Missing at low idle on a couple of cylinders | FerrariChat

Missing at low idle on a couple of cylinders

Discussion in '308/328' started by Danielle, May 1, 2025 at 4:09 PM.

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  1. Danielle

    Danielle Rookie

    Aug 2, 2023
    4
    Full Name:
    Danielle L
    Greetings all. I have a problem with my 308 QV (1983) that I have been working with a mechanic on and wanted to theorize a bit. I have owned the car for a couple of years, and have been driving it (when I can).

    Symptoms:

    Issue 1) Missing at low idle (which has been set up around 1500RPM, and this is too high) (once I'm above 3k during normal driving it seems to clean up), and during warm up cycle.

    Issue 2) It stranded me a few months ago after a long run and would not start. The previous mechanic I took it to believed the cylinders had been flooded. They found low cylinder pressure but were able to get pressure back. They were unable to diagnose a cause, but I did need a new battery (replaced).

    The fuel distribution system has been replaced and it is correct for a 1983 QV (the non-lambda one). It has been replaced twice in the last 4 years actually (once as documented by the prior owner, and once by me when I was trying to get it through emissions). This leads me to believe that is is less likely (though not impossible) for the distribution system to be at fault. This is an issue the car feels like it has had since I have owned it, so I believe the symptoms might be lending themselves to make it look like a fuel distribution issue.

    Current state:
    When I start the car up, it goes through the warm up cycle, which sits at about 2.5k-3kRPM (again, slightly high). At that RPM during warm up if I put my hand near the exhaust on the right side I feel an uneven pulse of exhaust, which my understanding is a likely indicator for missing. On the left side it feels more even, and I can tell on cold mornings by the amount of condensation burning off that the left side is pushing more air out. Additionally, judging by the sound there is an occasional but not quite regular miss happening. When I stop at a light or stop sign, and I go to idle, I can hear missing start up, though it tends not to be enough to stall me, and I feel some sputtering below 2kRPM as I begin to accelerate again.

    This leads me to believe the missing is electrical/ignition. The plugs and cables were replaced less than 18 months ago, along with both distributors and caps. The coils were not replaced as far as I'm aware.

    So, my question (thank you for reading), is: Is it possible for the coils to be the root cause for the missing? Any other suggestions for "easy" things to look at? I bought a new fuel and air filter, but because it's a specific bank of cylinders (the back ones of course) I would not think something that covers both would be the root cause.

    Thanks!
     
  2. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
    5,306
    Montana
    Full Name:
    Kim
    #2 308 milano, May 2, 2025 at 2:05 PM
    Last edited: May 2, 2025 at 2:13 PM
    Are you running OEM caps and wires?
    First thing I would do is pull it out of the garage at night, start it up and see if you have any arcing going on between the plug, extenders wires, etc., it will be more than obvious at night. If that checks out, I would Pull each plug wire and install one of those testers and check that you have continuous spark at each plug. If you lose a coil, you will lose the whole bank, either left or right. Sounds to me like it’s dropping a couple cylinders and then eventually flooding out and quitting. Start with the easy stuff first.

    Also, it’s normal to have disproportionate pressure through Each exhaust tip due to the way, the muffler is designed .
     
  3. moysiuan

    moysiuan F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 1, 2005
    4,082
    Canada
    Take out the the easy to reach spark plugs and see of some are fuel fouled (black) more than the others. This would help determine if it is a spark problem on one bank, or on specific cylinders.

    The spark plug extenders could be arcing on specific cylinders. You can see a black burn mark on the extender if this is happening. Or, the plug wires may not have been seated fully in the caps, they are retained by screw pins that pierce the wires. That is a couple of things that can cause individual cylinder issues.

    That warm up rpm is too high. Maybe the fuel mixture has not been set up correctly, and you are running to rich or lean?
     
  4. 350HPMondial

    350HPMondial F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 1, 2002
    5,292
    18 mi from the surf,, close to Pismo, CA
    Full Name:
    Edwardo
    I’ll bet you have one bank out. ( these things run good on one bank,, )
    But,, you Know when it’s all 8
     

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