Have just taken my 86 3.2 Mondial (UK spec) for short winter drive after being unused for few weeks. Problem is on a light throttle, idle does not always return and sticks around 2000 rpm then after few seconds slowly drops. The linkage is free and the butterfly returns to its stop position, but revs are still high then slowly drop. If I blip the throttle then it returns to 1000 rpm OK. seems like a something is sticking but not the cable / linkage. Any ideas ?
I don't want to sound obnoxious, but have you checked your Ferrari "Cruise control" AKA-- your floormats. Most times you hear of this problem it tends to be the floormats pressing on the gas. Same exact thing happened to me when I first got my Mondial.
Thanks for reply, no not floor mats. As I said, at the engine, the throttle linkage returns to its stop, but engine still runs at 2000rpm then slowly drops, if you blip throttle it returns OK to 1000rpm.
On my QV, it was the butterfly "play" combined with a lack of lubricant on its axle and a SLIGHTLY tight cable that created such an effect. DW40 and a 1/4 of turn loosing the cable cured the issue. When I blipped the throttle, it didn't happen either, there seemed to have been enough inertia in the system the pull things back to idle. Other idea: sticky air metering plate/cylinder in the fuel distributor?
This doesn't sound like a sticking throttle. This might be a vacuum leak or a problem with your WUR. Are all the hoses coming off your plenum intact and connected? A quick smoke test might be in order...
I have noticed a similar issue to that of the OP, only once, in my 88 3.2, and I was not able to track it down. It only occurred when the temperature was fairly cold, though; less than 5c/ 40f or so. Not a sticking throttle, as others have noted. Take your foot off the accelerator, and the revs simply did not drop... until after a significant pause. Check the pedal return itself. I never could get the problem to repeat, but that was my next guess if it comes back. I just tend not to drive the car when it's cold outside. And today, it is inhumanly cold. -27c, -17f.
the Mac Yes it is around 0 degrees at moment, so maybe it is a cold temp. problem. Roll on the summer.
I periodically have a brief lapse in return on my 82 Mondial 8 when cold. Cleaning and lubricating the butterfly plate in the throttle body usually takes care of it. The bottom end of the shaft tends to get gunked up and a bit sticky when below freezing. Once warmed up it goes away.
My throttle cable was sticking a few years ago. WD-40 from the engine bay side down the cable followed by white lithium grease shoved down there a few days later on a pipe cleaner while my wife was exercising the gas pedal and problem thus far has been solved.
IACV where is this located on a 3.2? im having similar issue, idles 2 - 3 k rpm then a quick rev on the pedal will bring it back down to 1Krpm starts perfect an initial idle in 1.5- 2 K range until before driving warm and then will drop to 1K after driving its "sticks"
Doesn't have an IACV. Things you should check IMO -- carpet hanging up acc pedal , mechanical action/clearance at throttle body area, AAV operation...
+ 1, Jay fixed my sticky pedal at Mondipalooza. I sprayed more lube on the cable and pedal area when I got home. Its not sticky now and runs great !
Had similar on my 328 & just replaced the cable - it wasn't that expensive/difficult to do. In theory you should not lubricate throttle cables like that - they should not need it & in fact over time any oil/grease/ lubrication you pour in there will only gum the thing up. Its one of those things there is always a debate about though.
looked at the linkage closely and saw lots of old grease cleaned linkage , butterfly them lubed with silicon spray shot silicon into the cable and silicon the gas pedal(that area was definitely sticky) took for a ride and no more sticking idle! thanks!
There is another probable cause: the vacuum relief valve. They purpose of this valve is to slow down the return to idle in order to prevent overrun problems. When old, this valve starts to leak, gets sticky or slow. You can test this by blocking the vacuum line to this valve, if the return to idle is fast this valve is the problem.
