Engine trouble, any thoughts? | FerrariChat

Engine trouble, any thoughts?

Discussion in '348/355' started by cuneo, Nov 3, 2007.

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  1. cuneo

    cuneo Formula 3
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    Nov 20, 2006
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    #1 cuneo, Nov 3, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hi everyone! This is my first tech thread so please forgive me for any blunders. My car is a U.S. 1995 355 Berlinetta, six-speed, 27,500 miles, all stock including Ferrari headers, with the only aftermarket parts being Hyper-Flows and a Capristo Stg 3. The Ferrari headers were said to be fine by my mechanic at the time of PPI 3 months and 2700 miles ago. Leakdown was said to be acceptable with only cylinders 2, 3, and 5 reading leakdown at 4%, 2% and 5% respectively. Compression was #1 175, #2 165, #3 175, #4 180, #5 172, #6 185, #7 175, #8 185. I was told these were acceptable numbers, but since purchasing I remember reading a thread here that spoke of the #2 cylinder usually being the first to go because of header failure. Oh, and the last major was done at 17,000 mi. in 2004.
    Now, on to the problem. Today I was driving the car and after about 10 minutes I think a bank of cylinders shut down (I should have felt the tailpipes for exhaust flow but wasn't thinking in my terrified state). No CEL's or Slowdown lights came on, and they are present and functioning (illuminate at start-up). What happened is I shifted into neutral from 4th gear while travelling about 45 mph and coasted for about 50 feet, then shifted into 3rd.
    Upon applying the throttle the car had a large power loss, as well as a change in sound and vibration feel. The car wasn't as loud, the revolutions sounded kinda warbly but steady, almost underwater if that makes any sense. I turned around and drove it back to my garage, and on the way it went back to normal. I revved it up a couple times to about 6500rpm, and all was well. No glowing cats, no excessive fuel smell. Parked it, and decided to try disconnecting the battery. I did so, but I mistakenly left the fog-lights on when restarting/relearning while letting it idle. The car idled fine for about 3 minutes, then the problem recurred. I let it idle like this for another minute or so, then shut it down. The car sat for about an hour, and after looking around on F-chat and the manual I found out all electrical draws need to be off during relearning. I tried the reset/relearn again, and after idling beautifully for ten minutes, I drove the car around for about 45 minutes, with absolutely no problems at all.
    And at long last, my question. If the car continues to run perfectly, should I continue to drive it until the problem returns, or should I get the car serviced? I'm far from being a mechanic, and what you guys might consider a simple fix or check is probably a major headache for a guy like me. I was planning on doing the 30K service in about 3-4 months, along with headers and possibly valve guides. My options are: #1 do 30K as soon as possible. #2 continue to run it until problem arises again. #3 have a mechanic pull the codes and look at the car for me. My obvious fear is that I'll be driving along and suddenly find myself in the middle of a 30K engine rebuild. All help and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks everyone for all the great stuff f-chat brings to us, I can only hope someday I can contribute as much as others have.

    P.S. some pics of the car in question

    P.P.S. sorry all the paragraphs ran together, it looked okay when I was typing, but after posting it got all jumbled.
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  2. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
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    Awesome pics!!! Do 1995s have ECU codes, anyone??
     
  3. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
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    Mr. Sideways
    1995 ECU codes for the 355 are the same as for the 348 (click on the 348 primer link in my signature below, then go to the Index, then to the ECU codes section).

    Gotta concur on the pics. That's the finest looking 355 that I've ever seen. Outstanding!

    ...anyway, the first thing that needs to be done is to sit in the driver's seat with the engine off, turn the ignition key to position II (run, not start), and look for any SLOW DOWN lights (all dash lights should illuminate during that test stage).

    Because you need to know if a SLOW DOWN bulb is missing or burned out before going any further.

    The 1995 355 might have 2 SLOW DOWN lights just like the 348, but at some point Ferrari may have gone to just one lamp (and I don't know the details on the 355 models/years).
     
  4. mseals

    mseals Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Sep 9, 2007
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    Mike Seals
    but I do know I was having a 5-8 shutdown problem before the guys went through all my grounding points and electrical connections...haven't driven it far since (only about 50 miles), but the problem is gone...(fingers crossed)

    Mike in Kuwait
     
  5. cuneo

    cuneo Formula 3
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    Thanks No Doubt and mseals. The CEL's and Slow Down lights are present and illuminate with the other lights when the key is in the "on" position, however they have never illuminated while driving the car. Is the process for pulling codes on my 355 the same as what is on your 348primer site, or do I need a special reader of some sort?
     
  6. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
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    Mr. Sideways
    Same, just push the red button by your ECUs...but...your ecus may be located back in your engine compartment (not sure), whereas they are inside the cockpit behind the seats in the 348's.
     
  7. jetfixr

    jetfixr Formula 3

    Jun 14, 2007
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    Gone
    FYI, My ECU buttons are black...Probably has something to do with being a 1994....Who knows...
     
  8. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2006
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    I think they went to 1 slow down light with the Motronic 5.2...

    and +1 on the great pics! Hey at least if it's not running perfect it LOOKS perfect :D
     
  9. cf355

    cf355 F1 Rookie

    Feb 28, 2005
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    chris
    To pull the codes on a 1995 turn the ignition on (do not start).
    Goto the ecu's at the back of the engine compartment and push the button and hold- watch your check engine light and record the codes (flashes).
    Once you have read the right ecu, do the same for the left ecu.

    If you do not have a manual list the codes here and I'm sure someone will pipe in with the info.
     
  10. cuneo

    cuneo Formula 3
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    Nov 20, 2006
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    you guys are awesome. I drove the car this morning for about an hour, running it pretty hard as well as going easy on it. No return of the problem, but I know this doesn't mean there is nothing wrong with the car. I will pull the codes tomorrow, and post what I get. Thanks for everyone's help, and thanks for the nice comments on the pictures.
     

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