Ferrari Driving Procedure

I have noticed, turning the key works with starting nearly all cars not just Ferrari's.

 

That's ONE for Speedcore!

 

ok so second gear won't work on almost any older Ferrari til the oil is warm - also using the choke lever on a carb 308 is more likely to result in not starting so just prime from the thottle and turn over - is that the sort of story you're after ?

 

well played! just drive

 

"Do any of you have your own checklist or driving procedure for your cars? "

1. Make sure I am well-rested, clear-headed and alert.

2. Full check of weather websites to assure favorable driving conditions.

3. Fax "Intent to Drive" form to dealership, follow up with call to service manager to assure availability of emergency recovery crew.

4. Don the driving "whites" - always freshly cleaned with plain soap and water, no chemicals of any kind, 100% natural fibers, no exposed buttons, no belt, etc.

5. Visual inspection of driveway, garage door.

6. Visual inspection of inside garage area around car.

7. Open protective bubble.

8. Open garage door.

9. Insert fresh microfiber sheet over driver seat. Enter car, start it, allow it to warm up until temperature gauge moves.

10. With assistance from spouse, back slowly and carefully out of garage.

11. Pause.

12. With assistance from spouse, pull slowly and carefully into garage. Immediately close garage door.

13. Wrap-up protocol: call dealer to deactivate Intent to Drive; full detail for car; oil change if necessary; restore car to bubble, etc. Enter session notes in logbook.

One time, I opened the garage door while it was raining, but then I am a risk taker - that's why women adore me.

 

Turning the key doesn't work with older Ferraris.

My '72 Dino would just sit there and grind the starter for 30 seconds or more if I tried that method.

So, here's the standard DM starts his Dino method.

1. Say a little prayer to the Ferrari gods.
2. Gently place my butt in the car, lowering into a car that sits this low ain't easy for an old fart like me.
3. Insert original Neiman key into the ignition.
4. DO NOT USE THE CHOKE.
5. Turn key one click, wait about 30 seconds while the fuel pump does its job.
5.5 Depress clutch, stick trans into neutral.
6. Turn key, crank ignition, wait for that happy starting noise.
7. Keep right foot on accelerator pedal (ever so lightly) to keep RPM's up so it won't stall. (Although, having finally found an idle advance for my car, this step will no longer be necessary soon.)
8. Ease car into reverse, back out of garage so the fuel vapors and carbon monoxide don't kill you.
9. Wait a minute for the idle to settle down on its own.
10. Roll off, keeping car under 3000 rpms for a few minutes, and never using 2nd gear until the oil temp gauge starts to nudge up. Stay under 4000 RPM's until oil is up to running temp.

Well, there you have it. Simple, straight forward, no fuss. Just like that brand new BMW you guys all drive, right?

DM

 

OMG. Did you not get the forecast before you hit the button? Sympathies on your close call.

 

All very funny, but in all seriousness (boo!) the thing I pay most attention to is the oil pressure gauge. I'm not talking Ferrari-specific, as I hardly ever drive one, but in general: seeing oil pressure quickly is heart-warming, but then it's good to keep an eye on it while the oil warms up. Not for too low, but too high! VW 16 valve motors have robust pumps that will hit 150 psi at 3k rpm when the oil is cold. Yikes. I suspect that the oil presure sending unit that developed a leak on my car just got blown out by the pressure. FWIW it's a '94 Corrado bought in 2004 with 29,000 miles. And yes it's had problems associated with not getting driven enough....

So keep the revs down until the oil temp comes up. After that, flog it!

 

This is how it should sound...

http://www.sleepy-fish.com/ph_vids/startup.wav

 

LOL and what does your wife think of all this?

 

87 328
The only thing I do differently is turn the key half way and let the full pump prime the system before I ignite the engine. Starts very easy.