Tough 'second' starting of my '77 308

When I first start my car (when cold), it fires right up. When it is warm, it takes about 15 seonds of cranking to get the engine to turn over. I tried going from High Octane to Low and that did not help. Where would be the best places to troubleshoot this one?

Thanks in advance,
PeterS

 

It would seem that your cold start injectors are pushing "extra" fuel into the engine, when warm............they should be shut off, when warm. The problem would be either, one of the cold start injectors, or the thermotime switch.

 

Peter, your car is carbed, correct? Cold start injectors are not the issue then .

My carbed 308 also did this, as did many other people's carbed 308s--it's like a carburetor version of the "hot start" problem. Many folks are of the idea that it's "vapor lock," or otherwise related to the heated fuel in the very hot carb bowls as the engine cools off when stopped for a short while (like going into the store or something).

I've read of people "flooring" the accelerator during starting to get this taken care of. I tended to adopt the "five seconds of cranking then then tap the throttle a few times till it starts to catch" approach...

 

I've read of people "flooring" the accelerator during starting to get this taken care of. I tended to adopt the "five seconds of cranking then then tap the throttle" approach...[/QUOTE]


Flooring it to get it started? That could be scary!

I have a similar problem with my '78 but like you say if it doesn't fire right away just a little feathering or light tapping of the throttle always does the trick!

 

You are right, Mike. I didn't realize that this was a carb car!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yes, it is carb'd. When doing the consecutive starts, I tap the gas 3-4 times brfore turning the key and feather the pedal while cranking. Same problem...Think I should take it back to Wayne? (JUST KIDDING!)

 

I had the same problem with my Dino. Jim Summers at Scottsdale Ferrari advised me to floor the accelerator and crank the starter. It works every time.

 

Make sure you allow the pumps time to fill the float chambers before you try to start it. Turn the ignition on and then wait 15-30 seconds before cranking, hot or cold.

If cold, once float chambers are full (pump slows down), give 3-5 full pumps of throttle to squirt fuel in, then tickle it as you crank.

If hot, just progressively open the throttle until it fires, if you miss it DO NOT lift off and re-throttle it. Just leave your foot wherever it got to and try again.

 

My '77 has the same issue. I find that this procedure works well:

1. Turn the ignition key to start the fuel pump. Let it pump for 10 seconds. If it's quiet around, you can actually hear the fuel going into the carbs and the air "bubbling" out.

2. Give the accelerator 2 good pumps to prime the system.

3. Push the accelerator down about 1/3 of the way and crank. It will light right up.

I have found that "diddling" the accelerator (i.e. pumping lightly) during cranking does not help and in fact, almost always causes the engine to take a lot longer to catch. Holding it perfectly still 1/3 open works for me.

Nothing quite as ambarrassing as your Ferrari not starting in the gas station with everyone watching (which they always are)!

Birdman

 

Peters,
According to my owners manual, it says that when starting the carm warm, it may be necessary to fully depress the accelerator upon starting. I have a 79, and it takes a while to start if warm unless I do this. So I do it every time. If you're uncomfortable with flooring it, opening it 3/4 while cranking it will work as well. Then as soon as it starts, let off the gas.

 

Yes, as stated by others, gas pedal to the floor when hot. Works on my Lotus every time. It was scary the first time but I've never flooded it.

Ken

 

Holding the pedal to the floor is standard proceedure for a car that has been flooded with fuel, if and when that might happen, say from a stuck float or pumping the throttle too much during crank over.
Just need to get more air in there

When hot I crank mine over with no throttle then apply about 1/3 to 1/2 throttle and it fires right off.