New Mondial delivered and already leaking fluids?!?!

Sounds like the car was sitting for a long time before it went in for the PPI. If so, the Tech would likely be not at fault. Dry, aged, and/or hardened seals can let loose at any time once they've been put back into use. Where's the leak coming from?

 

Im just saying....
All kidding aside.
Enjoy your wonderful new car.
- Ron

 

Sounds like an unfortunate coincidence. There isn't much they could have done to hide something like that. Older car, it was going to happen eventually. Timing unfortunately bad for you. Would have been better if it had held off for 6 months so you'd have some real bonding time before this. Get it fixed quickly and get back to driving then you'll feel better.

 

As Wade asked, "Where is it coming from?"

Front, middle, or rear. There should be some dripping of oil in the area where it is leaking.

It could be a ruptured hose-either end or middle of the car, leaking hose fitting-either end of the car, pump seal-motor end, hydraulic steering seal-front of car.

None of these are major serious, more of a nuisance issue.

Add fluid and start the motor. If it leaks near the motor it is probably a pump seal.

Turn the steering wheel with the motor running, if it leaks at the front it is probably a steering unit seal.

Again it could be a rupture hose anywhere or a hose fitting at the pump or steering unit. You should be able to see where it is leaking if it is that serious.

It could be a DIY depending on your mechanical ability. If not, it can be diagnosed on a car lift pretty quickly. Then you can decide what to do.

Power steering seal sealer additive is not recommended and probably won't work.

If you can drive it to a shop you may want to add power steering fluid, before you drive it there. Driving it a "short" distance without any fluid is not recommended.

Again, bummer, but a deal breaker. You will enjoy the car and for everything you repair you will gain a better understanding of the car and feel more confident driving it. That is a very good thing.

Good Luck
Deep River Garage

 

PM sent

 

One of my other cars started leaking power steering fluid but it was drops at a time on the garage floor and I used LUCUS power steering stop leak and that controlled it for a while. But it ended up needing a new power steering rack to get a permanent fix. Your Mondial sounds like its beyond stop leak help, it will just pour right out but slower.
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In the big picture, these are minor inconveniences. Hopefully the fix will be quick so you can go back to driving it. If these leaks had been ongoing the entire underside of your car would be a dirty oily mess.

I know it's very disappointing and frustrating, but you might expect the same thing if you'd purchased a barely used 1989 Chevy. Once these things are cleaned up you should have a car that will be more reliable for you.

 

That circular drum thing just inside the exhaust is your Transmission, lovingly referred to by the Brotherhood as the pumpkin.

 

If you want to learn a lot about your car you can go to the 348 section and look for heavy repair threads. Same engine transmission setup so the taking apart and putting together is the same. You'll see lots of good pictures and descriptions in there. You will learn a lot.

 

I had a simular issue when I bought my T but I got 1000 miles before it sh*t the bed. The throw out bearing is weak so make sure you upgrade it. I don't have a part number but I did go with the upgrade from Ferrari while the gearbox was being replaced after it exploded (not really but they had design flaws with the syncros that go bad and eat your gears common issue). You can get clouded when you are about to buy your first and it will cost you. Many things go bad on the Mondial and it can really be frustrating spend the money make it right and don't worry about ever getting your money out of it. I sold my car this year and bought a 360 but this time I had it gone through with a fine tooth comb. So far 4000 miles no problems other than convertible top issue that I was able to fix myself for $20. Good luck and enjoy

 

F1wannabe - indeed it sucks to have your new Ferrari suddenly need service. Unfortunately, it happens even with a detailed PPI sometimes.

For the steering rack, I recommend a rebuild from Atlantic Enterprises: http://atlantic-ent.com/ Send the rack to them, and let them do the rebuild. They have plenty of Ferrari experience.

For the clutch release bearing and flange, we have both in stock. Dealers might publicly "poo poo" the Hill Engineering parts for the sake of P.R., but it's funny just how many of their parts departments and technicians buy the Hill Engineering parts from us on a regular basis.

If you ring me at Ricambi, we can get you free overnight shipping on the flange and bearing to Wynn (or wherever your car is currently sitting).

 

Chin up. I know it sucks but in the spring you'll forget all about it (until the next issue). And remember, even with a known car and great history things still go wrong. I've got one of the best documented cars here and three days after it got home it dropped a bank of cylinders and needed some tlc. Glad you got the 500 back.

It'll be worth the aggravation soon. Trust me.

 

You needed to remind me!!!! I'm glad it turned out to be a minor thing, but those were a long few days waiting for shop to check her out. Still enjoying her I hope? I miss her dearly

Take good care of her!!!!!


