i guess this is induction into ferrari ownership....car wont start.... | FerrariChat
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i guess this is induction into ferrari ownership....car wont start....

Discussion in '348/355' started by Parikh1234, Aug 18, 2007.

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  1. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #1 Parikh1234, Aug 18, 2007
    so I take the car out today. Works great all day. Starts fine and everything. We go to dinner (with a bunch of lambo guys, i have the only ferrari there) and i go to turn it on and all it does it crank. throught the alarm was on, etc etc, just cranks and blows white smoke. Eventually after a few mins it finally starts and reeked of gas for 2 or 3 seconds. I drove it back to the shop and it worked fine. Parked it in the shop, sat around for a few tried to start it once and it didnt start. Didnt want to keep trying it so left it at the mechanic and came home.

    There was a lambo tech there that actually got the car to start and said it was flooding. He said my plugs are probably shot now. Any ideas guys? What do you think? The car has been running GREAT for the past week with no problems starting whatsoever. Also I noticed that it was holding revs at 2k for a while on the while home during idle.
     
  2. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    #2 No Doubt, Aug 18, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The first thing to check is the easiest: pull the little black hose off of (two) your Fuel Pressure Regulator (FPR is Item #4 below). Rub your finger on both ends of the hose, especially the lower opening, and then smell your finger for fuel.

    Likewise, look for fuel coming out when you pull off that vaccum hose. There should only be air in it, so the pressence of fuel means that it's busted (which will flood your car).


    That being said, your problem could be that you've grossly overfilled your Ferrari with oil.

    I made that mistake when I first got my 348 home. I was so tired after my roadtrip...then I woke up the next morning and thought "I'll go check out my new car to see how she handled the drive."

    I checked the oil (with a cold motor...I didn't know to check the oil with a hot motor then) and the dipstick showed NO OIL!

    So I panicked...started adding quart after quart of oil...started up the car (barely), and it blew out blue/white smoke for a while! I had to drain part of the sump of some oil, clean the MAFs, clean the air filter...what a mess!

    I just didn't know that you couldn't check the oil level when the motor was cold on a dry sump Ferrari.

    The car's got labels for "UNLEADED FUEL ONLY" but there's no label for "CHECK OIL LEVEL ONLY WITH HOT ENGINE."
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  3. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #3 gothspeed, Aug 18, 2007
    +1.................great info ND :)!!
     
  4. BLUROAD

    BLUROAD F1 Veteran

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    #4 BLUROAD, Aug 18, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #5 Parikh1234, Aug 19, 2007
    this is for a 355 right? Im going there tomorrow to check it out.
     
  6. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    #6 No Doubt, Aug 19, 2007
    Yes, that's a Motronic 5.2 diagram for late model 355's that I posted above.
     
  7. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #7 Parikh1234, Aug 19, 2007
    sweet, sorry if it was a dumb question, havent had much time to look around the engine...until yesterday been too busy driving it:)
     
  8. hadley

    hadley Formula Junior

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    #8 hadley, Aug 19, 2007
    No Doubt, you are indeed the man. Whatta guy!
     
  9. wingfeather

    wingfeather F1 Rookie

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    #9 wingfeather, Aug 20, 2007
    Hope your car troubles clear up, but please try not to post such offensive thread titles. It implies this type of thing is normal about Ferrari ownership.
     
  10. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #10 Parikh1234, Aug 20, 2007
    lol are you serious?I honestly dont think you own a ferrari. If you do own the 348, store it in a museum, its probably the only ferrari that doesnt break.
     
  11. DriveAfterDark

    DriveAfterDark F1 Veteran

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    #11 DriveAfterDark, Aug 20, 2007


    lol

    I'm sure the newest ones are pretty bulletproof. I mean the F430, 599 and 612.

    Just curious Shivam, how many miles does your have?
     
