328 gts stalled, wont start | FerrariChat

328 gts stalled, wont start

Discussion in '308/328' started by Lektronimo, Jan 6, 2014.

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  1. Lektronimo

    Lektronimo Karting

    Dec 31, 2012
    143
    Franklin Square NY
    Full Name:
    Stefano
    Weird thing today, I tried to start my 328 (like I usually do a few times a week If I cant drive it) and let it run, after around 10 - 15 minutes when I went to check it, it was not running, I tried to start it, but I got nothing! the lights on the dash were on and the door dome lights were lit when I opened the door but I got no crank at all.
    I left the house for around an hour and when I got back I tried again, I got one small crank and that's it, Its a new battery only a few months old!
    What do you think? its never stalled on me before.
     
  2. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    15,112
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Tom Spiro
    Well:

    1. spark?
    2. Fuel?

    easy way is to check if you have the fuel pump running by disconnecting the frequency valve ( blue connector on the fuel distributer - you should hear a loud buzzing noise. if not - then i would suspect an electrical connections is gone... with the cold weather extremes not suprised.

    check fuses - & conectors behind the passengers foot well and in the rear trunk right hand side - you have to remove 2-4 bolts to access the pannel that has all the F-I stuff on it.

    its odd that it ran and shut off... - hope you have gas?
     
  3. pappy.72

    pappy.72 Formula Junior

    Nov 13, 2010
    536
    Elgin, IL
    Full Name:
    Dave
    The battery may not be charged enough for the starter. Your altenator is possibly at fault. Charge the battery to full and try again. If it starts check the battery terminal voltage while running. It should be around 13-14 volts.
     
  4. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,806
    Cerritos, CA.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    If it doesn't crank/turnover, it's your battery.
     
  5. andyww

    andyww F1 Rookie

    Feb 7, 2011
    2,775
    London
    Did you get any click from the starter solenoid at all when it didn't crank?

    It is probably battery but there is a connector next to the top LH shock mount which is exposed to water ingress and can corrode and cause intermittent no start.

    At the risk of starting a whole debate, there is questionable benefit in starting a car several times a week when not driving it.
     
  6. Lektronimo

    Lektronimo Karting

    Dec 31, 2012
    143
    Franklin Square NY
    Full Name:
    Stefano
    I used to have a battery tender hooked up in my old GT4, I wanted to get it set up on the 328 but I got too busy and the winter creeped up on me.
    I've been conditioned with the Italian philosophy of never letting a car sit too long!
     
  7. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    12,083
    FRANCE
    It has been discussed quite a lot here, but I am among those who do not regularly start my two 328s, even when cold in winter, outside for driving. I never "warm them only": if I start a car, it means a drive.
    They both accept very well to remain with the big red ground connector behind the left light pod disconnected, without any battery tender; their batteries hold charge and the cars always start first time after a month or so.
    I seem to recall that our own Mike996, on this forum, leaves his car as such for period of up to five months.

    Rgds
     
  8. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran

    Jul 16, 2011
    7,042
    Fairfield,Pa
    Full Name:
    Robert
    Batteries discharge all by themselves regardless of being connected or not. The rate at which they discharge is dependent on guess what - temperature. Below is typical lead acid battery. When it gets below a certain point the battery becomes toast. It's the alchemy of batteries to transform from battery to toast. Just add cold.
    [​IMG]

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  9. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran

    Jul 16, 2011
    7,042
    Fairfield,Pa
    Full Name:
    Robert
    #9 Crowndog, Jan 7, 2014
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2014




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,871
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    As was noted, I leave my 328, battery disconnected, every winter for a minimum of 5 months. One year it went 7 months. Upon arriving back at the car after that period I connect the battery neg terminal, turn the key and the car starts as if it had been running yesterday. Other than adding Stabil to the gas and doing a 10+ mile run before putting the car in the garage and disconnecting the batt, I do no other engine-related prep for storage. The battery was new in 2008 and has been through 4 winters so far with no noticeable decline in performance. The car is stored in an unheated shed in the Kent Island area of MD so it gets pretty cold…though nothing like the more northern areas of the US.
     
  11. Lektronimo

    Lektronimo Karting

    Dec 31, 2012
    143
    Franklin Square NY
    Full Name:
    Stefano
    Wow , it seems too easy! just disconnect the battery and wait till spring!
    I wonder why it stalled though, hmm... I guess I'll try and jump it and take it from there.
    Thanks guys, I owe you all a nice espresso!
     
