New GTSi QV owner... and first problems

Hi everyone,

After searching for a while for a GTB, I found a decent deal on an 84 QV GTSi, so took it!

She has a few miles (88k), interior is not perfect, but no rust, and engine is pretty clean and well maintained (what I really care about). Major service was done in January and not much driven since. It is a basically a driver, what I was looking for.

I will post pictures when I get a chance.

Just got the car delivered and of course come the first issues: she does not idle when hot, the engine dies and does not start until cold. This comes with detonations on deceleration which makes me think that this is related the cold start injector.
I unplugged the thermo-time switch, car started but died on idle, and did not restart after.

I guess this is my "welcome to Ferrari ownership" treat!

Suggestions?

Thanks,

Sly

 

Hi Sly,
Welcome to 308 ownership! Yeah, there is always a welcome wagon surprise.

I feel for ya. I bought a "no issues" car on which the oil cooler started leaking within 1 week of ownership.

You'll get it sorted out.

 

Welcome. Don't get too discouraged. You might want to take the car to someone well versed in K-jetronic systems to get the car to a good baseline. Then you can enjoy the car while doing your DIY projects to make it yours. It may be a bit much throwing parts and such otherwise at it this early in your ownership.

 

Congrats and good luck! I remember when I purchased my E-Type, it wasn't running and I knew the fuel pump was toast. I tore up my knuckles for over 3 weeks and STILL COULDN'T REMOVE IT. Fair to say, I was completely discouraged.

Discouraged, but still stubborn - while I farmed out the work (I simply wasn't capable), it was fixed and for the past 10 years trouble free.

Driving a 308 is almost a religious experience for me - get the car working and enjoy it.

 

Welcomed me and congrats Sylvain!

 

Thank you for the encouragements! It's a rough start, for sure! But I'm happy to finally have one to work on (looks like I won't be disappointed).

I'll start a thread on the hot idle & start issue.

Sly

 

Congratultions Sylvain ! So you finally could close a deal ! And a QV !

As far as the starting issue is concerned: the good thing is that any technical problem can be solved !! I'd like to help, but I got stuck in the carburettor era..

Hope it's a quick fix. Enjoy the car !!

 

Usually, when you have hot starting problem, most of the time the accumulator is bad.

 

+1

Had this issue on the Mondi. New accumulator after your same described issues. Not a problem since.

 

I bet that isn't it.

Brian did an excellent write up on this last May. He mentioned that in all his years he has only seen maybe two accumulators actually fail. Got me thinking.

The problem is often down stream from them.

 

I agree with Dr Tommy ! In my 32 years in the business I have only seen a few fail . You should not play what we call "Parts Bingo" Take it to a reputable shop . IMO / Enjoy the car , they are awesome !!!!!

 

Congratulations Sly, don't let the mileage fool you. You'll be driving that car for quite a while. I might suggest Boston Sports Car or Independent Ferrari Service Inc. Sort it out and enjoy!

 

Yes, congrats! Be sure to send some pictures our way!

 

I am south of Boston, Attleboro, Ma. I bought my 1984 308gts from the original owner, rustfree SF Bay area car, with every record from new and a documented 5,000 miles a year = 145,000 doc miles. It runs fantastic, yours is a baby at 88,000

You should join the Ferrari fix it club, a great group of DIY Ferrari owners in the Boston area.

 

My first WAG is a vacuum leak. When cold the car gets extra air from the AAV (and does the '84 have the really fast cold idle bypass also?) so the vacuum leak matters less. When hot and the extra air is shut off, the vacuum leak lets too much unmetered air in (thus not enough fuel) and the car won't run right. The unmetered air throws off the mixture and you get pinging and stalling at idle and closed throttle.

You should have a vacuum diagram sticker on the car. I'd trace every line. Anyway, that's where I'd start.

 

When I first received my 84 Euro it had some similar running issues, Turned out there was a vacuum line that had come disconnected under the coolant tank in the left hand side of the engine bay. Worth a look.

 

3 now. Mine was FOR SURE my hot start problem. Unless I've misunderstood something. Once I replaced the accumulator my hot starting problem went away and she runs like a champ.

Craig

 

Had the same issue, contact Larry at CIS Floqtech and he can walk you through the issues.

Hope this helps, good luck

 

Thank you everyone!

I am looking forward to drive the car often! Not afraid to put miles, as long as it put smiles on my face

I am checking on the accumulator (location, issue, repair/replacement) and will keep you posted with the progress.

Thanks!!

Sly

 

Along with the accumulator issue goes the fuel pump check valve. It can also cause hot start issues. Cheap enough to replace while you are in there.

 

Congrats on the purchase! I just went through an accumulator replacement due to a warm start issue. That being said, my car idled fine, so you may have a different issue. It's easy to check the accumulator (at least on a 328). There is a vent line from the accumulator to the fuel tank. You can pull the vent line off and if fuel comes out, the baffle inside the accumulator is bad. I also replaced the check valve while I was there and no more warm start issues.

See post #22 in this thread for more details on the accumulator vent line.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/476857-first-timer-takes-86-gtb-2.html

In that same post, there is information about the cross reference parts, which a MUCH cheaper than the official parts.

You can reach the vent line from under the car just in front of the rear tire on the driver's side.

Good luck and there is a lot of good information on the forum and many people willing to help.

 

On the lower level stuff I work on I have seen a leaky injector allow fuel pressure to disappear between starts. No rest pressure and a hot motor allows the fuel to boil making hot starts difficult.

Just a thought.

 

A quick picture of the car

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Yup, that's a 308 GTS. Very pretty!

 

It looks great. The stance may be a little high, or that is probably normal. I'm sure you will have a blast once you get it all sorted out.