1986 Mondial won't start | FerrariChat

1986 Mondial won't start

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by cwillis, Aug 22, 2016.

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  1. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine
    1986 Mondial has plenty of battery as turnover decent when ignition turned on. Engine does not fire. Any general thoughts would be appreciated - as in issues to look for. Wondering if fuel injector relay might be an issue and considered swapping out relay with one that works. Not sure if relays simply unplug.
     
  2. STEVO6667

    STEVO6667 Rookie

    Mar 15, 2015
    2
    Can you hear fuel pump running when ignition first switched on?
     
  3. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,932
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    What versiom 1986 Mondial? US or euro?
     
  4. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
    3,497
    Back story? It was running at some point, what's happened / been done since it last started properly?
     
  5. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine
    I believe the answer is Yes as I hear a slight whirring sound when I turn the key slightly.
     
  6. dfranzen

    dfranzen Formula 3
    Owner

    Aug 31, 2013
    1,577
    Ponte Vedra Beach , FL
    Full Name:
    Don Franzen
    First welcome to the family!

    Mr Steve will answer your questions but more detail is needed

    1) "does not fire up" mean no spark at the plugs?
    2) does it have gas?
    plus the answer to the above questions
     
  7. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine
    Nothing. Substantial rebuild a year ago and car was running as well as anytome I have owned it. Then, recently, car sounded a bit like it was startong to stall at early part of acceleration, but then ran fine at 2500+. Drove 450 miles friday w/o a hitch. Then would start Saturday a.m. Finally started after waiting a while. Ran okay. Started today. Drove a 1/2 mile. Shut engine off. Hasn't been able to start since.
     
  8. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine
    plenty of gas.
    guessing no spark at plugs as turning key gave me a decent response (assume that is starter motor?), but engine never fully engaged.
     
  9. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine
    car ran well for most part during 450 mile drive up here. Then wouldn't start yesterday after 15 mile drive. Turned off battery. Turned back on. Car started. Drove 15 miles. Shut off over night. Drove 1/2 mile today. Shut off. Hasn't been able to start since. Battery seems to be fine.
     
  10. dfranzen

    dfranzen Formula 3
    Owner

    Aug 31, 2013
    1,577
    Ponte Vedra Beach , FL
    Full Name:
    Don Franzen
    Pull a plug wire and hold it against the block and turn the engine over..does it spark?
     
  11. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine
    will try that tomorrow. now midnight here. thank you for the suggestion. curious what your response would be to yes and no answers
     
  12. dfranzen

    dfranzen Formula 3
    Owner

    Aug 31, 2013
    1,577
    Ponte Vedra Beach , FL
    Full Name:
    Don Franzen
    Actually you can see sparks better in the dark!

    sorry to ask simple yes or no questions

    not trying to insult I didnt want to go off the deep end on troubleshooting !
     
  13. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine
    no worries. only me here now, so no one to look for sparks. what I meant by yes or no, was if no sparks, what does that suggests or if sparks, where do we look next?
     
  14. Alden

    Alden F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 25, 2010
    3,716
    Central Florida
    Fuel
    Spark
    Air

    That is all it needs to run.

    Sounds like "no spark," and you may have a fault in the ECU since neither bank will fire. Since it happened so suddenly, I am betting something wiring wise broke or came loose.
    Alden
     
  15. moysiuan

    moysiuan F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 1, 2005
    4,248
    Canada
    Crank position sensor failure?
     
  16. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine
    Very much appreciate your thoughts. Confirmed today I have "spark". Fairly certain that I could hear fuel pump running (whirring in engine compartment when key turned). Took hose off carburator and didn't see any fuel going into the carb. Mechanic friend suggested that tells us something. Wondering if fuel injector relay gone bad could cause a problem of this sort?
     
  17. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine
    will check that out. thank you.
     
  18. ozziindaus

    ozziindaus F1 Veteran

    Aug 16, 2012
    9,799
    Detroit
    Full Name:
    Sam
    Sounds like the recent issue I had with the TR. Does the Mondial share the same/similar architecture, i.e. banks split with two seperate ignition modules with one primarily talking to the tach relay?
     
  19. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,932
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    #19 Steve Magnusson, Aug 23, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2016
    (The OP has not responded with what version -- and there are 1986 euro MondialQV out there -- so this assumes it's a Mondial3.2) Yes and no. 1986 Mondial3.2 (all versions) and TR have very similar ignition systems (one MicroPlex ECU, 2 coils, 2 power modules, 2 distributors, one flywheel TDC sensor, one flywheel RPM sensor), but no tachometric relay on the Mondial3.2 -- it uses the safety switch on the fuel distributor to cut +12V power going to the fuel pump if the engine is not actually running and drawing in air. So if a Mondial3.2 loses one bank of ignition (either bank), it's still happy to keep running as a 4-cyl.

    You shouldn't unless something has been modified -- i.e., with the key "on" (engine not running) and the safety switch plugged in, nothing should be running. Since you've confirmed that you have spark during cranking (on both banks?), unplug the (bluish) safety switch on the fuel distributor and then turn the key "on":

    1. the fuel pump should run, and

    2. if a US version, the frequency valve should be buzzing/vibrating.

    We'll give you a Mulligan on that one ;) -- but a good test to repeat once you unplug the safety switch to get the conditions where the FP will run with just the key "on" and engine not actually running.

    If you have a US version that does have a Protection Relay, my recollection is that it doesn't have anything to do with running the fuel pump, but it does run the frequency valve = so if you confirm the fuel pump does run, but the frequency valve is not buzzing = that justifies looking at the Protection Relay operation/non-operation.
     
  20. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine

    Well, I unplugged the "bluish" safety switch, turned the key and voila - nothing. fuel pump didn't run. no buzzing. I have a US Mondial.
     
  21. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,932
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    Well, at least you now know what has to be fixed :(

    If you've already checked the fuse (and its OK), the next diagnostic step would be to remove the fuel pump relay and touch a jumper wire from the 30 female terminal in the relay socket to the 87 female terminal in the relay socket as shown here (key off):
    Image Unavailable, Please Login

    If the fuel pump runs (it should) = try a different ...113 fuel pump relay and a different ...101 start injector relay, and repeat the unplugged blue safety switch test.

    If the fuel pump doesn't run = bad sign for the fuel pump or the fuse-relay panel (and will add more to test if this is your situation...)
     
  22. David Lind

    David Lind Formula 3

    Nov 19, 2008
    2,248
    Full Name:
    David Lind
    Unbolt the top of air filter housing, remove the filter, & spray some starting fluid at the bottom of the air intake. Immediately try to start the engine. If it fires up for a brief moment, then your problem is a lack of fuel getting into the engine. Causes? Pump stopped working, filter clogged, injectors clogged, or ... ?
     
  23. spicedriver

    spicedriver F1 Rookie

    Feb 1, 2011
    3,859
    +1 for starting fluid test. The car should actually keep running, as long as you keep spraying the starting fluid.

    If she still won't start, get a spare spark plug, and lay it on some grounded metal part of the engine with the plug wire attached. Have someone turn the engine over while you're looking for a good spark at the plug.
     
  24. cwillis

    cwillis Rookie

    Aug 22, 2016
    11
    Downeast Maine

    Figured out engine was getting "no fuel" Burned out connector in fuse block cut off three relays with one being relay for fuel pump. Back up an running. Thanks for your thoughts.
     

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