Rough running '87 TR | FerrariChat

Rough running '87 TR

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by Maser, Aug 9, 2014.

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  1. Maser

    Maser Formula Junior

    Jun 2, 2011
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    Harry Metcalfe
    #1 Maser, Aug 9, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I recently bought a 23,000 mile '87 Testarossa at auction and when I drove it for the first time, noticed it wasn't running cleanly on all 12 cylinders. This was most noticeable at low revs but it wasn't completely smooth at high revs either.

    The car has been a bit of a garage queen, covering approximately 200 miles in the past 12 months and only 1000 miles since 2006.

    I've had the car checked over by a well known Ferrari specialist local to me and both the compression test and 'spark' test they carried out checked out fine, so they suspect the rough running is something to do with the fuel metering system and/or injectors from lack of use.

    They want to send the two metering units and all 12 injectors off for overhaul (approx £2000inc.) but I'm wondering if I should drive the car more first, with some injector cleaner added to the fuel, to see if the problem clears itself after a couple of fill-ups have flushed through before committing to a strip down. Or is this wishful thinking and the fuel system will still need overhauling..

    Any thoughts?


    Harry Metcalfe
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  2. turbo-joe

    turbo-joe F1 Veteran

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    romano schwabel
    #2 turbo-joe, Aug 9, 2014
    mostly this is a problem of the injectors because they are dirty. to clean them makes sense, but new ones are not so expensive and still available.

    the 2 metering sensors normaly make no problem. but to put cleaner in the fuel tank and drive a little would be not bad, but not more then 3500 rpm and only if you know the belts are ok
     
  3. chabch

    chabch Formula 3

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    Christophe
    #3 chabch, Aug 9, 2014
    Hi Harry! Glad to see you around here! I loved your Evo Diaries videos, I do miss them a lot. Hopefully you'll make more of them in the future.

    Welcome to the TR family!
     
  4. Maser

    Maser Formula Junior

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    Harry Metcalfe
    #4 Maser, Aug 9, 2014
    Thanks Romano, belts were done 2yrs (300mls) ago, so no problems there. I've only done around 200 miles in her but have kissed the redline a few times already, so have missed the 3500rpm threshold you suggest..

    I'd like to think it was just injectors but suspect the metering units will be stripped and inspected at the same time as the injectors. At least I'll end up with a Testarossa that should run 'like new' by the end of it, though.
     
  5. lear60man

    lear60man Formula 3

    May 29, 2004
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    #5 lear60man, Aug 9, 2014
    I used to think the 'Italian Tune up' was a joke. Its not. I would absolutely run a tank or two with injector cleaner in it.
     
  6. Otus

    Otus Rookie

    Jul 23, 2013
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    #6 Otus, Aug 9, 2014
    Where is the overhauling for metering units planned to do? I suggest metering unit is also called fuel distributor....
    Is there any good service place for fuel distributor in Europe?
     
  7. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 MS250, Aug 9, 2014
    Welcome to the Testarossa world ! And congrats on your purchase.

    Cars that are describes in storage / or garage queen sometimes has the really meaning .....

    "Yeah, when I couldn't afford to fix it so I haven't driven the car in 6 yrs" majority of these cars fall in this category , so don't fall for the BS line.... It probably didn't run right since 2006 hence why it sat with little mileage.....driving it longer will not fix this issue because you are taking the seller at there word. Their word is WRONG now that you had your first drive and not running on 12 cyl.

    Take the car in, and have it checked properly to avoid any further type of damage, for all you know, the wires could be original and arching as you drive.... Or the meters as he said. Take your time and work the bugs out one by one ..... Once you do, these cars are very reliable and satisfying to drive.

    Good luck !
     
  8. rpissm

    rpissm Formula 3

    Aug 11, 2013
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    #8 rpissm, Aug 9, 2014
    I second that. It's amazing how much better my TR runs now that I've put almost a thousand miles on it, 75-100 at a time. Use Chevron 91 octane and buy their Techron fuel cleaner too (to add to the cleaning power of the Techron gas).
     
  9. Maser

    Maser Formula Junior

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    Harry Metcalfe
    #9 Maser, Aug 9, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    You may be right, checking through the history tonight and I see the previous owner had 2 new distributor caps, rotor arms & leads fitted back in September 2013, which might suggest it wasn't running quite right..
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  10. ARTNNYC

    ARTNNYC F1 Rookie
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    #10 ARTNNYC, Aug 9, 2014
    We miss you at EVO.....
     
  11. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 MS250, Aug 9, 2014
    That's a good starting point as well, are the distributor caps original Ferrari ones, or similar fitting ones ;) do they have the proper voltage ?

    All these little things have an affect on how the car will run, take you time, and fix it correctly...I'm sure the issue isn't the car, it's the pervious owners of not having the money to fix it correctly.

    Make sure you trust your mechanic and confirm that he has worked on many Ferrari's , at this point you really don't need a guy learning on your car, you need an expert. It's sounds like an easy fix for a pro.

    Good luck
     
  12. Maser

    Maser Formula Junior

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    Harry Metcalfe
    #12 Maser, Aug 12, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Went for the strip down of the fuel metering & injector system in the end and everything has now been sent away for inspection.
    Looking at this photo showing the state of some of the injectors, I'm very glad I did. Not pretty..
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  13. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #13 MS250, Aug 12, 2014
    You will find as you go down this path more things will present themselves.

    The car sat for a while, hence, some attention will be needed. I went through a similar process when I bought my car.

    In the end, it will be a glorious experience behind the wheel.
     
  14. archibald drinkwater

    archibald drinkwater Karting

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    patrick f.
    #14 archibald drinkwater, Feb 23, 2015
    amazing TR video harry ... thank you for creating it !
     

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