Mystery hesitation and low volts.. | FerrariChat

Mystery hesitation and low volts..

Discussion in '308/328' started by Mark C Harvey, Sep 29, 2025 at 8:03 PM.

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  1. Mark C Harvey

    Mark C Harvey Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 17, 2018
    308
    West Hartford, Connecticut
    Full Name:
    Mark C Harvey
    Dear all 328/308 experts. I have been chasing a mystery hesitation. I have been chasing a mystery hesitation on my '86 Mondial since I bought it in back in June. Symptoms are a strong hestation when warmed up, when under load. gradually gets worse until car stops running. Restarts fine after 1/2 hour. I have done quite a bit, changing fuel filter and pump, plugs, coils, coil transistors. Checked the ignition with an oscilloscope.

    Just this week I've noticed the battery voltage drops from 14 volts to 12.3 volts when the cooling fans engage, then remains there even after the fans stop turning! Then the voltage gradually drops down to about 12.1 volts after 15 minutes watching it, so it may even go lower than that. Its like the alternator has stopped functioning and the battery is just draining. Battery recovers to 12.6 volts after sitting. I have checked the alternator belt tightness, and checked the B+ cable to the starter. I also checked the quick-release B+ cable connector by the firewall (I bolted the ends together as the plastic clip was broken and it was loose). Today took the alternator to a repair place. They bench tested it under a load and told me it output about 13.9 volts under an 80 amp load, so they dont think there is anything wrong with it. However, they did not heat the alternator while testing, so conditions not exactly the same as when I am driving it, getting it warm and getting the issue. Any ideas would be most welcome....
     
  2. LE06

    LE06 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2022
    269
    Full Name:
    Lee
    I am far from an expert when it comes to these cars, I have had my 308 about a year. It sounds like something is braking down under heat. I would check to make sure all your grounds are good. Make sure your fans are not pulling too many amps or voltage. My X1/9 has a problem not too far removed. It would drop to 10.5v and die. I found the problem in the ignition switch. It was an high load wire not making good contact. Easy fix. Check and make sure you don't have any plugs showing signs of overheating.
     
  3. DanielGA

    DanielGA Karting

    Mar 19, 2018
    202
    Midwest
    Full Name:
    Daniel A.
    An interesting option, which I did, is to purchase a voltmeter that includes an induction based amp-meter (for DC circuits). They are available on Amazon and other places. I got a nice one for like $35. Serves as a voltmeter but also clamp-on amp-meter -- the wire you want to measure the amp-draw you just clamp over (simple!). This way you can easily tell how many amps your fan is drawing, amongst other things.

    I don't want to be yelled at for placing a product link here, but basically if you enter "AstroAI Digital Clamp Meter Multimeter 4000" in Amazon, you will get the tool I am mentioning. BTW, I have no link or benefit to this product.

    Just a thought...
     
  4. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    107,174
    Vegas baby
    Have you considered the problem being fuel pressure or the accumulator?
     

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