308 Won't Start | FerrariChat

308 Won't Start

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Dano's-Dino, Nov 7, 2005.

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  1. Dano's-Dino

    Dano's-Dino Rookie

    Jul 6, 2005
    18
    Mountain Home, AR
    Full Name:
    Danny Ohler
    I know this has probably been beat to death in the past, but I wasn't able to locate a good step by step approach to my problem in the archives. Now to my sad story....I've been enjoying the excellent weather we've been having with the top down, but then lately the car has been getting harder and harder to start, and got to where if I even touched the gas while trying to start, it would kill it. Now, yesterday, I cranked on it, off and on for 2 hours and never got it to start (lots of battery charging and jumper cables). It turns over great, but you could hear no combustion unless I would pump the gas pedal pretty vigorously. But even then, I only got the occasional sounds of combustion, but it never picked up and tried to run. Does anyone know of a good thread already posted, or where I can start? (No pun intended)

    Thanks,

    Dano
     
  2. F355Bvc

    F355Bvc Formula 3

    Dec 4, 2003
    1,724
    Lawrenceville. GA
    Full Name:
    Vince Canipelli
    What yr 308? FI or carb??
     
  3. Dano's-Dino

    Dano's-Dino Rookie

    Jul 6, 2005
    18
    Mountain Home, AR
    Full Name:
    Danny Ohler
    Sorry, It's a 1978 carb 308 GTS...slight oversight.........
     
  4. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,099
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Your profile is blank and you don't give any information about the car. Makes it a little hard to help you.

    It takes 3 thing to make a motor run, fire, fuel and compression. The first step is to isolate which one of those is MIA.

    You say you get some reaction to pumping the gas pedal. I would say it very possible that the problem lies in the fuel system but even that is not certain.
     
  5. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,099
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    The fuel pump is in front of the left rear wheel, see if it is running.
     
  6. marks308GTB

    marks308GTB Karting

    Jun 6, 2004
    114
    Los Altos Hills, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Mark S.
    Try your fuel pump.

    Mark
     
  7. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,099
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    There is an echo in here.
     
  8. Dano's-Dino

    Dano's-Dino Rookie

    Jul 6, 2005
    18
    Mountain Home, AR
    Full Name:
    Danny Ohler
    I always let the pump hum for about 20 seconds before I try starting first and at least I can hear it loud and clear. During long cranking I was getting some smoke??vapor?? out of the breather box and assumed there was some fuel there. I also pulled the plugs on the front deck, and some of them were wet, so it seemed that fuel wasn't the issue. I worked to dry them and clean them, but really didn't notice much difference when I tried again.
     
  9. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,099
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    You may have been progressively losing the ignition system and it finally quit. A rich mixture is easier to ignite that a lean one so as the ignition system got weaker it needed to be richer to start. A common cause of that scenario is the points closing up from normal wear. Thats one of many possibilities anyway.

    How long has it been since it got a thorough tune?
     
  10. Dano's-Dino

    Dano's-Dino Rookie

    Jul 6, 2005
    18
    Mountain Home, AR
    Full Name:
    Danny Ohler
    I just bought the car in July. I don't think it has had any significant work since 1993 when it had the major service. Everything in the engine compartment looks new, but I don't know the specifics.
     
  11. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,958
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    12 years and no servicing---should not have said that--now the Ferrari PREVENTIVE maintinance guys are going to lash you. Run and hide...
     
  12. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,099
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall

    Well I certainly fall into that group. I like reliable cars and hate walking when I should be driving, but then that would just be me.
     
  13. Dano's-Dino

    Dano's-Dino Rookie

    Jul 6, 2005
    18
    Mountain Home, AR
    Full Name:
    Danny Ohler
    Dang, I'm going to have to get some sleep.........I meant 2003....arghhh!!!!
     
  14. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,099
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Dan, ask around the Ferrari guys in AR and find a Ferrari mechanic and have him have a look at it.

    Also do yourself a favor. A Ferrari never fixes itself and almost never gets cheaper to fix when you ignore warning signs. Next time something comes up have somebody take a look at it before it makes that big, final noise.
     
