328: Failing coil pack? That's my guess | FerrariChat
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328: Failing coil pack? That's my guess

Discussion in '308/328' started by sammyb, Aug 18, 2009.

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  1. sammyb

    sammyb Formula 3

    Jun 23, 2006
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    Sam
    #1 sammyb, Aug 18, 2009
    Took the 328 to go grab a new coolant resevoir cap to see if it would cure the ongoing air getting into the system (and overheating), and upon pulling out of the parts shop, the 328 GTS wouldn't get much off idle and I had no tachometer reading.

    So I pulled back into the next parking lot and shut it down, counted to ten and restarted. Everything came back on fine.

    I have noticed more pop/burble while cruising, which I might say could be intermittent missing. I've been more focused on the temp, but this seems to be pretty evident.

    So would you say that one of the coil packs is failing? Does anyone reproduce these for the '86 328?

    (all this, and I still don't have the 308 GT4 back on the road yet!!!)

    Cheers,
    Sam
     
  2. ducowti

    ducowti Formula 3

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    #2 ducowti, Aug 18, 2009
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2009
    Do a search for a recent thread by me for 'coil' and/or 'module'. From what I learned recently the coil itself rarely goes, rather the ignition modules are the common culprit. WAI Electric has a cheap alternate from what's listed on the usual F parts vendors IF that's your issue. The coil pack is listed on the F parts sites for about $1000 vs. a $16 ignition module from a WAI distributor.
     
  3. sammyb

    sammyb Formula 3

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    #3 sammyb, Aug 18, 2009
    Maybe Brian or Steve can answer this, but will a failing transistor cause the tach to be non operable? I suppose it would, since the hall sensor wouldn't be operational?

    It also should identify which one failed, right, since the tach only runs off one bank, correct? Which one is it?

    Cheers,
    Sam
     
  4. fastradio

    fastradio F1 Rookie
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    Apr 26, 2006
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    David Feinberg
    #4 fastradio, Aug 18, 2009
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2009
    This logic doesn't apply to a 328. You have two crank sensors, versus three on the 308 cars. Before replacing anything, basic diagnostic principles still apply.

    -Wires
    -Extenders
    -Carbon buttons
    -Rotors
    -Caps

    The tach signal comes from the single spark box on your car. If one, or the other crank sensor were to fail, the 3,2 engine simply won't run. If you've got a dead bank, then you'd be looking at the coil, module, coil wire....and possibly, but extremely unlikely, the single spark box. (This statement does not apply 100% to the 308 cars...)

    If these have not been inspected, then no viable conclusions can be drawn as to what the real problem is with your car.
     
  5. sammyb

    sammyb Formula 3

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    #5 sammyb, Aug 18, 2009
    It seems I have an intermittent miss, but that was followed with an instance of no power and no tach, like one entire bank was down.

    If a coil or transistor is failing, but not dead (or "mostly dead" as Billy Crystal's character in the Princess Bride said), can't it cause a miss?

    So what would cause the tach to go dead along with low engine power, only to come back when the car is restarted? This along with a misfire as a possibly related symptom?
     
  6. ducowti

    ducowti Formula 3

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    #6 ducowti, Aug 18, 2009
    If one bank is down your tach will or at least may still register normally. It did on my car when I lost one anyway, and with the single box that makes sense. If a coil or transistor is failing it sure will cause missing.

    As was suggested in my recent thread it's a good idea to have a spare module (transistor) or two. I would suggest same: order a couple - for $16 each you can't go wrong holding them as spares, if nothing else.
    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138761727&postcount=24
     
  7. 308GTS

    308GTS Formula 3

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    #7 308GTS, Aug 18, 2009
    When I lost one bank on my 308 I lost the tach completely. I replaced one of the TDC flywheel sensors and it fixed it.
     
  8. sammyb

    sammyb Formula 3

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    #8 sammyb, Aug 18, 2009
    There's always a chance that this is not a single issue, but a multitude of issues all rearing their heads at the same time. I originally thought the mis was associated with the overheating, but now I'm pretty sure it's not. (I did a pressure check yesterday and everything looked pretty good.)
     

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