My 1990 348 has a rough start issue. After the car has been sitting for awhile it will start right up, but idles really rough, even knocking for awhile until it settles into a steady idle. It does it hot or cold. I've tried the resetting the ECU's trick (battery disconnect, reconnect, restart, touch nothing 10min, etc.) to no avail. Sometimes the idle is so rough it dies after a few sec. If I turn the key again it fires right up and settles into a nice idle. I am starting the car in neutral, no gas, no clutch. If I give it some gas after starting it clears right up and idles great. Any ideas?
The electronic control units for your catalytic converters (a.k.a. the "Slow-Down" light control modules for each cylinder bank, 1-4 and 5-8) may erroneously be sending signals to the fuel regulator without even causing any "Slow-Down" light(s) to illuminate. That's just my first guess. Otherwise the idle itself might need simple adjustment.
Didn't give your friend your spare key, maybe your right about the gas, maybe there is no gas in the tank I wouldn't be too worried about it. It probably just needs a good run out on the streets.
Hard to tell from that bit of information. I'd start by replacing the fuel filters ($14 each is too cheap to even warrant testing) and cleaning the spark plugs. Then I'd hit the coil pack connections with Stabilant 22a. Run some Techron through the gas tank, too. If giving the car just a bit more gas-pedal clears everything up, then I'd be suspecting something simple like a clogged fuel injector or fuel filter, or a wet spark plug wire connection at one end or the other. If none of the above then I'd check the voltage (car running, car not running) to see if you are having an alternator or battery go bad, fuel pressure to see if a fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator was starting to fail, spark plug wires to see if a wire was failing, etc. Just some thoughts.
Great ideas- I hope it's a simple deal and the more I think about it No Doubt may be on to something w/ the fuel filters. The car is low mileage (12k) and the major was done 3 yrs ago. If anybody else has any ideas I'd appreciate the input. That being said, at the expense of showing my ignorance where are the filters located and how can they be sourced?
PAP- Trust me I run the hell out of my car- and the gas gauge isn't that reliable- but just in case I checked- I in fact have fuel. That being said, where's that spare key.......
Everything that you need to know, save for one point, about buying and changing your fuel filters is here:http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72818 The one thing that isn't covered is that you can now buy gasoline-proof teflon plumbers' tape at Lowes or Home Depot. There are several varieties of teflon tape...get the gasoline-safe version and wrap a single length (don't overlap much at all) of the teflon around the threads on top and on bottom for the fuel filter connections. This will let you screw it all back together onto the fuel lines further, but with less effort/torque (i.e. much less chance of cracking a metal fuel line)...with the added bonus of being even more leak-proof than the tighter connection alone.
This would be another idea: http://webpages.charter.net/aircover/348/1994Ferrari348Spider.html#EngineStallsOverheats
I ordered new filters. How important is it to change those copper washers out? Are they readily available?
Change them for sure! Those washers are really only a one-use item, on Ferrari or any car. Once they are tightened up, they get tiny little scratches on them from the mating surface of the filters and fuel fittings. This helps create the seal. If you reuse them, the scratches will no longer line up with the mating surface, and a leak is developed. Not always, but about half the time. If you take the old washers to any auto parts store, you should be able to match them up to what they have, most parts stores keep things like that in bulk. Just don't tell the counter guy what they are for!(Uh, I don't have parts fo that....)
