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Need 348 help

Discussion in '348/355' started by Jaybird, Jun 20, 2013.

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  1. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    I was driving my car last night and after about 1/2 hour it flashed the check engine 1-4 light and lost power on 4 cylinders. It briefly flickered slow down 5-8 as well. I pulled over and shut it off and killed the battery with the cut off switch and waited but it didnt restore power. I made it home in limp mode. I checked the connections on the cat ecu's and thermocouples.They all look like new. I tried unhooking the ecu's but it didnt restore power. I unhooked the battery completely and cleaned the cable connections. I checked the MAF settings and they were both 380 ohms. I had a run in with the cel 1-4 last summer and reset the MAF's and had been ok until last night. Heres where it gets weirder yet: I have 13 volts at my battery terminals but it wont even click at the starter now. The dash lights up(only the 1-4 cel now though??),the interior light,radio etc all work. The headlights are very bright. I dont think that the battery is the problem. I wanted to pull the codes but from what I've read the car has to be running,correct? It appears to have the push buttons on the ecu's and is ready to go that way. So... I have a limp mode problem and dead ignition. Would crank sensors cause this? A bad relay or fuse? I would greatly appreciate any guidance.Thanks for your time.
     
  2. lbell101

    lbell101 Karting

    Mar 24, 2013
    230
    Temecula, CA
    Full Name:
    Larry
    You can check the codes with the engine off. It will just always throw an extra code. I can't remember which one but it's in the archives.

    Larry
     
  3. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Tim Keseluk
    I'd start by checking various ground connections and both battery cables, especially quick disconnects.
     
  4. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2004
    7,792
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Bruce Bogart
    What Tim said. Do you have voltage at the starter? That's probably a separate issue to the 1-4, but a bad ground might be that issue as well. Make the starter work.
     
  5. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    Ok, when I get home tonight I,ll start checking and cleaning grounds. Had a '71 Fiat Spider that benefited greatly by adding a new additional ground strap from motor to frame. Might do that too. Thanks guys-I will post back with results.
     
  6. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    Ok guys-I'm getting kinda scared now.First I unhooked the battery,then I cleaned every ground I could find in the engine compartment. I replaced the ground strap from the battery to the cut off switch and unhooked and cleaned the cut off connections too.It appears that my car has had a Bosch relay installed going to the starter. Got in and it cranked fine again and started up. It only displays the 1-4 CEL when you turn on the key initially. It is running only on the right side bank when viewed from the rear of the car(1-4 I believe). I let it run until the fans came on. I took off the driver's side ecu panel and held down the button for 5-10 seconds and get nothing. Do those cylinders have to be firing to retrieve codes?I have no tach now as well.Is the tach running off of a feed from 5-8 cylinders? Did i lose my 5-8 Motronic somehow? Anybody have any ideas? Thanks. Jay.
     
  7. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2004
    7,792
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Bruce Bogart
    Time to start swapping parts side-to-side. Coil, igniter, crank sensors. When the 5-8 side goes dead instead, you've found the problem. Don't worry. It's something simple and relatively cheap.
     
  8. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    I forgot to mention that since its been dead on 5-8 cylinders, the 5-8 check engine light doesnt light up at all when you first turn the key on and its doing an idiot light check. Does this mean that the ecu isnt getting power? I checked the #14 fuse for that side and it was ok. Thanks for the advice Plugzit. I suppose I need to determine whether its no spark or no fuel.When an exhaust ecu finds a fault & kills one bank does it normally do it by stopping fuel?
     
  9. Saint Bastage

    Saint Bastage F1 Rookie

    Jun 1, 2007
    2,548
    Connecticut
    Full Name:
    Lane
    Starting to sound like a bad ECU. Try swapping them side to side.
     
  10. Nosevi

    Nosevi Formula 3

    Jul 8, 2011
    1,990
    Lincoln
    Full Name:
    Pete
    Could it just be damp in the ECU, condensation?
     
  11. Mera

    Mera Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2005
    768
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Rodney Dickman
    I fixed mine by gutting the converters. But: Mine did that and I used to just keep driving along and eventually it went back to being a V-8. Most of the time this happened driving on the freeway. I had enough power to stay at speed until the other bank came back on. Once the other bank came back on it seemed to always stay on the rest of that day. Disconnect the cat ECU's.

    Rodney
    1990 348 TS. Drove it twice this year. One more time than all of last year. : (
     
  12. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,620
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    Have you checked the connection on the 5/8 side Motronic ecu? Make sure that the connector block is fully seated. The metal lever should be fully pressed down against the Motronic ecu. Then check the plastic square connector next to the Motronic to make sure it's connected properly, and in good condition. This thread has some pics that should be of help to you. ->http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/technical-q/351819-348-ecu-removal-chip-removal.html
     
  13. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    Ok, thanks guys. I did undo and reconnect the ecu plug in but I will take it all the way out and get a better look at it.Has anybody ever had no tach and no cel on 5-8? I have a set of KIA crank sensors coming on Tuesday. They look kinda crappy whether they are bad or not.Is there a relay for the ECU's?
     
