Mondial backfiring / power loss | FerrariChat
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Mondial backfiring / power loss

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by wrs46, Sep 22, 2008.

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  1. wrs46

    wrs46 Formula 3

    May 19, 2005
    1,395
    QC, CANADA (&CH, &F)
    Full Name:
    Walter
    #1 wrs46, Sep 22, 2008
    I've had some problems with occasional (very rare) backfiring for some time now, but last weekend it suddenly got much much worse: My Mondi 8 has become extremely sluggish - no power when accelerating. Occasionally, it surges for a few seconds, then back to being very sluggish and like a lame duck. Whenever I go off the throttle, there is a series of backfire. I startled several people and dogs while driving like this on a residential street in my neighbourhood.

    Can any of you experts out there tell me what most likely causes this problem? - I know that the distribition wiring harness should be changed (one plug holder isn't even original...a patch job by the previous owner...

    Any other resons for this intermittent loss of power / backfiring that you can think of?

    Thanks,
    Walter
     
  2. PT 328

    PT 328 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 1, 2005
    4,015
    #2 PT 328, Sep 22, 2008
    Same issue on my 328 a few months back. Turned out to be a burnt plug extender. Luckily it was on the front bank and I found it on the 2nd one I pulled. I have read other posts regarding this issue you may want to search and review but pulling the plug extenders and inspecting wires is a fairly easy first step. Here is a thread with pictures of a burnt plug extender.

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154298&highlight=burnt+plug+extender
     
  3. wrs46

    wrs46 Formula 3

    May 19, 2005
    1,395
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    Walter
    #3 wrs46, Sep 22, 2008
    Thanks Dan...I will check the extenders this evening...but knowing that one of them has already been "patched in", I strongly suspect that this is the problem. I bought an NOS Mondial 8 harness from a guy in Torino a couple of years ago, and now it's evidently time to use it...

    Walter
     
  4. KENCO

    KENCO Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2006
    2,396
    FL
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    KJG
    #4 KENCO, Sep 22, 2008
    I would take a look at all the wires, cap, rotor and plugs. That would be a good place to start.
     
  5. ainternetguy

    ainternetguy Rookie

    Oct 16, 2005
    21
    #5 ainternetguy, Sep 30, 2008
    Something to look at is the ignitor module above the coils. I had this issue with my '88 Mondial and thought it was a crankcase position sensor. 2 hours later and one crankcase position sensor replacement.. nothing. I called the guys at T Rutlands and he suggested the ignitor module.... I think it was around $150 and about 5 mins to replace... WHAM... full power and no backfire.

    My 2 cents.

    Mike

    '88 Mondial Hardtop
    '86 Mondial Cabrio
     
  6. wrs46

    wrs46 Formula 3

    May 19, 2005
    1,395
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    Walter
    #6 wrs46, Oct 1, 2008
    Thanks for all the good advice.

    I solved the problem, and it was about as mundane as can be...don't laugh at me:

    The problem occurred after I washed the car. After inspecting the plug extenders, I found that the rubber seals on two of them were missing, and that the plug wells were FILLED with water!

    Half a roll of "Bounty" later (to soak up the water), the car purred like new and everything was back to normal...
     
  7. PT 328

    PT 328 F1 Rookie
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    May 1, 2005
    4,015
    #7 PT 328, Oct 1, 2008
    Good to hear it was a quick, easy, and more importantly CHEAP fix. It doesn't always work out that way.
     

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