Turning over engine without firing up | FerrariChat
Buy

Turning over engine without firing up

Discussion in '348/355' started by Nader, Nov 14, 2016.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Nader

    Nader Formula Junior

    Feb 12, 2011
    990
    East of Seattle
    #1 Nader, Nov 14, 2016
    Car is a '91 348. I want to remove the cam belt cover to look at the date on the belt, with the engine in place, since I have no service history on the car except for some vague reference to a "service" possibly done in '12. I know it'll need a real service soon, I just want to know if it's safe to drive it a few more miles here and there before then.

    So what's the safe way to turn the engine over gradually to have a look at the date code on the belt? I won't be able to get under the car to do this. I'm assuming a fuel pump relay should be pulled at the least.
     
  2. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,641
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    #2 yelcab, Nov 14, 2016
    Remote starter switch.
     
  3. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    #3 Dave rocks, Nov 14, 2016
    Yes. would also not hurt to pull the relay for the coils

    Yes, they work great.
     
  4. Nader

    Nader Formula Junior

    Feb 12, 2011
    990
    East of Seattle
    #4 Nader, Nov 14, 2016
    Thanks for the responses. I don't suppose you all could make it super easy for me and tell me where the relays are located in a '91 348?
     
  5. Nader

    Nader Formula Junior

    Feb 12, 2011
    990
    East of Seattle
    #5 Nader, Nov 14, 2016
    Or if I use a remote starter, can I just disconnect the battery to keep all engine electrics out of service, and go right off the battery terminal to the starter motor?
     
  6. baschul

    baschul Karting
    Owner

    May 27, 2015
    177
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Brian S
    #6 baschul, Nov 14, 2016
    You can remove the fuel pump fuse from the fuse panel in the passenger foot well and use a remote starter or a buddy to crank it over.
     
  7. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
    Full Name:
    Jeff B.
    #7 Miltonian, Nov 14, 2016
    If you hook up a remote starter button to the two terminals on the solenoid (right on the starter itself) you won't energize the ignition or injection circuits, so there is no need to disconnect either of them. Just don't turn the key on while operating the remote button.

    You can't see the teeth on the belt through the upper covers, only the outer surface.
     
  8. Nader

    Nader Formula Junior

    Feb 12, 2011
    990
    East of Seattle
    #8 Nader, Nov 14, 2016
    Thanks, Jeff. I just want to see the date code on the belt.
     
  9. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    14,465
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    #9 Qavion, Nov 14, 2016
    How many fuel pumps do you have? In one set of 348 wiring diagrams, I see Fuse 8 powers one fuel pump and fuse 19 powers another fuel pump (passenger footwell). Doesn't your driver's handbook tell you what fuses are what?
     
  10. Davsk1

    Davsk1 Karting

    May 10, 2016
    155
    Lincolnshire UK
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #10 Davsk1, Nov 15, 2016
    I checked the same thing when I got mine earlier in the year, but I was lucky the belt was in the perfect place when I removed the cover!

    Found an early 2012 date code and everything else on the car pointed to a 2012 service with very little use since then. Eg the tyres are 2012 code and still had pips on the tread etc. The mileage record on the import cert backed this up as well.

    I've been using the car for the remainder of this year without issue and will be doing an engine out over winter just to check things over, clean everything and replace that belt along with a couple other minor jobs and whatever else needs doing.

    An experienced mechanic buddy of mine tells me he's never seen a belt fail purely due to age, always down to excess mileage or as a consequence of some other pulley or tensioner damage.
     
  11. Nader

    Nader Formula Junior

    Feb 12, 2011
    990
    East of Seattle
    #11 Nader, Nov 15, 2016
    Remote starter button worked like a charm. Best $15 bucks I've spent in a long while. One clip on the main power supply bolt, other clip on the solenoid spade connector (you have to remove the narrower gauge white wire that attaches to it). Miltonian is right, no need to get into fuse panels and such since the starter circuit is isolated.

    Luckily, I only had to advance the engine a quarter turn to get the belt labels into view. Belt/cams only turn a fraction of the speed of the crankshaft, so it's very doable in small increments. Especially when you're staring right at it with the control in hand. Would have been a real hassle doing it from the cockpit using the ignition key.
     
  12. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    #12 Dave rocks, Nov 15, 2016
    That is correct - I always seem to have a brain freeze regarding this :)

    Glad the remote started worked out - and you are correct, best $15.00 one can spend :)
     
  13. Nader

    Nader Formula Junior

    Feb 12, 2011
    990
    East of Seattle
    #13 Nader, Nov 15, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This might help others in the future. Here's a picture from the top of the engine bay of the starter's main power supply bolting in. I'm likely missing the protective plastic guard over that hot lead. Then there's the solenoid spade terminal just above, with its corresponding white wire at the top of the pic. Alligator clips for the remote starter clips to the big nut and the spade terminal. Pull the trigger and the starter is energized.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  14. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
    Full Name:
    Jeff B.
    #14 Miltonian, Nov 15, 2016
    Regarding your last picture, does your engine have the black thermoplastic timing belt cover pieces, or are those metal pieces that have been painted black? It also appears that the ribbed intake manifold has been painted black instead of silver? Might be an indication of something done in the past.

    I've forgotten the details, but I believe Ferrari switched from metal covers to plastic covers after numerous failures where the cover attachment bolts froze in place and broke the cover during attempted removal of the bolts.
     
  15. Nader

    Nader Formula Junior

    Feb 12, 2011
    990
    East of Seattle
    #15 Nader, Nov 15, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  16. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    #16 ///Mike, Nov 15, 2016
    In that case DEFINITELY use ceramic anti-seize when reinstalling the fasteners!
     

Share This Page