Besides my very minimal climate control issue the only other issue I have with my 1991 348 is a hot start problem. After long runs my car does not start immediately when I crank it over. It gives a clacking sound from the starter area. I thought it might be the bullet connectors for the battery and engine quick release (under the air box) and have had both upgraded to later units. It does not do the rattle when I shut it down indicating flywheel. I had the guys check the flywheel grease issue when they did the engine out and they said it is fine. Anyone else have a similar problem? What was your troubleshooting procedure and resolution? Perhaps my starter solenoid or other starter issue that only happens when she gets hot?
Will try Fat Billys test this weekend - thread here - http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12839&highlight=348+hot+start Interesting that Ferrari has a fix for this problem as stated in above thread - does anyone have the actual technical bulletin - know where I can get it?
Well I guess it may be that grease in the flywheel issue afterall as it seems it can occur without the rattle - next step to determine if I have the time to do the fix or take her into the shop. See V355's fine thread: http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/271073.html?1054618552
My rookie days...ah memories. I had a lot of good help, happy that it's help you. In the end it wasn't too tough a job. Probably took me three times as long as an experienced mechanic. An afternoon should do it.
Andy, Here is a quick differential diagnosis: 1) you can hear rattle yes/no. Yes= possible FW grease issue. No= not likely to be a grease issue. The hot start prob due to grease issue has the charactoristic rattle on start-up or shutdown like lego's in your A/C ducts 2) with a really hot car. try to start the car with key if no start then try with a remote starter. NOW if Car starts yes/no. Yes= solonoid is possible issue. Accessory addition of Ford solinoid has solved this problem No= something else like bad electronics to injectors Test on an SD2 tester can narrow down your search.
Excellent - I will try and report back. Do you need a press to get at the flywheel to add the grease?
Well I sure heard a clank when I shut her down tonight. Not for very long but it was there. Had the hot start problem after driving for 45 min or so when we got gas - only for a few seconds but irritating - its like it is kicking back some times on cranking.
Sounds like a grease issue...but also listen carefully for loose exhaust too. They sound alike. Assuming it is the FW lets say it takes 4 seconds to crank a really hot car over now. Live with it for a couple months. Keep driving like normal. If it is the grease you should get progressively longer crank times until it will not start. You do not have to wait that long of course. Take that time to aquire the lockring nut tool that you will need to take the FW out of the Bellhouse...you don not need a press and aquire the proper kluber grease and to aquire the triple seals for the input shaft. It comes in a can about 4.5" diameter and 3.5" tall. The book says 180g grease some TSB's say 240g grease. Basically just use 1/2 can of grease to make your life easy...roughly the 240g (I weighted it once). Ferrari probably did this so that they would not have a million 1/8th used cans of kluber sitting around.
I had a hot start problem with my 348 spider but mine would simply not crank over when hot, ie. the starter didn't "work" . Michael at Ferrari Service told me this is common, has something to do with heat soak and voltage drop. He installed a relay in the engine bay near the starter and it fires every time now. May not be your problem, however. Cheers Kevin
Yes Kev, This is a different but related problem and the reason for careful proper diagnosis. If the car wiring is good then you do not need the remote solinoid patch. However, this does work with iffy wiring. The hot ticket is to use an el cheapo Ford external solinoid. They cost about 10-15 bucks. Search some past threads I tell you how to wire it. Interestingly this appears to be a patch more on Mondial T's than 348's dispite the exact same engine but different wire paths. This is why I reccommended the remote starter trick to ensure 100% juice to the starter. Sometimes even this does not work due to the crappy bullet connectors from the battery. Then you have to hot wire right from a battery.
Well fortunately I had someone smarter than me (no great shakes, mind you) diagnose it for me and he did check my flyweel at the time and that was fine. This was when I still had the punched cats and stock exhaust so maybe it was too hot for the car back there. Anyway it works now every time - I did have some accessory wiring issues but they are sorted now as well, and the car sat once for three weeks without being fired, no battery tender, and fired immediately so I think I don't have any bad connections at the moment!! So having said all of this it doesn't help Andy much!! Cheers Kevin