  15. Dano's-Dino

    Dano's-Dino Rookie

    Jul 6, 2005
    18
    Mountain Home, AR
    Full Name:
    Danny Ohler
    That brings up a good point, Arkansas isn't the Ferrari hub of the US.....I don't know any other Ferrari owners in the area. If there are some out there, I'd love to hear about any recommended mechanics and just have someone to swap war stories with.......
     
  16. docweed

    docweed Formula Junior

    Dec 8, 2004
    452
    Morgantown,WV
    Full Name:
    Chuck Stewart
    Danny
    Some basic things you can check would be...with fuel pump running look down into the carb and pull the throttle cable as it comes in the engine compartment. You should see gas squirt into the carb from the acc. pump. No gas... then none in the bowl. If you have a pressure gauge place it in line just before it enters the first carb. Pressure s/b about 3 1/2 to 4 lbs. If not check pump, filter and small check valve by the pump. (I had this check valve go bad and the engine was starved for fuel). All of these are together in front of the left rear wheel. Maybe a bad tank of gas and clogged filter. Next have someone crank the engine while you pull any spark plug wire. Hold it near to but not touching a valve cover bolt. You should see a spark jump to the bolt. Watch you don't get shocked! If no spark then maybe an electrical problem. If you have a dwell meter your dwell s/b 34 degrees on R1 with R2 disabled on both dist. If you have an OM check the Electric System section or PM me and I'll try to explain. Any decent mechanic with this info s/b able to help you check this out. Good luck & I sure you'll get it running OK.
     
  17. Ken

    Ken F1 World Champ

    Oct 19, 2001
    16,078
    Arlington Heights IL
    Full Name:
    Kenneth
    It's probably either fuel delivery or a dying coil; since you have 2 coils I'll bet on fuel delivery. Could be anything between the gas tanks and the engine; I'd start at the engine and work backwards.

    BTW, if your fuel pump seems a lot louder than it should, that can mean not enough gas is getting there. That's what mine did when I had a clogged fuel line.

    Just as a matter of course I'd change the spark plugs, wires, tune the distributors, etc. You have to keep after these old cars.

    Ken
     
  18. pete04222

    pete04222 Formula Junior

    Nov 1, 2003
    613
    Maine, USA
    Full Name:
    Peter Cyr
    I had the same thing happen to my car 2 years ago. Exact same symptoms you describe.
    Since you said the plugs came out wet, you are getting fuel but no fire. It was the points on my car. The 308 has a very weak ignition system to begin with. I replaced the points with the Crane Cams Fireball XR3000 ignition, the PS60 high power coils and Magnacor plug wires. A lot more power to the plug and a more reliable spark. I haven't had any starting or ignition issues in the 2 years since.
     
  19. Dano's-Dino

    Dano's-Dino Rookie

    Jul 6, 2005
    18
    Mountain Home, AR
    Full Name:
    Danny Ohler
    Thanks alot guys for the good advice. I'll start working my way through your ideas. That should help me become more acquainted with the car also. You guys are great.

    Thanks,

    Dano
     
  20. FerrariFrank1

    FerrariFrank1 F1 Rookie

    Aug 15, 2003
    3,887
    Chicago-Phoenix-L.A.
    Full Name:
    Frank
    Check your Fuel Pump Relay. It is right there behind the Dash Panel on the Passenger side. And,there is a sticker on the backside that tells which Relay is which. Very simple. Take it out,tap it a few times on a Hard surface,then put it back in and see if it works. If not,just try a New Fuel Pump Relay anyway before you start taking anything apart. They aren't expensive,and I'm guessing that the one in there now is the Original. So,it should be replaced anyway. I had the same thing happen to my '81 once,and that was the easy,and,fortunately,inexpensive fix.

    But,if that doesn't do the Trick,you have eliminated one possible source of your problem.
     
  21. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 14, 2003
    26,527
    Montreal Canada
    Full Name:
    Bernie

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