Need Advice on starting issues on 85' 308 QV | FerrariChat
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Need Advice on starting issues on 85' 308 QV

Discussion in '308/328' started by craigfromtoledo, Aug 31, 2015.

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  1. craigfromtoledo

    craigfromtoledo Rookie

    Jun 12, 2010
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    Toledo, OH
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    Craig Hagenbuch
    #1 craigfromtoledo, Aug 31, 2015
    So my 308 has been intermitently rough starting for a few months. It would take several tries before it would turn over. Now it doesn't fire at all. I just hear a buzzing noise when the key is fully turned. At first I assumed it must be the starter solenoid. I took out the starter and brought it to an auto electric shop. When they put power on it, 12 volts made the starter spin fast, but going through the solenoid, it seemed to go much slower. I aasumed it was the solenoid and changed it. Unfortunately, it's still buzzing and no starting. I'm getting 12.37 volts off the battery, but when I remove the key wire on the solenoid and stuck the positive probe in it, and then completed the ground, I was getting NO voltage reading when turning the key. Should my next check be on the actual ignition switch? And if so, do I have to remove the dash or is it accessible from underneath. What wires would I test to validate if the switch is bad? Any insight would be totally appreciated. The old girl hasn't seen the road in 2 months.
     
  2. FerrariMech1

    FerrariMech1 Karting

    Dec 14, 2014
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    Michael Wilson
    #2 FerrariMech1, Sep 4, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2015
    The buzzing you hear is the fuel pump. Theres a blue plug on the fuel distributor that's supposed to open the circuit on the fuel pump until you go to the start position with the key.

    The battery voltage is not an accurate means of telling whether or not the battery itself is in good shape. Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) is a better measure and is the actual load being placed on the battery. Considering the car cranks good, I would assume that's all good and well.

    Trying to read the voltage from the solenoid will not yield any results unless you have the key in the start position

    What I would do, is buy in in-line spark tester (or have a friend ground out a plug with the fuel system deactivated) ,crank the car, and see if the car has spark.


    If you can verify you have good spark, grab some starting fluid and spray some in the intake. See if that'll run 'er
     
  3. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Tommy
    #3 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Sep 4, 2015
    ^
    This.

    Not saying this is your problem but he is 100% correct. Last Friday I had a car that would not start. Turn the key - nothing. Zero. But everything else lit right up. Headlights, high beam, radio, everything. I stuck a meter on the battery and got 12.03 or something along those lines.

    I pulled it out and had it tested properly. It only had about 40 amps or something instead of the 650 it was supposed to. It was a 3 year battery I bought back in 2010.

    A new battery started the car instantly.
     
  4. cmt6891

    cmt6891 Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2008
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    Carl T
    #4 cmt6891, Sep 4, 2015
    Your condition sounds like a typical bad battery problem. You can check the chassis ground strap at the starter but not likely the cause.
     
  5. craigfromtoledo

    craigfromtoledo Rookie

    Jun 12, 2010
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    Craig Hagenbuch
    #5 craigfromtoledo, Sep 7, 2015
    Thanks for the advice. However, just tried another battery with good CCA, same result. The issue is my car doesn't even crank. I just hear the fuel pump buzz, but no cranking. Could it be a faulty ignition switch. Obviously the fuel pump is getting auxilary power to buzz, but the actual starter isn't cranking.
     
  6. scudF1

    scudF1 F1 Rookie
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    #6 scudF1, Sep 7, 2015
    If your starter is good then you should check the line between the ignition to the starter. It could also be the ignition itself.
     
  7. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    #7 Jdubbya, Sep 8, 2015
    Check the grounds first. Not sure where they are on a QV but there should be at least two, one close to the battery and one from the engine to frame somewhere. On my '78 the engine ground is on the passenger side.
     
  8. cmt6891

    cmt6891 Formula 3

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    #8 cmt6891, Sep 8, 2015
    2 braided ground straps, 1 at the battery to the chassis, that's the disconnect. The other as I mentioned before at the starter to the chassis. Could be the starter solenoid.
     
  9. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    #9 Jdubbya, Sep 9, 2015
    On the earlier cars the braided ground is from the block to the chassis at the rear passenger side. Actually shows the same in the Q.v. diagram here... Ferrari 308QVUS Parts : Table 40 - ELECTRIC GENERATING SYSTEM
     

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