  12. ME308

    ME308 Formula 3

    Nov 5, 2003
    1,550
    Munich, Germany
    Full Name:
    Michael
    don`t do it or you might destroy the Microplex ecu...would not be the first one -
    try a new battery first (and clean grounds)
     
  13. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

    Nov 17, 2003
    4,209
    Austin, TX USA
    Full Name:
    Greg
    When you start it and let it run, are you giving it a bit of revs (after good oil pressure) to turn off the red dash light, activating the alternator? If you don't do this, you will deplete the battery.
    Greg
     
  14. RGigante

    RGigante F1 Rookie
    Owner Project Master

    Nov 1, 2006
    2,874
    Portugal
    My thought exacty. Replace the battery and check if the alternator light turns off.
     
  15. Lektronimo

    Lektronimo Karting

    Dec 31, 2012
    143
    Franklin Square NY
    Full Name:
    Stefano
    good to know, I usually do not right away, I usually wait till it warms a bit before I rev it
     
  16. Lektronimo

    Lektronimo Karting

    Dec 31, 2012
    143
    Franklin Square NY
    Full Name:
    Stefano
    I just got this battery 2 months ago, is it absolutely necessary to go with a new battery?
    In Aug.while I was in Italy, my father left the door ajar and the dome lights killed the old battery , that one we jumped, but it didn't last too long.
     
  17. F-car

    F-car Karting

    Feb 25, 2009
    198
    Ipoh, Malaysia
    Full Name:
    CK
    Hi Stefano, if you can hear the fuel pump working & battery voltage is more than 13V, check the spark plugs.
     
  18. etip

    etip Formula 3

    Apr 4, 2004
    2,406
    Washington State
    Full Name:
    Eric
    On 308's the number 1 fuse for the windshield wipers also feeds the fuel pump. If it's blown that will stop the car from starting...
     
  19. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,871
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    "On 308's the number 1 fuse for the windshield wipers also feeds the fuel pump."

    now THERE"S a clever piece of engineering…I'm not sure that even Lucas came up with anything that innovative! ;)
     
  20. Meister

    Meister F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 27, 2001
    5,516
    Duluth, MN
    Full Name:
    The Meister
    Odds are its a dead battery. IMO, just another adverse effect from intermitant starting during winter storage. The alternator is not charging the battery until the light goes out. I had a voltage gauge in my ex 308 and that was very clear to see.

    IMWO... When she goes to sleep for the winter, fresh oil, fresh gas (no ethanol if you can find it), stabil, battery tender or pull the battery and don't touch it until the next season.
     
  21. TedM

    TedM Karting

    Oct 30, 2010
    78
    Arlington, MA
    Full Name:
    Ted
    Check this battery connection before you spend a penny! I had the same problem vexing me -- the car would sometimes fail to start, usually at the worst possible moment -- and my mechanic fixed it by just cleaning the connector. The problem was that the alternator was working, but couldn't feed enough juice through the corroded connector to the battery, which would deplete itself enough that it couldn't turn the starter. It just happened rather embarrassingly last night at the grand opening party for the new Scottsdale Ferrari dealership. Fortunately there were many understanding folks there to provide a good push! :)
     
  22. Lektronimo

    Lektronimo Karting

    Dec 31, 2012
    143
    Franklin Square NY
    Full Name:
    Stefano
    Thanks Ted, will do
     
  23. Lektronimo

    Lektronimo Karting

    Dec 31, 2012
    143
    Franklin Square NY
    Full Name:
    Stefano
    I was having a problem with the spark plug extenders there
    for a few weeks, and the car was running a bit rough, I used electrical tape on the front extenders and it improved, but it was not running 100% I had just ordered new extenders when I went out to try and start the car!
     
  24. Lektronimo

    Lektronimo Karting

    Dec 31, 2012
    143
    Franklin Square NY
    Full Name:
    Stefano
    I have a little more than a quarter tank and added Lucas ethanol fuel treatment at my last fill up, you think I should add more gas? No ethanol free gas anywhere around here!
    So cold here in NY, I doubt I'll be able to change the oil until spring, checked it the other day and it was still clean looking , last service was done last Feb, I put maybe 1,000 miles tops since then.
    At this point I might just disconnect the battery and wait, I just hate not knowing exactly what happened lol
    Great to know about the alternator light, I never revved the engine until it was warm.
     
  25. F-car

    F-car Karting

    Feb 25, 2009
    198
    Ipoh, Malaysia
    Full Name:
    CK
    Happened to me once: My Mondial was running fine. Sent the car to top up AC gas. My mechanic cranked for 10-15sec but couldn't start the engine as he didn't press gas pedal. After that, I couldn't start the engine at all until I changed the spark plugs as they were covered with thick carbon at the tip. I suspect the carbon was formed during the 10-15sec cranking by my mechanic. I suggest you have a look at the spark plugs if your battery & fuel pressure are good.
     

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