Hard start issue

Check for vacuum leaks, or a leaky fuel accumulator.

 

1. When you say "airbox", do you mean on the LH side of the intake plenum?

2. If so, did the warm idle RPM change (increase) when you reconnected them?

 

Those should have no effect on engine operation -- they are connected to the air box only to have a source of filtered (clean) air (i.e., to prevent any dirt/debris from entering those hoses).

 

Look at the recent post
3.2 Can't Hold idle sounds like a cylinder missing

Service the fuel distributor, whether you have someone do it or you do it yourself. It will save you a lot of searching and headaches.

 

Hi my car is a 3.2 as well , What happened to mine was it had a hard time starting when hot . I replaced the fuel accumulator and all is well . The Fuel accumulator is the same as the Mercedes late 70’s 280 and 450 series .

 

Hey Dennis, sorry to hear about the drivability issues. Maybe double check the vacuum lines and connections? I recall a similar issue...

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/hvac-doors-flapping-about.476277/

When the above problem began there was a bit of stumbling at low RPMs.

 

Any sign/ smell of fuel on the dipstick- or is the sump level incresing?

 

Yes, it worked perfectly.

If it did somehow become disconnected then take a close look at the instructions to make sure the hoses are routed correctly.


Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Have a look on eurospares web site at the 3.2 mondial drawings, plate 008 timing system, then item no 12. This is pt no 125109/125110. This is the timing ref marks. See if your car is fitted with these, some are and some not.
Look on right hand end of cam shaft.
Assuming you have these you need to find direction crank turns on the starter motor, align crank at tdc by turning in correct direction ( under no circumstances turn crank in wrong direction, even if you go past the mark )the arrows on these plates should be aligned with the stamped lines on the flat on the end of the camshaft.
If no alignment then turn crank 1 complete rev In same direction back to the tdc mark and recheck the indicators against the stamped lines. NB you need to be directly above to view it to be sure you get it right.
if any one out of line them timing is wrong

 

I had a similar experience. One of my spark plug wires was shorting intermittently - which might be the “tapping” sound you hear.

Also, in a related development, one of the distributor rotors got a tiny HOLE blasted through it (top-to-bottom) by the short. Key point - wait for it — one must look into the underside mounting hole to see where the current arced through. Don’t see anything... wait for it again — one must REMOVE the metal pivot pad down inside there to see where the high current is arching directly through! If this turns out to be the problem - don’t thank me - thank Dave Helms and SRI!

Also, if that is the issue a few of your spark plug wires will probably not pass muster and need replacing. Check them all.

By the way - and this tip is from me — get a few extra distributor caps (and rotors). The caps fail too. Look carefully for cracks. And when you buy a used cap it probably has a very small crack in it - it will not last long.

SG


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

The uneven exhaust pressure side to side is normal. My 87 US spec has been that way since purchase and runs fine.

 

Every symptom you have written about, timing, hard starting, back firing, bogging down always sends everyone in the direction of electrical problems. Then they troubleshoot the easy electrical 1st thought.....spark plugs (which is amateur time) ........then they look at distributor, coils and ignition modules. After that its fuel pump and accumulator. After that it turns into ecu analysis and the over voltage relay with its fused disconnect. Then its ignition ecu and o2 sensors.............. so on and so on.........Scratching their heads they start saying the timing is all out. Feels like the timing is off........So it turns to top dead center analysis, open up the fly wheel and did I put the timing belt on wrong........Did the timing belt slip. Every article I read goes through this mad process. Always the same path. Always the same wrong turn after wrong turn.

Nobody gives the Bosch K Jetronic fuel distributor any respect to its global affect on the engine. You have to realize this is a 1st generation fuel injection system (depending on Mondial year) Nobody wants to admit that the current gasoline we buy with its 10% ethanol content is super corrosive. Nobody realizes that the 35 year old rubber o-rings and diaphragms inside the K Jetronic fuel distributor are physically biodegrading and thats accelerated by the ethanol and any other fuel injection cleaner we put in our gas to "remove deposits" (as if thats important) You are reading the roadmap backwards. Start with the fuel distributor. Stop all the other troubleshooting and have the fuel distributor rebuilt. Pull it out, mail it off and get the insides completely replaced.

I tell you this because I have lost the last 2 years use of my 86 Mondial because the mechanics read the roadmap backwards. My trip went so horribly wrong it turned into a complete rebuild of the motor with new pistons and rings, complete valve job and every cam shaft seal bearing etc. Everything I mentioned above, including a complete new fuse panel............and it all could have been avoided if we rebuilt the fuel distributor in step one. Reading the roadmap backwards has taken my Ferrari away from me, something that gives me peace, re-centers my thoughts, and just resets my day. I dont want to see that happen to you or any of my fellow Ferrari brothers.

 

Did u check the timing and if so was it correct ?

 

How many teeth out ? Did u manage to get the camshaft on the marks to the indicators
Do a compression test on the cylinders in case you have bent a valve.

 

You might just get away with it but the compression test is a good check