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Need advice…car won’t start after parking

Discussion in '308/328' started by Mattnshilp, Aug 2, 2021.

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  1. Mattnshilp

    Mattnshilp Karting

    Nov 19, 2010
    91
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Matt
    #1 Mattnshilp, Aug 2, 2021
    Hi all! I need some help. My ‘84 fuel injected 308 GTS starts right up from a cold start and runs smooth and easy. She’s a joy to drive.

    BUT….. (it’s happened twice now). If I take her out and park and turn her off, when I get back in 10-20 minutes later she won’t start. The starter runs. But it doesn’t sound like it’s getting fuel. The engine sort of starts to rev once or twice, but then nothing and the starter just wines. I have tried not giving it any accelerator, gasing it a bit, and stomping on the happy pedal. Second time it eventually started, but it took a LONG time and I kept trying with 2-4 minute pauses.

    When it started, it ran perfect. And when I got home I turned it off. And turned it right back on and it started right up.

    The starter runs. So I don’t think it’s a battery thing. Fuel pump? Battery? Starter?? Help!!!!




    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
     
  2. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,826
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
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    Steve Magnusson
    #2 Steve Magnusson, Aug 2, 2021
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2021
    Most likely the fuel system is not holding pressure after shut-off if warm restarts (after waiting a few minutes) are bad but cold starts are OK. Measure the system fuel pressure at warm shut-off -- it should be about 2.5~3 bar for at least 20 minutes after engine shut-off IIRC. Three possible causes if it just drops to nothing quickly:

    1. Bad check valve on fuel pump outlet,

    2. Bad Accumulator -- if a US version, remove the vent/return line from the nipple on the rear of the Accumulator. If liquid fuel comes out = replace Accumulator. If a euro version, you'd have already noticed liquid fuel leaking as euro don't have the return line ;), or

    3. Bad o-ring seal in the pressure regulator section of the fuel distributor.
     
    Albert-LP, spirot, mwr4440 and 3 others like this.
  3. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,962
    Isle of man- uk
    #3 mike32, Aug 2, 2021
    Lend him that cranking handle you have stashed under the bed.
     
    Mattnshilp likes this.
  4. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2007
    57,976
    Bavaria, The 'Other' Germany
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    Mark W.R.
    #4 mwr4440, Aug 3, 2021
    So THAT IS WHAT that crank in the Tool Roll is for. :confused:

    Been wondering for YEARS. ;)
     
    Albert-LP likes this.
  5. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,962
    Isle of man- uk
    #5 mike32, Aug 3, 2021
    Yes but now you have waited so long to use it, you are too old to bend down enough to swing it.
     
    Albert-LP likes this.
  6. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Jun 8, 2007
    57,976
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    Mark W.R.
    #6 mwr4440, Aug 3, 2021
    Ya.

    I can't really turn the crank on my 1915 Model T Coupe any more either.

    :(
     
  7. chris_columbia

    chris_columbia Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 5, 2008
    867
    Columbia MD
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    Chris
    #7 chris_columbia, Aug 3, 2021
    Steve did a great job giving you the top culprits and how to diagnose. I had the bad check valve on fuel pump about 10 years ago. Same symptoms. The consensus was that a bad accumulator is much more rare than the check valve failing. Biggest hassle was getting fuel low enough to not be overwhelming to drain, but still be able to get home. For me, it almost died of fuel starvation going up my slight driveway hill, but it still had 2 gallons when draining.
     
  8. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    15,125
    Atlanta
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    Tom Spiro
    #8 spirot, Aug 11, 2021
    its definatly a loss of pressure - and then if its warm out - kind of a vapor lock ... mine would do that ... if I drove it and shut it off, and came back in 10 - 15 min ( like at a store doing an errand ) it would not want to start right away, left longer like 45 Min - hour - no problem. ... check valve, and also check your frequency protection relay & its fuse... also check the fuel pump connection behind the fuse block, and also in the bottom of the passengers floor board. sometimes the connectors get hot, and crack, they are connected when running - but when you shut if off and started to cool they don't make contact..... its very distressing ... and a PITA to track down.
     
  9. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Jun 8, 2007
    57,976
    Bavaria, The 'Other' Germany
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    Mark W.R.
    #9 mwr4440, Aug 14, 2021
    When I had the problem, it was a bad Accumulator.

    Changed it out, and PRESTO.
     

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