Half power and no dials | FerrariChat

Half power and no dials

Discussion in '308/328' started by jersey308gtb, Sep 8, 2018.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. jersey308gtb

    jersey308gtb Formula Junior

    Feb 18, 2015
    383
    UK
    Full Name:
    Alex Heynes
    #1 jersey308gtb, Sep 8, 2018
    Really odd thing driving the 308 over to the new house today, was running like a dream then all the dials went to zero, but engine fine, then they came back on, then 5 mins later the engine went to half power like a switch, felt like it was running on just four cylinders, Rev counter went to zero at the same time. Stayed like this and limped along for 15 mins when suddenly the engine sprang back into full life and the Rev counter came back on at the same time.

    Anyone have any sure fire reasons why this happened?

    Not sure where to start..

    Thanks





    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  2. Patrick Dixon

    Patrick Dixon Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2012
    1,084
    UK
    #2 Patrick Dixon, Sep 8, 2018
    Electrical connection to one coil is intermittent?
     
  3. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2012
    3,322
    Tallahassee, FL
    #3 thorn, Sep 8, 2018
    My first thought is a bad ground.
     
  4. tatcat

    tatcat F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2001
    11,003
    panama city beach FL
    Full Name:
    rick c
    #4 tatcat, Sep 8, 2018
    Perhaps crank sensor
     
  5. ferrariowner

    ferrariowner Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2014
    1,109
    Mansfield, TX
    Full Name:
    Ron
    #5 ferrariowner, Sep 8, 2018
    It sounds like you lost one of the ignition Diplex. I think one of them drives the tach as well as half the engine cylinders. The suggestions above could be the cause.
     
    Albert-LP likes this.
  6. lm2504me

    lm2504me Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 26, 2004
    1,087
    Nipomo, CA
    Full Name:
    Richard
    #6 lm2504me, Sep 8, 2018
    His profile shows a 1979 308 GTB dry sump.
     
  7. Schulz308

    Schulz308 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 21, 2014
    1,454
    STL USA
    #7 Schulz308, Sep 8, 2018
    Not certain but I would


    Check all electric connections and use electric grease when reconnecting tight.

    Is your fuse panel original?
     
  8. Saabguy

    Saabguy Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 28, 2012
    1,759
    Shreveport, LA
    #8 Saabguy, Sep 8, 2018
    Like he said. Could be loose battery terminal / clamp.
     
  9. AN-M

    AN-M Formula Junior

    Jun 30, 2012
    367
    Norway
    Full Name:
    André
    #9 AN-M, Sep 9, 2018
    Check relay "F" top right on the board for the half power thing.
     
  10. Ccashen1

    Ccashen1 Rookie

    Jun 29, 2013
    18
    #10 Ccashen1, Sep 9, 2018
    Crank sensor. Same thing happened to my ‘83 308.
     
  11. lm2504me

    lm2504me Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 26, 2004
    1,087
    Nipomo, CA
    Full Name:
    Richard
    #11 lm2504me, Sep 9, 2018
    Crank sensor on a 79 GTB Euro dry sump 308?
    Is this car modified?
     
    Smiles likes this.
  12. Baltz1969

    Baltz1969 Karting

    Apr 24, 2017
    69
    Chula Vista, CA
    Full Name:
    Jose Baltz
    #12 Baltz1969, Sep 9, 2018
    Happened to me on mi 81 2v it was a crank sensor. I replaced all three of them. Purchased them from Super Performance.


    Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  13. Hank Rose

    Hank Rose Rookie

    Mar 8, 2012
    29
    #13 Hank Rose, Sep 9, 2018
    You said that all gauges failed; that implies a total electrical system problem. I agree with Thorn that it is most likely a bad ground. Clean those connections and use DeoxIT to improve the conductivity when reassembling. I strongly(!!!) urge using this stuff on electrical connections. Good luck.
     
    Saabguy and waymar like this.
  14. jersey308gtb

    jersey308gtb Formula Junior

    Feb 18, 2015
    383
    UK
    Full Name:
    Alex Heynes
    #14 jersey308gtb, Sep 10, 2018
    Thanks so much all for the suggestions. All noted... I forgot to say the car is a 1980 carb. Sounds like I need to pull off all engine electrics and clean up the connections. It was just odd how all gauges went off with engine good, but then engine halved power with just the Rev counter not working. Interesting to hear one coil powers the Rev counter, but what’s with the other gauges.. time will tell. Thanks all have a good day..


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  15. Saabguy

    Saabguy Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 28, 2012
    1,759
    Shreveport, LA
    #15 Saabguy, Sep 10, 2018

    A loose battery connection, either on the battery or the BIG disconnect plug (both ends) would be a likely suspect. YMMV
     
  16. Jez

    Jez Karting

    Jul 29, 2013
    70
    Westerham
    Full Name:
    Jeremy Gilbert
    #16 Jez, Sep 13, 2018
    I had exactly the same and it was a loose wire inside the distributor (white wire that runs from inside the distributor)
    Mine is a twin distributor car and this impacted the rear bank and like yours the rev counter stopped working
    Took some time to locate the issue as not obvious unless you take the cap off and check all wire connections inside, but once tightened back up everything was fine.
     
    vaccarella and Patrick Dixon like this.
  17. Saabguy

    Saabguy Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 28, 2012
    1,759
    Shreveport, LA
    #17 Saabguy, Sep 17, 2018
    Well???? What was the problem and fix?
     
  18. Martin308GTB

    Martin308GTB F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 22, 2003
    4,219
    Black Forest Germany
    Full Name:
    Martin N.
    #18 Martin308GTB, Sep 18, 2018
    Had a similar problem once on my '80 carb car with electronic ignition. I lost a bank while hard cornering. It was a bad connection of one of the distributor sensors on the amplifier below the coil.
    Cleaned it and made it more tight with the helpf of pliers. Problem solved.

    Best from Germany
    Martin
     
    cesc308 likes this.
  19. cesc308

    cesc308 Rookie

    Jul 13, 2018
    9
    Full Name:
    cesc308
    #19 cesc308, Sep 18, 2018
    I had the same problem in mine and this was the solution.
     
  20. jersey308gtb

    jersey308gtb Formula Junior

    Feb 18, 2015
    383
    UK
    Full Name:
    Alex Heynes
    #20 jersey308gtb, Sep 21, 2018
    Thanks all.. have not driven or touched it since that journey. Car is about to get all her paint stripped off, full engine out detail job. Will be going on a trailer!

    Will tell the guys the suggestions of distributor and coils. Definitely feels as if this is the issue. Odd as when I bought it (the only other drive I’ve had in the car) it was a 120 mile trip and the engine was way crisper and stronger than my other dry sump 308!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  21. jersey308gtb

    jersey308gtb Formula Junior

    Feb 18, 2015
    383
    UK
    Full Name:
    Alex Heynes
    #21 jersey308gtb, Sep 21, 2018
    Just randomly... when I called Tony Willis (Maranello Archives) for the history docs on this red 308, it turns out that it was his demonstrator car at Cooper Leicester and he remembered it well. Pleasing!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

Share This Page