How sensitive is the Ferrari Testarossa's gas pedal supposed to be?

I have a 1986 Ferrari Testarossa that I bought from someone else, so I'm not the original owner. The gas pedal has always felt unusually sensitive in that the first few centimeters of depression will spike the RPM very high, very fast—4000ish or so—making reasonable takeoffs that are easy on the clutch fairly difficult. I've driven other manuals before, including the comparable and rival Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary which isn't as sensitive on the gas; in fact, the difference is worlds apart, allowing for more modulation. It almost feels as if the Testarossa's pedals were modified for a racing configuration not intended for use on the street. All this considered, in a typical situation at a stoplight, I've found myself using pure clutch to take off in the Testarossa and maybe a careful touch of the accelerator if I want to go faster.

Is this just how the car is supposed to be?

 

What engine family TR do you have? F113A (sometimes called F113A000) or something else (the engine family is marked on the engine block above cyl #6)?

For anything other than F113A engine TRs, I would say "somewhat sensitive". The TR ignition system on non-F113A engine TR is designed with a switch on the throttle shaft that closes in the idle position to "tell" the Microplex ignition ECU to retard the ignition timing by ~5 deg. Consequently, when you open the throttle from idle you get the affect of more air plus the affect of the ignition timing advancing ~5 deg in an instant step (which also increases the RPM). IME, another factor that can have a huge affect in your ability to control the acc. pedal motion (i.e., open it just a little from idle) is how well lubricated/smooth the acc. cable is -- it has a terrible ~90 deg bend at the bottom front of the engine. It's very difficult to lubricate it from the engine end (which is where it should be done from) when the engine is in place so definitely something to ask your Mechanic to do at every major service when the engine is out. You can try lubricating it from the pedal end, but this is not as ideal (but did help mine a lot). Also, the many ball and socket joints in the throttle plate mechanism need periodic cleaning/relubrication.

 

What Steve said. Also, if you have aftermarket floor mats they sneak up and put pressure on the throttle pedal. I have regularly experienced a condition where the carpet pressure plus just a small amount of foot pressure combine to have a much larger than wanted pedal movement. Very annoying. And you get to feel kind of stupid when it happens in a bunch of traffic.

 

I can’t agree more on that! Those floor mats kept putting pressure on my gas pedal and when I was switching gears I thought the car kept revving leading me briefly to believe I had an issue. Needless to say I remove them and issues are gone)


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Hey, Steve. Appreciate your informative reply. I don't know much about the intricacies of classic Ferraris. Regarding the engine family, I went down to the garage and took the following picture:

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Seems I have engine F113A04000317. So, if I'm not mistaken, based on what you have said, Testarossas with other engine families are supposed to be even more sensitive on the accelerator than my own? At the end of the day, I'm fine learning the car and expanding my stickshift skills. Every car has a personality after all and that's great, you know. Just wanted to make sure that my experience was the same as everyone else's.

Indeed. My mechanic has informed me about the danger of the floormats so I have removed them from the driver's footwell. Probably should do that with my Countach too, hell, any manual car.

 

No, you have a F113A040 TR engine which is a US version (and not a F113A TR engine) so you have what I've called a non-F113A TR engine and is as "sensitive" as it gets.

The *00317* is the engine serial number (which matches well with being a 1986 US TR).

 

I see. The more you know... I guess I'll just have to live with the sensitivity then. Not exactly to my preference, but it's a Testarossa and in phenomenal condition, so I can't really complain.

 

The engine in my US spec '86 was probably on the line with yours based on the serial number, but can't say the throttle has ever felt overly sensitive. I've owned it several years and have put thousands of miles on it. I wonder if it is an engine timing issue with yours.

 

It should feel like any other throttle pedal.

Your linkage may need a good clean and lube..perhaps one of the linkage Ball links are too tight..or you have a sticky throttle cable..or it's incorrectly routed.

Not a difficult issue to over come..and deffinatly not expensive.

 

Maybe, but the car recently came back from the shop and everything was apparently in order. Engine was in great condition according to the mechanic. Ultimately, it could just be a "me" thing. What's sensitive to me might not be for you. More time behind the wheel of the Testarossa should get me used to it though.

As to your "it should feel like any other throttle pedal" comment, unfortunately, I don't have any other classic exotics to compare the Testarossa to besides the Countach. Both of those cars feel powerful, as they should, but the Testarossa is a "jumpy" powerful, if that makes sense. I feel in finer control of the Countach in a way I don't with the Testarossa. The difference is quite distinct. In terms of accelerator pedal modulation, the Testarossa is several magnitudes worse than the Countach. Again, it feels as if the car was set up in a racing configuration for launches. I was surprised to find this out as I expected the pedalwork to be different but not as different as it was.

 

your countach is a carb or injected car? there is a big difference

 

Fuel-injected. I'm assuming you've driven both?

 

yes, both, but not just behind. about 1 year between
as I remember the injected is much better to handle with the gaspedal than the carb. so in traffic I prefer the injected, but on the country the carbs because of the sound and the engine revs a little higher
the TR is medium between the carb and the injected

 

Sticky linkage parts was a problem for me before I cleaned and lubed them with Teflon grease. Made a noticeable difference. I still hate stop starting on an incline, but the issue is one of my clutch control, not the engine.

Countach Weber DCOEs run sweetly at low rpm when the carbs are clean and well adjusted. My LP400S is actually easier to manage in traffic than my TR.

 

Lucky man. Wish I had the carbed one just for the sound.

Duly noted.