even though no PPI can possibly spot every potential problem.
