Help from my Fcar brethren!!!

There are two different 1-4 lights, a "slow down" and a "check engine." To get better help, please specify.

Backfires in a 348 are typically due to a lean A/F.

The Fuel light should only come on when you are on your reserve fuel (last 5 gallons or so).

Sputtering and dying and backfires combined might mean a bad fuel pump, clogged fuel filters, bad MAF or MAF connection, A/F set way too lean, clogged fuel injectors, or dying fuel pressure regulators (which could also be due to a vacuum problem).

But, first things first: disconnect your battery (there's a rotary switch to do this) when your engine is *cold* (for 5 minutes) and then reconnect it, start your car, and without touching the throttle (very important), let it idle until the temp gauge rises up to the first quarter mark.

That will let your A/F ECU's relearn your car...a step that is free, harmless, and often solves these sorts of problems.

Also, insure that your tailpipes and air intake aren't obstructed.

 

you did the right thing taking it to di fatta bros. paul is a wizard. he'll have you up and running and you won't have to sell any of your children to pay him. good luck.

 

First thing to try is to "re-initialize" the electronics according to the instructions given in ND's post. If your 348 has the battery in the back, it won't have the rotary disconnect switch (that's for batteries in the front). If the battery has been disconnected or replaced recently, or run flat and then jump started, and the relearning process hasn't been done, that could be your problem. Very simple.

Your car is probably fine, just a minor problem, as long as there were no "death rattles" coming from it, or it was blowing excessive smoke from the exhaust.

We'll be waiting to hear updates. Hope you are enjoying your car soon!

 

Have you read this link yet? http://webpages.charter.net/aircover/348/1994Ferrari348Spider.html

 

yes. just had the belts done on my 85 308qv. saved $400 over FoA.

 

Do a search for pulling the ECU codes if the problem continues after resetting the ECU by disconnecting the battery. There is a post with every code that can be pulled and what it means. But if you are uncomfortableoidng this yourself I am sure your mechanic will.
BT

 

What it sound like is that you ran out, or are running out of gas. When the fuel injectors fail to get gas it casues all sorts of problems. It will cause the check engine (not slow down) lights to come on. So if you pull code they should be for the injectors.

Try this first:

Take your gas can and go get 5 gallons of gas. Put that in the tank.

Start the engine then shut it off. This is to make sure you have fuel in the lines.

Now disconnect the battery for about 30 seconds and reconnect it. This is the "hard" reboot of the ecu's and it also clears out any codes.

Start the car again and let it idle by itself, do not touch anything, so that the car relearns the warm up process.

After the radiator fans come on at least once you should be good to go.

Now go drive the car and see if the lights come on again.

 

You don't need a diagnostic machine to check your engine codes. Ernie wrote up a great procedure to have your codes displayed by your dash lights: http://webpages.charter.net/aircover/348/1994Ferrari348Spider.html#ECUcodes

 

The 348 is remarkably easy to work on. Everything...everything bolts on/off, plugs/unplugs, etc. The more that you get into the car, the easier everything becomes.

It's a bit intimidating at first, what with a chrome prancing horse riding on the car and all, but after you get past that first bit of inertia/hesitation it gets pretty easy.

 

also, its important when you disconect the battery that you hit the brakes to get trid of the residual energy in the system. Try, putting in some new gas and some chevron techron.......may help. My car ran like crap too the day I drove it off the truck but a new tank of gas and a ecu reset helped it. Check all of your plug wires and vaccum hoses just in case too. Never know what cam loose. also, check your o2 sensor in your cat.... never know. Probablty not any help but just talking from experience... Dont get disconcerted, its prolly something simple.
good luck!
regards
Nate

 

How steep an angle on the transporter? I understand that after tipping a used 348 Bosch fuel filter on it's side you are supposed to throw it away.

 

You are not alone. I'm fighting the same problem with my 91 right now. I keep getting the check 1-4 and losing a bank of cylinders. I 've ruled out ECU's now I've swapped Mass Air Flow Sensors, if I can't make the code move to the other side now I'll move on to fuel injectors

 

NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! Put the wrench in your hand and turn it. Like ND said the 348 isn't that hard to work on. Especially since the US 348's have the OBD that flashes the codes.

With your situation it's better to start with the most common and simple things. Since you have reset the ecu's, drive the car until you get the light to come on. If it doesn't come on then keep driving it. If it does, then pull the codes using the instructions in the link ND posted.

Let us know how it goes.

Helping one another is what the brotherhood is all about.