Oh no...won't start! | FerrariChat
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Oh no...won't start!

Discussion in '308/328' started by DWPC, May 5, 2012.

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  1. DWPC

    DWPC Formula Junior

    Mar 10, 2011
    733
    Sedona AZ
    Full Name:
    Dennis
    #1 DWPC, May 5, 2012
    Last edited: May 5, 2012
    She was running great yesterday. Always an instant start right to 2000 RPM. This morning, she started very weakly and sputtered out in a few very seconds. Never got to fast idle. nothing but the lonely sound of the starter cranking. Repeat attempts didn't even get a weak start, just a cough or two. 1/4 tank; fuses are all good; fuel pump runs; fuel pressure at the cold start injector seems strong. A spark tester on No 1 shows its getting spark. I let her sit for an hour, tried again then got the same. WUR and injectors were replaced six months ago. Halp!!

    I should add that after cranking there's no gasoline odor.
     
  2. PT 328

    PT 328 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 1, 2005
    4,004
    #2 PT 328, May 5, 2012
    How old is the battery? Sometimes you get no warning before they die. Can you test it with a volt meter?

    Start simple with the battery test and applicable connections then get into the challenging and potential costly issues.
     
  3. DWPC

    DWPC Formula Junior

    Mar 10, 2011
    733
    Sedona AZ
    Full Name:
    Dennis
    #3 DWPC, May 5, 2012
    The battery is pretty new and cranks fine. I'm thinking fuel issues because I smell no gas after cranking for a while; but as I said fuel pressure was healthy at the cold start injector.
     
  4. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,794
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    #4 Steve Magnusson, May 5, 2012
    Did you verify this by unplugging the safety switch and turning the key to "on"?
     
  5. DWPC

    DWPC Formula Junior

    Mar 10, 2011
    733
    Sedona AZ
    Full Name:
    Dennis
    #5 DWPC, May 5, 2012
    PROBLEM FOUND!!! The air sensor plate was firmly stuck closed. Took a little thumb pressure to free it. Now she's back to normal; started instantly after I freed the plate. The question is why did it stick and how do I prevent it from happening again? I'm not too keen on taking a punch to the stop pin per the WSM.
     
  6. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,794
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    #6 Steve Magnusson, May 5, 2012
    You'd need to know the cause ;)

    Might be a simple as a piece of debris getting wedged between the round plate and the funnel (that you've now cleared), but, if the round plate is physically rubbing on the funnel, it should be re-centered.

    If something is wrong in the pivot axis that would be a serious disassembly task, but Robz328 posted some good reference photos here in post #10:

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362143

    Some debris/varnish in the small annular space between the central plunger and its bore could also prevent plate motion -- isn't that a happy thought... ;)
     

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