Hard-Start/No-Start Question

I have a 1984 308 GTSi and am having a hard-start/no-start problem. Last September after the car sat for about three weeks, I tried starting the car, and it wouldn't start after about 10 seconds or so of turning. This continued for a couple of weeks. Finally, I gave it one last try, and after about 20 seconds of turning, it started. The car sat in storage for the winter and wouldn't start in the Spring. We swapped out the battery, and that didn't make a difference. I had the car flat-bedded to the dealer, and the mechanic there experienced the same no-start problem. He pushed the car into the garage, hooked up a fuel gauge, and (coincidentally?) the car started. He was able to start the car every time after that. I picked up the car from the dealer, drove in for about three hours, and then let it sit for about four days. When I tried staring it again, it took a very long time to start. I brought it back to the dealer, and, again, they were able to start it every time. I drove the car for about a month without a problem after that. But, after letting the car sit for about two weeks, I had a hard time starting it on Saturday, but it eventually started, and I drove the car for about a half hour. Unfortunately, when I went to re-start the car the next day, I couldn't get it to start. I've been trying every day (letting it crank up to about 20 seconds or so), but no luck. I can smell fuel around the exhaust pipe, so I'm not sure it's a fuel issue.

Any ideas on what's wrong? Also, I'm in the Chicago area and have been going to the mechanic at Lake Forest Sports Cars. Any recommendations for different mechanics who may have experience with this problem?

Thanks in advance,
Joe

 

Sounds familiar to what I just went through. Were you able to get some fuel pressure readings at the fuel distributor? My guess is the accumulator or the check valve at the fuel pump. Or possibly the pump itself is starting to fail?

Read this thread and good luck. Joe

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=200259&highlight=vapor+lock

 

and drain the feul.

 

+1

 

Joe, I have an 84 308 GTB QV and had the exact same problem last year. Turned out to be the fuse blocks had bad or corroded connections in the back. Changed them out with Birdmans fuse blocks (around $130.00 and 1 hour labor) and totally fixed the problem! Also fixed every other electrical issue that the car had also.

 

Yep, that makes sense too. Your electrical connection to the fuel pump at the fuse blocks may be cycling the pump off and on?

 

Thanks! The problem was the fuse blocks.