Fuel Accumulator Problem 308QV

I have to replace the Fuel Accumulator on my 308QV here in China and guess what, According to Bosch they have never imported one into China. Hong Kong do not have one, Mercedes (450SL 1976 model) have one they can bring in from Germany but $600 US for it plus shipping plus import duty.

Ferrari Parts have one, but I am waiting for them to give me the shipping details and price, it is 71 pounds on the web site.

So my option is to ship one from UK/ USA, but the problem is I have to move the car 700 Miles next week. And by the time the part arrives and clears the customs here I will have to move the car.

The accumulator is leaking fuel (dripping) through the rear pipe but still starts easily as though there is no problem at all.

So I thought that if I start the engine to get the fuel pressure up. Then stop the engine and blank the end of the pipe to stop the leak the car should be good to drive the distance. Because the fuel pump will keep the pressure up for the trip and at the fuel stops it will not be stopped long enough to evaporate the fuel on the line.

As the fuel will pass behind the diaphragm it will eventually hydraulic lock the accumulator, but this should not be a problem as the car is running.

Any thoughts on this idea

 

Put the car on a tow truck.

You can buy Bosch parts from Australia too... In fact, many Ferrari Bosch parts are made here, just down the road (15 minutes) from my house at Clayton.

eg, ECU's, Alarm Sirens and other electronic stuff.

Just search for an Australian Bosch agent.

Chinese customs are a right royal pain though.......

 

Ferrari Fixer

Its not so simple in China to do that, otherwise I would.

We have them but not for long haul only for removing from the highway when cars fail on the road.

You would not trust the railway with it either.

Mike

 

I know a bit about it, but not much. See this...

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104223

I'm coming over again in July, so if you can keep the car somewhere near the circuit, I'll bring one with me for you!

 

Great Pictures Phil, the circuit is awesome. I did a Ferrari day there on 2004, had a ball. Heres a couple of pics.

The reason to move the car is I will be in the USA for about 4 months from 28th May, so I want the car back in my own Garage in Xiamen. But Thanks for your very kind offer.

Do you think my idea would work. The accumulator does not seem to have a
function as long as the car is running.

Mike
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The accumulator is under constant fuel pump supply pressure, which is very high.

Your risk is one of a severe leak, and/or fire. I don't think it'll drive too badly, but you could lose it.

 

I took the accuumulator out of the line and replaced it with a union to join the pump to the filter direct. Fine no fuel leak.

But I now have no ignition lights hence the car will not start. I think I must have nudged a wire somwhere.

The oil pressure light is on,
the pump is running
the car turns over so it is a wire somewhere near where I have been working.

It has started to rain so I will study the wireing diagram tonight.

 

err.. PUT IT ON A TOW TRUCK?

Pretty please, with bells on, and a cherry on top.

 

The Probst book says the accumulator also functions to dampen fuel pressure surges "The Accumulators damping actions protects the fuel distrubutor from rapid build-up of pressure during start-up, and reduces fuel pump noise when it is running."
If you take the accumulator out of the loop, in addition to hot start problems, you may have a little more noise.

If your accumulator is not leaking too much and if the leakage is all coming out of the little hose in the back you may be able to run a long hose and vent the fuel in a safer location? Could maybe even route it to the plenum?

Best of luck to you.

Mark

 

The accumulator was getting worse each day and was very dangerous which is why I removed it. It is strange why the euros do not have a hose to dump the fuel back in the tank instead of dumping it into the engine compartment.

I will have to re-rent the underground space where I used to keep the car, as flatbed is not an option here, most are contracted to the government for highway brakedowns along with tow away in the city. Also if you have been on the Chinese highways you would not trust any company to move it. Shanghai is fine but once you get away from the city well its not so good. and when you are 700 miles away halfway to Hongkong, well......

I still have not heard from Ferrari Uk over the availability of the accumulator, superformance do not have one, Mercedes was an arm and a leg for the part even before I am held to for ransom by customs for import duty. I guess I will pick one up in the states along with a bunch of other things the car requires.

So time is running out so the car will have to sit in Shanghai till I get back from the states in October.

I am puzzeled by the lack of ignition just now though I would have though the car would start. Everything works except the ignition (no ignition light and the engine will not start I must have pulled a wire somwhere)

I have power to the coils engine turns but no ignition. I have checked around were I worked but everything looks normal no wires hanging. The only wires I removed were the battery terminals and the power lead and ground for the fuel pump.

Such is life when you live here.

Thanks all for the imput

Mike

 

Do you have the Bosch part number handy...

I'll price one from here for you, and my offer to bring it with me still stands.

I usually bring a box of goodies for the racing. One more little item won't up set the rik shaw.

 

Many thanks for the advise and the offer to bring the part Phil, but there will be no one here to collect the part from you. If things change I will definitely give you a shout. When are you traveling to Shanghai?

Actually the part is not the problem its the time frame I have just now. My rental for the car storage will run out next week and I have to buy a year from them for to keep the car under ground. I am emptying and decorating one of my apartments for a new tenant, which leaves me no time and I have to be ready to travel to the USA on the 28th. Life can be tough when your baby throws a fit. I had hoped to drive it home in Xiamen so it would save me a trip to Shanghai to collect it when I get back form the states.

The car is about 4 miles from the car park storage in a private compound where I did the work to this stage. But I have to move it in the next few days to the storage. But it won’t start for the reasons in my earlier post. So I will get it towed shortly and park it till I get back.

Incidentally I guess the storage of the car is the reason for the diaphragm failure in the accumulator, the car has been stored a lot over the last 5 years with just a few short periods of use, a few months at a time.

 

I have an extra that was harvested from MBZ at a wrecking yard. If you can't find one while you are here, let me know before you go back and we can make a good deal on this one.

Mark