Checklist for Pre-PPI Walkaround 430 Inspection?

Sticky buttons, Dash leather, fuel pumps (the originals would leak and set the car on fire), exhaust manifolds (originals would crack), clutch and TO bearing life, brakes (especially on ccm cars), wobbly/loose tail lights, valve cover gasket oil leaks. That’s off the top of my head

 

Oops. Forgot motor mounts

 

F430 buyer's guide:

 

These are some of the basics, but definitely helpful before you dive into headers for cracks, water pump inspection for leads, ball joints knocking, and general items like proper service records if the individual you are buying from does not do their own maintenance.

 

Where is the evidence for the statement that the original fuel pumps would leak and set the car on fire? You have said this twice in two recent replies. If it were true there would be literally thousands of 430s that had been reported to have caught fire specifically because of original fuel pumps. It would have been a major topic of conversation among owners like me and on this forum.

There are a couple of reports on Fchat of 430s catching fire, like there are with 458s after them and others before, but I can't find any fires attributed to original fuel pumps. And even if there were one or two, which I don't believe there are, there were around 15,000 430s made. I have asked both my service garages, one a London main dealer and one a major specialist, if they have ever seen a 430 fire due to an original fuel pump and they have said no.

What is your evidence for this statement please?

 

My own experience: I have had my 430 for nearly 10 years and it's been very reliable. I bought one with lowish miles and an extremely thorough Ferrari service history. Buttons have gone sticky but that's an easy fix. Ball joints are famously made of chocolate so even if you get new OEM ones you'll need them again within a couple of years, Hill Engineering ones are a lot better. These cars are sensitive to battery charge so check any warning lights which may arise due to inadequate charging. Manifolds, lots on here about them, I have mk2 manifolds which have been fine, but there are a lot of threads about solutions, if yours aren't cracked it's about preventative solutions.

These are pretty solid cars but I think more sensitive to how they have been maintained, than a 911. So buy a good one. And then enjoy, they are fantastic.

 

The Bosch fuel pumps used in this car and many others had a design flaw where the top would crack and allow fuel to leak out. A revised part number and different plastic were used on parts to solve the issue. I can’t tell you the exact number of times it has happened with the f430 but there are tons of videos and forum posts here and elsewhere showing the crack and leak. This wasn’t just an issue with Ferrari. I had a C6 that used a similar pump and had a leak. Those pumps were involved with an extended warranty for the part, but not sure if Ferrari ever had one.

Here are a few first hand accounts of the issue.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/fuel-leak-f430-coupe-lh-fuel-pump.499174/









https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/f430-spider-right-fuel-pump-leak.322481/

 

Had my pump break and spill fuel (no fire). I think they are a topic since very cheap to replace. As a buyer you can throw your hands up and try to make it a bigger deal than it is to maybe get some $$ off the purchase.

 

I think it’s safe to say *many* of the early version pumps (white plastic top) have failed in the form of a crack and *some* of them have caught fire as a result of the owner either not being aware of the fuel smell or other conditions. Not all these cars are driven often and there are certainly scenarios where people continue to drive unsafely with a leaky pump. I wouldn’t gamble on an early version pump either way.

 

Lost me at "I'm opening my door wrong".

 

Lost me at the prop 65 sticker still on the window. Why do people insist on leaving those on? Might as well leave the Monroney sticker on at that point.

Funny, he talked about opening the door “wrong” but then proceeded to open the door “wrong” the rest of the video

And if that guy is on here, we’re just ribbing you. I don’t attempt videos because I fully expect mine to be terrible

 

I don't recall which thread I downloaded this from originally, but here is a checklist Word doc someone was nice enough to upload here some time ago.

 

I just converted it to a PDF as well...

 

OK thank you. I see it's an issue. But "the originals would leak and set the car on fire" is an overreach..as it suggests to the casual reader that all cars with original fuel pumps were on fire.

 

Fair enough, maybe it was a little hyperbolic, but an issue nonetheless.