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328 Intermittent Missing

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Tampa328, Jul 5, 2004.

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  1. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
    127
    Tampa, FL
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    Randy Stribling
    #1 Tampa328, Jul 5, 2004
    My 88 328 gts has been running smooth as silk. Just recently (a week ago) it has started stumbling a little. Just enough to be annoying. Suspecting that it has sit too much, I have run it around a lot lately (more than ususal). Additionally, I took it out on the interstate for a 50 mile run at different speeds (when I could get my courage up) and it has made no difference. I guess it could be a host of things starting with plugs, wires and so on. I'm still pretty new with this car and not too familiar with typical problems.
     
  2. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,192
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    Lawrence A. Coppari
    #2 Lawrence Coppari, Jul 5, 2004
    The first thing I'd do is remove all the plugs and have a look at them. They should all look the same. If one is different, I'd switch the suspicious plug with one from another cylinder. See if the problem remains with the cylinder or follows the plug. This costs nothing.

    One other thing, make sure that none of the plug wires has worked its way off the plug.

    I have a 328 also.
     
  3. dakharris

    dakharris Two Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 7, 2001
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    #3 dakharris, Jul 5, 2004
    My QV does the same thing. Within the last 500 miles, I have replaced the plugs, wires, rotors and fuel injectors. Is it time to replace the distributor caps?
     
  4. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    #4 Darolls, Jul 5, 2004
    Have you checked the spark plug extenders?
     
  5. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
    127
    Tampa, FL
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    Randy Stribling
    #5 Tampa328, Jul 5, 2004
    Well, I checked the plugs and they are new. The plug extenders had electrical tape wrapped around them. Hmm, maybe they need to be replaced. What is the life on these babies?
     
  6. dakharris

    dakharris Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #6 dakharris, Jul 5, 2004
    Extenders were replaced, too.
     
  7. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
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    Randy Stribling
    #7 Tampa328, Jul 5, 2004
    I understand these have regular points and condenser sets for each bank?
     
  8. DBR328&330

    DBR328&330 Formula Junior

    May 31, 2001
    605
    Winchester, VA
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    Daniel Reese
    #8 DBR328&330, Jul 5, 2004
    This is a very common problem! The first place to look and fix are the spark plug extenders. Its happened to me twice. Tape on your extenders cant be a good thing. They are not expensive.

    Dan
     
  9. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #9 f355spider, Jul 5, 2004

    Tape on them is telling me that there have been past problems with them...most likely burning through (pin holes or something) which would definitely cause a miss. Taping them is a VERY temp fix. These things do wear and fail. If one or more is causing trouble, I would replace them all. To replace a couple and drive on is being cheap....the rest will start failing and give you fits. Keep those without tape and have no visible burn marks as spares for an emergency, or Ebay. ;)
     
  10. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    #10 Darolls, Jul 5, 2004
    Remove the tape and look for pinholes or signs of arcing on the extenders.

    It's a good bet some are bad since they were taped.

    If you find any bad ones, replace all eight.
     
  11. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    #11 Darolls, Jul 5, 2004
    The 328 has an electronic ignition system. No points and condensers.
     
  12. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
    127
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    Randy Stribling
    #12 Tampa328, Jul 7, 2004
    I have seen the plug extenders listed under different numbers and prices. Which is correct for the 328?
    126699 or 138261
     
  13. dakharris

    dakharris Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #13 dakharris, Jul 7, 2004
    Black ones are non-resistor, red ones are resistor. That's really the more important distinction.
     
  14. KurtK328

    KurtK328 Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2001
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    #14 KurtK328, Jul 7, 2004
    The red ones for the 328.
    Check out "Spare Parts" on the Ferrari Owners site.
    http://www.owners.ferrari.com/
    There you will see exactly what you need.
     
  15. F328

    F328 Karting

    Jul 7, 2004
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    Graham
    #15 F328, Jul 9, 2004
    I only purchased my 328 recently but the dealer had a similar problem on my car and replaced the coil. Done 400 miles since and no problems.
     
  16. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #16 f355spider, Jul 9, 2004
    I don't believe this is true. We went through this about 1.5 years ago (long thread) and tested and photographed many extenders. We found that some of the red extenders are resistive, and some are not. My car appears to still have the original factory oem red extenders, and they are not resistor type (87' 328)
     
  17. flyingboa

    flyingboa Formula 3

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    #17 flyingboa, Jul 9, 2004
    126699 are for euro spec cars
    138261 are for CH and USA spec cars

    Ciao

    Eugenio
     
  18. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #18 f355spider, Jul 9, 2004
    What does "CH" stand for?
     
  19. Ken

    Ken F1 World Champ

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    #19 Ken, Jul 9, 2004

    I developed a miss on my Lotus from a pretty new spark plug. You couldn't tell by looking at it that it was bad. I'd change them all (or one by one if you want to take the time) and see if it goes away. This may be a bad idea on a Ferrari, but I isolated the cylinder by pulling and replacing the wires one by one. Then changed the wire, then plug. Bingo!

    Ken
     
  20. 208 GT4

    208 GT4 Formula 3

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    #20 208 GT4, Jul 9, 2004
    Might I suggest you attempt a bit more diagnosis with the aid of a timing light? You can tell what's happening with the ignition at each cylinder.

    See this thread:
    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5419&highlight=ignition+advance

    I had some intermittent running problems on my 208 GT4, and with the aid of a timing light I was able to diagnose the problem as intermittent cross firing between cyls 7 and 8. After replacing the leads (& extenders!) and cleaning up the contacts on the distributor cap, my car now runs like a dream once more...and it only cost me £85 including the cost of buying a timing light.
     
  21. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #21 BigTex, Jul 9, 2004
    Wait 'till you try to pull a plug wire with a bad extender!

    THAT'S livin', baby!

    The tape is a clue that MacGuyver was the last mechanic under the hood of your car.

    I'd say a SET of extenders and a SET of plugs to start with. Then proceed with diagnosis.............
     
  22. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #22 DGS, Jul 9, 2004
    Switzerland
     
  23. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
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    Randy Stribling
    #23 Tampa328, Jul 10, 2004
    I tried to contact SodaComs (sponsor) for parts and have no response. Anyone know what's going on?
     
  24. RussF

    RussF Karting

    Nov 1, 2003
    222
    Washington
    #24 RussF, Jul 10, 2004
    Tamps and others.

    On this thread about a missifiring cylinder noone has mentioned the slow down light coming on. Wouldn't that be the case since raw fuel is being pumped into the CAT. I am interested because I am trying to diagnose the SD light coming on on my 328 intermittantly and sometimes I seem to detact a slight roughness at idle.
     
  25. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    #25 Darolls, Jul 10, 2004
    It's a part time business.

    The site lists the times to call which I believe are in the evening.

    You'll hear from Dave and he's a good guy to do business with. I've purchased a few things from him.
     
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