The day started out great........

I gave the son of a friend of mine a ride in my 85' Euro 308 QV. After he enjoyed the ride, I left to get some gas and have some fun (my myself)on some twisty, back roads. Twenty minutes later, I pull up to a stop sign and the engine dies (that has not happened before). So I start the car and take off....only the engine is very sluggish and pulls away very slowly. It is a little better in second and third but this scenario repeats itself at every light or stop sign, the rest of the way home. Any ideas? Bad gas, loss of some cylinders, clogged fuel filter? Any help is appreciated.

 

Is it an unmodified euro (no Lambda, no O2 sensor) or has an aftermarket Lambda system been added during US importation (i.e., it has a Lambda ECU and an O2 sensor)?

 

Vac leak?
Or ignition.

Fuel or air intake issues get worse when you rev more. Ignition issues seem better at higher revs.

 

I've gotten gas and had the same thing...water in the gas. Hope that's not your problem as it's a chore to get the old gas out.

 

The O2 sensor was removed last year.

 

Assuming your car has a frequency valve, is it buzzing as it should? This is an eerie similarity. The first time my 328 did that was just after buying some fuel. In my case it was the fused relay that powers the frequency valve dropping out every now and then. You can feel the valve vibrating when it is working. Eventually the relay quit altogether.

 

DITTO ---

First thing I'd check is the frequency valve.

 

My first choice, had something similar happen last year, simple as finding which line came loose.

 

Sun's out! Need a hand today before I start cranking out some work during the week?

 

UPDATE;
I tried to drive the car to the shop but it died on the road. So, I had to called a wrecker and have it towed in. They found out the distributor cap and rotors were all burned up. He was amazed the car still ran at all.

 

If it makes you feel better, I picked up a nail in the LR tire on the 308 on the way home tonight.

 

Did you change it yourself?

 

Branko,
Just curious, how many miles on the car and how long has the cap and rotor been in there?
I have not had my car die at a stop sign, but the last time my cap rotor were even looked at was at the cars 30k service.

Just trying to get a idea of how often folks recommend checking the cap and rotor. On my other old cars, I replace them every couple of years, regardless of miles, but then again, those are only $25!

Thanks,,
Bob

 

I think they are the original distributors and rotors that came with the car 51,000 miles ago. So, you have a ways to go.

 

Yep, mine were changed at 47k.

 

Watch out...there are some bad reproduction 308 rotors and caps that are known to prematurely fail. Oem caps and rotors should last a long time...at least 30k I would think.

 

Thanks for the warning. I went with OEM caps and rotors.

 

You might want to toss a timing light on there, and see if the rotor/cap was the root cause or a symptom.

 

Found it when I got home. Fixed now.

 

Updated update:
I just picked up my car from the shop. And all I can say is, WOW! It's amazing what a new set of plugs, distributor caps, rotors and fuel filter can do for a 308 (as well as my wallet). I had not realized how much power I had lost over time. The beast is back!........ I know, I know, I'm calming down.

 

Heh, heh, heeeeh... Countdown to the Beast running in Ferrari Festa!