360 Cold Start Stumble and Rough Idle

I just bought a 1999 360 with 9,800 miles last week, and I noticed that every time I start the car cold, it stumbles and takes 5-10 seconds to smooth out to an idle. After this it runs perfectly, but I'm just wondering if anyone else has the issue, and whether it is something I should be concerned about? Are there any campaigns for similar symptoms? I searched and found that this is common on CS's, but I didn't find anything on regular 360's. Thanks for your help.

 

I have the same thing on my 360 Spyder. I thought I was the only one . I would like to the answer as well?

Brad

 

Same here on my CS

 

I had/have it on my CS. I am picking up my car today or tomorrow - FNA did a reflash of the ECU's. It's supposed to cure this. I'll let you know.

 

Brian Crall would have gladly chimed in with the answer, but is no longer on this forum because of certain people here giving him a hard time.

Fortunately, this is one of the questions he had already answered here in the past. A well charged battery is supposedly a good defense against this phenomenon, although this part is speculation. What *is* known is that, if you start the car and it is idling rough, just immediately shut it off, then restart. The problem will disappear. This is supposed to be better for the car than just letting it sit there idling roughly.

 

Is it anything I should worry about? The car just had a major 1,800 miles ago so everything is pretty fresh. It doesn't really bother me as long as it isn't hurting anything.

 

From what I understand, it's nothing to worry about. If I start my car every other day, it doesn't seem to do it. If I let my car sit for over a week, it does it. Same for some others. Hence the battery charge hypothesis.

 

Mine will do it every time I let it sit over night. I don't think it's the battery either because the battery is only 6 months old and the car is driven semi regularly.

 

Dustin - Normal on every 360 - Stradale included. In fact my Stradale stumbles for twice as long as both my previous 360s did. You'll soon discover all the quirks that Ferraris are known for! That is just one of them.

 

Thanks Jeffrey. I wasn't too worried about it because my Evo does it, but I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. I love the car, thanks again.

 

Have a new F430, 1000 miles, and it happens to my car. Seems to occur if unstarted for a few days. Al

 

My 2003 360 Modena never stumbled. It always started clean.

My 2006 F430 does what you describe. Once in awhile it dies and I have to restart the car.

I accept it, no big deal the car runs wonderfully in a few seconds.

Lee

 

Brian left ferrarichat?

Ray

 

I have put about 6K miles on my car this year (360) and it has never done what you are talking about. Try cutting the power to the ECU for a few minutes when the car is cold (before you start it up) and clear things out. Then fire it up and drive it. See if that doesn't fix the problem. Also, make sure the gas cap is on nice and tight.

The only thing even close to this on my car is right after I get gasoline for the car. In that case, I fill up the tank and when I start the car and drive away, it will once in a while idle a hair rough for a second at the first stop light. However, it only does it for just a slight moment, then by the time I hit the next stop it's back to purring. It's so mild and brief that I doubt anyone else would even notice it.

Ray

 

I always have the power turned off to the car when I'm not driving it.

 

I have a 1999 360 with 28k miles and it does the same thing, so mileage doesnt matter. It's just a Ferrari quirk, probably a low battery as many of us dont drive these cars on a daily basis.

 

Yep, I'm over it. It would be annoying if it did it every time the car started, but I can live with it when the car is cold. Thanks for all of your replies.

 

Ray: Please explain. Thanks, Al

 

Not a good idea apparently. hook it up to a battery tender instead.

 

IM gonna go with dirty Mass Airflow Sensors... Happens to Vw Bosch sensors after installing Oil Syle filter eliments, I would get some MAF cleaner and spray the eliment down, let them dry for a few hours and see if it clears up your cold start problems.

Matt

 

Interesting. But the car runs fine after a few seconds. If this were the cause, wouldn't the car run like crap all of the time? I'll give it a try though. Can I buy MAF cleaner at any auto parts store? Thanks.

 

If you mean you are killing the power to the car using the switch under the hood, I would not suggest doing that. There is no reason to continually reset the ECU's. It's better to let them learn the engine and keep that data. That might be why you are having problems.

Reset the ECU's when the car is cold. Then leave things alone unless there is some problem you are trying to resolve.

Ray

 

Hi Al,

There is a switch in the front compartment on the left (when standing looking at the car). Turn it off, wait about 5 or 10 minutes, then turn it back on. That will clear any data stored in the ECU's. Make sure you do this when the car is ice cold, so that the next time you start it, it will go through it's normal warm up stuff.

Doing this will reset everything and sort of give the ECU's a blank slate to work from. In my experience, I have found it often helps and fixes strange little things that pop up. You might have some luck trying it. Doesn't hurt.

Ray

 

If the bosch eliments are the same design as in my other car, they are based off heat, what happens is the eliment heats up and as air passes over it, it gets cooled, and the computer takes the amoutn that it's cooled and figures the air them, on initial cold startup the eliment that heats up has problems getting hot if its dirty and give a false reading, leaving a rough idle.

You can pick the cleaner up at a auto store, says "Maf Cleaner" on it, its in a spray can and comes with a small spray tip ( similar to wd40)

I would spray them down a few times, make sure they are good and clean, let them dry for a few hours before installing them again, when you put them back in the car make sure that they are facing the correct direction.

Hope this solves everyones problems.

 

This is a known issue....... Have FNA reflash your ECU's. The air/fuel mixture isn't right when cold.