Euro 328 won't turn over | FerrariChat

Euro 328 won't turn over

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by ducowti, Jun 13, 2025 at 10:58 PM.

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  1. ducowti

    ducowti Formula 3

    Jan 27, 2008
    1,557
    NY/SC
    Full Name:
    David
    '86 Euro with no history of starting issues today wouldn't turn over after running about and starting 3x within about two hours. Starter relay ok, all fuses ok. Behaved like my first euro 328 did when one of the spade connectors on the ignition cylinder was loose, which is not the current issue. Checked engine connections, no apparent compromise or issues near the left side upper shock mount wiring harness connections.

    Upon turning key to start everything is normal except in the engine bay there's a sound like something hits an aluminum bit. Recorded this brief video relating the aluminum-strike sound.

    Thanks!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,658
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    #2 Steve Magnusson, Jun 13, 2025 at 11:18 PM
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2025 at 11:30 PM
    That sounds just like the solenoid plunger moving enough to take the play out of the mechanism but not strongly enough to actually move the solenoid plunger its full stroke. Could be as simple as a bad battery, a bad battery terminal connection, bad contact in the battery disconnect plug, bad solenoid, bad terminal 50 wire connection to the solenoid, etc.. First thing to do is just turn the headlights "on" to see if they are reasonably bright (they should be) or not (would indicate a problem in the primary power system) and/or measure the battery voltage (on the battery cable terminal ends, not the battery posts themselves) both with everything "off" and when trying to engage the starter.
     
  3. Extreme1

    Extreme1 Formula 3

    Jun 27, 2017
    1,398
    Santa Clarita, CA
    Another vote for a bad battery or connection. Do you have a Load Tester for a car battery? They are $40 on Amazon and will work on all vehicle battery’s.
    Always check the simplest thing first.
     
    ducowti likes this.
  4. mcw

    mcw Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 10, 2008
    449
    Recharge battery, install new charged battery, rotisserie are first three suggestions.
     
  5. 350HPMondial

    350HPMondial F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 1, 2002
    5,316
    18 mi from the surf,, close to Pismo, CA
    Full Name:
    Edwardo
    Solenoid contacts are dirty. ( it will still move and click)
     
  6. 350HPMondial

    350HPMondial F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 1, 2002
    5,316
    18 mi from the surf,, close to Pismo, CA
    Full Name:
    Edwardo
    I know I’ve seen these 308 starters on other cars.
    Like an MGB.
    :)
     
  7. moysiuan

    moysiuan F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 1, 2005
    4,130
    Canada
    Do confirm when the battery was last replaced, and if the starter has ever been rebuilt.
     
  8. ducowti

    ducowti Formula 3

    Jan 27, 2008
    1,557
    NY/SC
    Full Name:
    David
    Thanks gents. To wit starter hasn't been rebuilt, and the battery was replaced about two+ years back. Will start w.load test and checked connections. Will report back...
     
    Willl likes this.
  9. ducowti

    ducowti Formula 3

    Jan 27, 2008
    1,557
    NY/SC
    Full Name:
    David
    Resolved:

    The positive battery wire looked ok and felt 'pretty good' but moved a hair and had a bit of corrosion not visible w.out removing the wire from terminal. To test I repositioned and she fired up, so removed, recut, and reattached, was the problem indeed.
     
    AUDIO RESEARCH likes this.
  10. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,658
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    Glad that it turned out to be one of the easier issues to correct -- and thanks for posting your eventual findings. Those aftermarket battery terminals that mechanically "clamp" the wire strands are somewhat less reliable than the stock battery terminals (where the wire strands are cast into it) so do require occasional maintenance. It's never easy to mechanical clamp dissimilar metals together to form an electrical connection and not eventually get some corrosion in the long term.
     

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