  14. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    I unhooked the ECU for 5-8 and inspected the connectors and its very clean and dry. I poured myself a whiskey(its really hot here tonight),crossed my fingers and swapped the ECU's left to right. When I fired it up I still have no 5-8 light during the light check and it still only runs on 1-4 with no tach. I guess its kind of a moral victory that neither of my ECU's is bad right? I put my inductive timing light to the battery and one of the plug wires on 5-8 and apparently have no spark. I have swapped injection relays from the passenger footwell left to right as well with no results. I am leaning towards swapping coils and igniters from previous advice. Am i missing anything obvious?
     
  15. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,620
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    Sounds like you have a wiring issue. Have a look at the wiring loom where it passes through the firewall to make sure it hasn't gotten cut. Then check to make sure the connection at the battery, for power to the ecu's, is good. It will be attached to the positive terminal. And then double and triple check your grounds. Check the grounds running from the battery to the frame, and from the wiring loom to the valve covers or to the top of the coolant pipe under the plenum. Check the connection of the twist connector on the left shock tower (looking in from the back). If you have your battery in the left rear check the connection of the bullet connector. If you still have the bullet connectors, GET RID of them! Replace them with solid cables. Do this for both the positive and negative bullet connectors.

    Next check the fuses/relays in the passenger foot well, and the connection to the fuse box.
     
  16. Saint Bastage

    Saint Bastage F1 Rookie

    Jun 1, 2007
    2,548
    Connecticut
    Full Name:
    Lane
    Thankfully not an ECU. Agree with Ernie and would add checking the coil pack for the 5-8 side. I believe that signal also drives the tach. Again, swap side to side to test.
     
  17. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    I have checked over my grounds again. Swapped the igniter and coil packs back and forth & have found nothing on the harness. I have a set of Kia crank sensors coming tomorrow. Mine really look like ****. I am hoping that its my problem. When I sold one of my 911's to buy a Ferrari I was originally looking at 308's,but then I got to looking at how the 348 had Bosch parts that could be swapped back and forth for troubleshooting and how Ferrarichat had a cool bunch of guys that helped each other work on them. Just wanted to say thanks. Does anyone know what air gap the crank sensors need and if the Kia ones need shimmed?
     
  18. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Tim Keseluk
    I recommend against throwing random parts at it until you narrow down the problems. You don't need to add new variables.
     
  19. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    I have good grounds, new battery cables & fuses. I have 12 volts at the 5-8 ecu fuse spot.I have swapped relays,Motronic ecu's,ignitors,coil packs. Swapped & unplugged the cat ecu's.I have no 5-8 cylinder bank and no tach . I have literally crumbling crank sensor plug ins -so whether thats what is wrong or not they need to go. I am surprised I have gone as much as I have with the shape they are in. I thought I have seen an air gap of .6 mm somewhere on this site but I cant find it again.Does anybody have anything else to check or know the air gap for the crank sensors? Thanks.
     
  20. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,620
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    The crank sensor spacing is listed in the shop manual. I don't have my manual with me to look at, so maybe one of the brothers can look it up?
     
  21. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    Still searching through grounds and connections. What citeria must be met other than having the switch to on to get the 1-4 and 5-8 cels to come on at start up?
     
  22. kingsdare

    kingsdare Karting

    Oct 24, 2006
    132
    California
    Full Name:
    David King
    Maybe I missed it, but did you check to see if the 5-8 cel bulb is there and not burned out?
     
  23. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,620
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    Have you tried checking the relays/fuses in the passenger foot well fuse box?
     
  24. Jaybird

    Jaybird Karting

    Jul 7, 2011
    131
    Southeast Iowa
    Full Name:
    Jay
    I have inspected the female contacts and swapped any relay that had to do with the engine(fuel injection and pumps)I pulled out and checked fuses for the pumps and 5-8 ecu. I appear to have 12 volts at the ECU with a meter and good fuse. I am not an expert by any means and will go back to the relay and fuse area if you think I should check something. What fuses and relays exactly do you think would cause my problem. I will look again when I get home. Also- I am not 100% sure where the "bullet connector" ground under the plenum is and I see no twist connector on my left shock tower. Thanks Ernie. I'm hanging on your every word. :)
     
  25. Saint Bastage

    Saint Bastage F1 Rookie

    Jun 1, 2007
    2,548
    Connecticut
    Full Name:
    Lane
    did you swap the coils side to side or have we determined no signal from the ecu's?
     

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