308QV start Relay

I'd start by having the engine running. Then try jiggling the key and wires around the key housing to see if it's got a short of some sort, sending a signal to the relay when it shouldn't.

 

Please confirm that you mean "relay F Start electro-valve control relay" as described on page 100 in your 248/82 OM (it's also called item 90 "Start valve relay" on the wiring diagram).

This relay controls the fuel pump relay so it's a little unusual to have it "click" with the engine running and not have the engine die (unless it rapidly clicks one way and then back).

Is your idle RPM lowish, or is it the specified 1000 RPM? (If low, it can reduce the operating margin of the safety switch, and, if the safety switch closes, this is supposed to cause relay F to actuate.)

Is your safety switch on the airflow metering device plugged in? Unplugging the safety switch would prevent bad behavior at relay F from having any affect on the fuel pump relay (but you do lose the safety feature). Perhaps someone unplugged the safety switch as a dirty "fix"?

 

That does seem a sign that you don't have enough physical margin between the rest position and operating position of the airflow metering plate (i.e. the rest position is misadjusted).
See Chapter D page D29 of the Mondial8/QV WSM here:

http://ferrari.cdyn.com/ferrari_docs/mondial8qv_workshop_281-83.pdf

Good Hunting!

 

One other thought is that if you had a big intake air leak (like the AAV not closing) and the mixture was set in that condition, that would reduce the mechanical deflection of the airflow metering plate from rest to idle reducing the margin of keeping the safety switch contacts open at idle -- just a thought...

 

I had the same problem on my 1986 QV. It took me a while to find the cause. It was dirt on the 'switch' inside the air intake. If you are lucky, it can be removed without opening the air intake.
If you want more info, please PM. Good luck.
It is mentioned in a post I started in 2008 when I had my car for a few months (post 3): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/182620-air-flow-detection-some-odd-stuff.html
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