Mondial QV 83 starting problem

I bought a Mondial about 6 weeks ago. Had to drive the car home about 230 miles mostly in very bad rain. The car is now stored in my garage and due to the awful weather we have now winter is drawing in it is not used much. I have decided to start the car every 2-3 weeks but the other day I had difficulty starting it. The the engine fired but stopped straight away. After several attempts pressed the accelerator to the floor and it started, after about 10 seconds it idled fine. Left it running for about 15 mins and then stopped it. About 1/2 hour later went to start it and again would not fire. Poking around under the bonnet I removed the HT leads from the two coils then reconnected them. Sprayed WD40 on all HT's and it started. I thought it must be the damp from the trip home weeks before (the garage is a brick one attached to house and very dry though). Last night I tried again (so a little over 24 hours later). After a couple of attempts at starting (about 10 seconds on the starter X 2) I stopped. Noticed a whisp of smoke from the battery and the negative side was quite hot. This does not seem normal. Things I have done to the car are as follows. Some dash lights did not work, flash headlights not working, rear foglights and at one point direction indicators I checked all fuses were clean and sprayed WD40 (yeah I like this stuff!) in the fuse box. This fixed most problems. I also leave the battery on charge but use the isolator on the battery. I will check for a spark and fuel this weekend but wondered if anyone had any ideas ?

 

Thanks Malcolm. I may try tonight but otherwise weekend and will report back.

 

There is definately a spark so the ignition seems fine. I have taken off all the connections around the battery and the isolator switch. Must admit did not try connecting straight from negative side of battery to earth, but don't believe the problem lies with this area now.
Malcolm I tried removing the connection from the "mixture control unit" and with the ignition on position II could not hear the fuel pump. I must admit (and rarther embarrassingly) that I could not find the fuel pump, accumulator and filter. They are front of the engine compartment on the offside down below air intake I think. I was in my garage which is a bit tight for space as it was throwing it down. I would liked to of checked the connections on the pump.
What was odd is that when I attempt to start it there is an awful sort of intermittant high pitched squeak combined with a hissing noise over the sound of the starter motor. My young daughter was with me in the garage and she said the sound came from the offside air intake. I am quite sure now that the fuel pump is possibly faulty. I also checked the fuse for the fuel pump and the fuse for the Cold start injector. I noted there was a relay for the fuel pump, though now thinking that this noise was the fuel pump. Wondering maybe if it is worth buying a new fuel pump though I am considering a service on the car and was going to leave it until the summer as I won't be using it until then. Unless anyone has any other suggestions I may take for a service and get the fault checked sooner as I cannot start the car at all now.

 

Yes the engine is turning over just not starting. I take it in your case you heard the noise but the starter was not even turning ? It is possible that what I hear is a starter pinion on the starter ring. I do not hear the fuel pump though.

Malcolm I assume I should easily be able to hear the fuel pump with the blue connector off and ignition in position II ?

 

PM ?

 

I'm new to Ferrari's and in this instance have decide to have my car taken into a Ferrari specialist. Not had it long enuf for me to break it even further!!! Thanks for everyones help and as time goes by I expect to do more to this car myself. I have a cambelts to replace on my regular car that are overdue and am going to concentrate on doing that at the moment.

 

Well just spoke to the Ferrari tech at RD Automotive and I feel a bit stupid. It is it seems the blasted fuse box not the pump. He is checking the pump as I type but is pretty certain it's the fuse holder. I have had this fuses in and out so many times !!!!!

 

Just got my car back today. The problem was in the fuse box, it appears that where the fuse holder is attached to the circuit board there was a dodgy connection (not looked at it myself yet). When tested across the fuse everything looked fine (no load), there was a circuit. It seems that under load it was different the holder heated up a bit and caused a break only seen (I guess) when testing under load. The holder has been firmly re-attached to the board. Everything seems great so far. The fuel pump was checked out I believe just to make sure.
Thanks for everyones help

 

I too still have one or two problems, in fact one has re-appeared though it is only minor and I reckon that messing about with it might cause something else.
My car is now SORN (Statutory Off Road Notice) for the winter so I won't be driving it until about April/May 05. The wait is going to be long.

 

My fuse box problem has got worse. The fuel pump fuse is heating up again, getting very hot. The A/C and cooling fan too. Latest the stop light/indicator circuit fails intermittantly too (may not be related but I think so).

Fuse box replacement from Ferrari is not possible. Can get the fuse carriers but the underlying problem is the PCB's. There is a thread where Zertec and a few others are looking at a new design.
Thought that if the blade type carrier would fit straight on to the existing assembly then that may help anyone done this?

Eurospares has two (bullet type I think), but they are not new and may be worse than mine for all I know.

I am looking at bypassing all fuses on the panel, but have the issue of how I connect back (and if I should) to the relays (mounted on PCB). If you know or if anyone reading this has done something similar I would love to hear from you.

 

Any pics Andrew? I go on holiday next weekend. Car will be in with R&D whilst I am away, who have offered a fix of sorts. Really would like to see what you have done before they get the car.

Depending where you are in Chester I may be able to make it one evening next week after work as I work in Knutsford I am half way there.

Let me know if this is possible for you.
Thanks