OK, I'll admit it.... I don't know what they're talking about. I brought my 348 to the mechanic because it would crank too slowly when I'd try to start it "hot". Anyway, he said the flywheel grease was leaking and there was blue grease all over the place in there. The mess was fouling the crank sensors, and causing general havoc, including the hard start issue. I suspect it also contributed to the occasional smell I'd get (kind of a cross between oil & belt smell). So.... what is the mechanic talking about? What is Re-Packing a Flywheel? Why is there grease in/on/with a flywheel anyway?
Do a search mate, PLENTY of info in regards to repacking the flywheel. But basically, the flywheel is packed with 250g (give or take, depends on who you talk to) of Kluber grease. Over time, the grease gets old, changes it state and can leak out. Looking a lot like oil. It gets everywhere and can ruin clutch plates. So best sorted sooner rather than later. Inside the flywheel there are springs/plates etc..etc. When you start or stop your car and hear a 'rattle' kind of sound, then maybe the grease is all but gone from the flywheel and it needs to be repacked again. The rattling flywheel can make your car hard to start because of the vibration associated with it. But im sure ive heard my car do it a few times and I have never had a hot start issue. There are plenty of pics floating around here.
So, errrr..................its not a voltage drop or starter motor issue then? http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293460&highlight=flywheel+grease
Doesn't appear to be. They pulled the starter and it checked out. They also measured voltage at the starter and it looked good too. If this doesn't work, we'll have to try something else.
Sadly, I've never had much luck with the searches on these kinds of sites. Besides, I always figured the "easy" questions........ you know, the ones that have already been answered up here, will give the relatively new people an opportunity to get involved and answer questions for the really really new people (like me). Maybe in a few months, I'll be able to help even newer people, and so on and so on.......
Great info, thanks. At least I can say to myself that this was a necessary thing to do, even if it doesn't end up fixing my hot start issue. Still confused a bit though. My admittedly novice understanding of a flywheel is that it's a big round plate with teeth that the starter uses to spin the engine. Why in the world would it need springs and plates and grease? <<sorry for the stupid question, I'm sure there's a good reason, I just can't come up with it>> A tiny bit of inspiration just struck........ the only flywheels I've ever seen were on old American cars with automatic transmissions. All the extra stuff I'm having trouble visualizing might have something to do with the fact that this car has a clutch, yes???
I'll keep my fingers crossed that this fixes the hard hot start, but I never heard a rattle back there at all. Hmmmm...... When I do get this fixed, I'll share the findings.
Have a look here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=137518343&postcount=118 and here: http://www.myferrari.page.tl/348-Clutch-Replacement-Part-5-Re_greasing-the-Flywheel.htm lots of info on the procedure in that second link! HTH DF
Cool man, I still think there is an issue there and its not the flywheel grease issue. Good man, we learn heaps here all the time and its always good passing the info back onto new members. Yep, you guessed. NOTHING like flywheels on old American cars. Hope so mate, see what happens.
Aren't the crank sensors on the opposite end of the motor from the flywheel? I can't see where a flywheel needing to be re-packed would have any impact on starting.
Ferrari flywheel in this case is a "dynamic" flywheel, spring dampened, grease packed inside a clam shell case of sorts. Actually pretty interesting once you see it taken apart. Mine was just overhauled at Scuderia Rampante. It was quite the mess as the triple seals on the input (I believe) shaft had failed. Makes a horrible "death rattle" when the grease gets diluted. Read some more here http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205666&highlight=flywheel+repack
It doesn't make much sense, but I just got the car back from the mechanic and now it starts perfectly.