  12. wingfeather

    wingfeather F1 Rookie

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    #12 wingfeather, Aug 20, 2007
    Must be all that burning rubber I've inhaled in my life... because when I go in the garage I see a shiny, happy 348 Spider just waiting to be loved :D

    No major issues. In fact, Ferrari ownership has exceeded my dreams. The car is so much more enjoyable than anything I've owned, raced, or tested in it's price range.

    Mr. 1234, I hope you resolve these issues so you can post photos & stories about how the 355 is the best car ever made (after the 348) :)
     
  13. cscott67

    cscott67 Formula Junior

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    #13 cscott67, Aug 20, 2007
    That was pretty good sir! All cars need some love, and F-cars are NO exception! Hope you get it fixed soon and inexpensively , Scott
     
  14. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #14 Parikh1234, Aug 20, 2007
    lol talk to owners of 430s;) My car has 19,000.00 miles.

    The 355 is the best car in the world ever....period!

    Agreed.
     
  15. Shark01

    Shark01 F1 Veteran

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    #15 Shark01, Aug 20, 2007
    Don't get too holier than thou......especially with this little episode posted on youtube for all to see....the Lambo guys are mercilous
    :D
     
  16. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #16 f355spider, Aug 20, 2007
    Only happened one time, about 14 months ago...summer 2006, I am with a large group of Ferraris, car has been sitting overnight and I attempt to start; car cranks but will not catch fire. Try a few times, and give up. Not sure what to do, so I turn off master switch in front trunk for 30 seconds or so, and turn it back to on. Try to start again, and it immediately fires up. Strangest thing, and it has NEVER recurred.
     
  17. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #17 Parikh1234, Aug 21, 2007
    yeah that was the absolute WORST time for the ferrari not to start:(
     
  18. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    #18 No Doubt, Aug 24, 2007
    So how did it turn out?
     
  19. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #19 Parikh1234, Aug 24, 2007
    i literally just got off the phone with my mechanic. He said he cleaned the spark plugs out and it start now but one time it still didnt start. Hes digging a little deeper now. I am thinking of just getting new spark plugs. Any recommendations?
     
  20. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    #20 No Doubt, Aug 24, 2007
    Have him check the FPR's (with engine cold and off) and oil level (with engine both running and coolant HOT) as detailed in post #2 above.
     
  21. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #21 Parikh1234, Aug 24, 2007
    yeah im gonna bring that to him today, but i wanted him to look at it without any bias first. I printed it out and will stop by the shop on my way home. Thanks alot.
     
  22. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #22 Parikh1234, Sep 9, 2007
    hey do you have the part number for that hose? Im guessing if there is fuel then it needs to be replaced right? Thanks.
     
  23. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    #23 No Doubt, Sep 9, 2007

    It's just a standard vacuum hose carried by every parts store on the planet, and it doesn't even need to be replaced.

    What will need to be replaced is the Fuel Pressure Regulator (FPR) if you find fuel (or fuel smell) in that line.


    The fuel in the line doesn't cause the problem...it would be there only if the FPR failed.
     
  24. Parikh1234

    Parikh1234 F1 Rookie
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    #24 Parikh1234, Sep 9, 2007
    ahh i see. Every time I fill up and release the gas cap i hear alot of pressure being released. I am guessing this is normal. Do you have the part number for the FPR or how much it costs. I am almost certain thats what it is, I will try and get the car started and warmed up today to check the oil. Thanks for all your help ND, it is much appreciated.
     
  25. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    #25 No Doubt, Sep 9, 2007
    Normal.


    No need to guess. The little black vacuum hose that goes to each of your FPRs is trivial to disconnect with one hand. It just pulls off.

    Rub the exposed ends of each hose with your finger, then smell your finger for an overwhelming scent of fuel.

    If your finger smells like fuel, then replace that FPR. If not, then that isn't your problem.

    In general, there are two major causes of "no start" (when engine is hot) conditions for 348's (and I'd suspect for 355's as well): bad FPRs on the one hand and bad/no grease in the flywheel on the other hand.
     
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