To the OP, don't sweat it too much. S&it happens. They are old Italian relatively handmade limited production exotic cars. Even if the car didn't have these problems now, there is no saying that they wouldn't have reared their ugly head at some point down the road. The way I look at it, you can cross these repairs off your eventual to do list and begin enjoying your car upon her return. FWIW, Its cheaper to fix these mechanical things than it ever would be to make a car as cosmetically exceptional as you describe.

Good luck and I wish you many happy years with the Mondial... They are just fantastic cars!

BTW, listen to Daniel at Ricambi...Hill engineering makes top flight stuff.

 

I have tried to explain this to the buyer. Yes, so true, and I am sorry for Buyer. I sold the mondial t to him and I can state that there were no leaks with the car before it left from Miami.

Buyer was given the opportunity to have the car looked at by anyone of his choosing. My mechanic went through the car with Buyer while it was on a lift and with a flashlight. He had free range to spend as much time as he wanted driving and checking the car out.

My mechanic did not want to even charge Buyer for the ppi, but Buyer was insistent on a compression test. If the car was as messy and leaky as Buyer describes it to have been when he received it, if it was in this condition in Florida when the flashlight examination under the car was done, surely it would have been evident!

Buyer is a thorough guy. He spent two days looking at the car. He drove the car. He took photographs of the car while it was at the mechanic's. He spent hours with the car with it on a lift. There was no leak on the mechanic's floor, nor anything evident during the hours Buyer had to look under it.

Now I know Buyer does not have mechanical expertise, and nor do I, but I can see a leak under a car and there was none here in Miami. The car was driven regularly and had had its last major service a little more than 2 years ago by Ferrari. My car was maintained regularly and if there was anything requiring repair it was handled. Buyer was given complete service records from the first day the car went on the road. I would strongly doubt that there are as many pristine and well cared for cars as this mondial t was.

The car was also at my mechanic's shop for about 2 weeks (waiting for Buyer who's plan had to be delayed) and were there any leaks they would have been noticed and I surely would have been told.

It was probably 4 weeks from the time that Buyer and I consummated our deal until he received the car in L.A. What might have happened in that interim period I hardly know. From speaking with Buyer, I also do not think there were any leakage of fluids in his garage before he'd driven it.

In any event, without my mechanic acknowledging any fault I have asked to him to simply refund Buyer's PPI fee. It is not worth his aggravation nor mine to continue to deal with this. I understand Buyer's frustration, and I am truly sorry for these unfortunate changes, but the car - in Miami - did not have these issues.

Was it coincidence? Was it the weather change? Was it something the transport company did? Was it a new eager mechanic in L.A. looking for buyer's business? I don't know, but I can state that the car had no issues in Miami. (Yes, the tires were older - I believe date code of 2004 - but I was not aware that they were on the verge of failure. Yes, I'd say that based on the date code that they would have been due for a change.) I hesitate to post this, and continue this thread, but I am an honest seller and feel it necessary to defend the mechanic, who I feel bent over backward to accommodate buyer's needs and insecurities about the car.

As I had told Buyer when he had vacillated about whether to buy this car, perhaps this is not the right car for him to become involved with. I think Buyer is a nice guy, and I wish him much enjoyment with the car, but the PPI was honest based on what was known and seen at the time before the car left Miami.

 

The new mechanic will tell all once on the hoist and the pumpkin removed, old leaks gather dirt new leaks are clean, the steering rack seals can go at any time. At least the repairs are not overly expensive,racks are easy to rebuild and clutch related seals not expensive.

 

Although it may not seem like it right now, that's great news...
$2,800.00 and you get to cross all of those things off your list!
Sounds good to me!

With these cars its never a question of "if" its just a question of "when." Trust me, after 50 miles of driving, you will have long forgotten the $2800.00

As for me, I am loving the testarossa. Here's a couple of photos I posted elsewhere:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=141034145&postcount=10

 

I promise you I'm not trying to be a tool here but $2800 sounds pretty cheap. For a Ferrari. These cars are NOT engineered like toyotas or anything else you would consider reliable. See my sorting thread in the 550 section for how many things are able to be found despite a PPI. Often the cars have to be "gotten in to" to a degree that PPI's will not cover to really sort them. I now believe that PPI's are of limited value, and there is no substitute for putting your eyes on the vehicle yourself. Even if you have to pay a shop $250 to put the car on a lift for you so you can really get a good look at everything. It sounds like you did that but sometimes it still happens.

Also, don't forget this is a late 80's automobile. I had enough trouble with my 1998 and 2001 models!

If you are not mechanically inclined find a friend that is...it pays great dividends in figuring out which car may be the best choice for you. I wish you the best in getting her back on the road and indeed having some "bonding" time.

 

And Joe, I'm jealous. Beautiful TR you have there. The Testarossa was the car I drooled over in childhood. I came very close to a 512TR. Close but no cigar.

Enjoy her!