Various 328 Questions......

My gas filler in the Mondial (similar vintage) is picky as well. I find that leaving the nozzle about an inch off the bottom helps.

As for the alignment, you might want to make sure NTB is the right place. My friend owns a tire/alignment shop and they have the latest/greatest Hunter alignment machine and the Mondial won't clear the ramps to get on it. Also, high volume alignment shops aren't likely to take the time to properly adjust your 328 since it is corrected by inserting different shims, rather than turning bolts and eccentrics like most cars.

I ended up taking mine to a shop that sets up Porsches for racing. It took their mechanic about 4 hrs to do it right (or about $200).

Something to consider...

 

Re: the gas thing, I was just going to make a post on this!

YES, it happened with my 308, and also with my 328. There is absolutely no way I've been able to just sit and let it gas up automatically.

What I end up doing is, flowing the gas at about 1/3 to 1/2 rate, and then the trick is to hold the nozzle up so that it isn't really resting on anything... the net effect is the nozzle is in the gas filler basically at a parallel angle to the filler--i.e. it's in straight. (It's a good thing this isn't in off topic, the pervs there would have a field day with this post! )

That seems to do the trick. But it would be a lot cooler if I could clean my windows at the same time, but for now it's a two handed affair.

--Mike

 

Remember that the 328 doesn't have a fuel tank -- it has two; connected by a hose across the car. It also has a complicated vapor recovery system, but most of the venting is on the starboard tank (US model), while you fill at the port side tank.

If I leave the fuel fill on the first or second notch (slow fill) it will fill -- and sometimes overflow. Rather than wash fuel spillage off the paintwork, it's easier to just do it the old fashioned way. (Heck, I used to work in a gas station -- back when gas was 35 cents a gallon. )

Ferraris have a lot more adjustments than most cars, these days. I'd recommend going to a shop familiar with the F-cars, rather than a front-toe-only alignment.

A good 4-wheel alignment can make a lot of difference to the handling on a 328.

 

It happens to me as well. I think the fact that the nozzle is more horizontal than on most cars is a contributing factor as well.

 

I know exactly what you are talking about as my best friend's 328 GTB does the same thing on virtually EVERY fuel fill-up. Drives me NUTS!

Interestingly, my 328 is a Euro version and does NOT do this when I fill up on gas. I can fill it like any other car out there - fast, easy, and no premature shut-off of the flow.

Anyone know if this is a Euro vs. USA version thing?

 

It happens to me also. Once I found pump #2 at the local Chevron station - it worked beautifully - but I still have to press it in to make sure there is a tight seal. However, if I'm not in the general area, I just have to deal with it and be patient at the pump. It doesn't help when other people are looking at you, and might be thinking what a moron - he doesn't even know how to use a gas pump - he shouldn't deserve to drive the car But after a while, you just take in stride.

 

Happened to me all the time with my 87 328 GTS all except one time when I was in VT and the fuel hose was very straight (versus angled like most other ones). That time gas flowed out full with no problem at all.

Concerning tires, I had some balancing problems after I got put on mew tires. I went to NTB (instead of my mechanic who was 1.5 hours away). They balanced the tires but when I took the car over 100 MPH it vibrated real bad. I took the car back and they told me their machines couldn't calibrate over 100. They gave me back my money.

I subsequently had them rebalanced by Ferrari of New England.

Theo

 

Same problems with the fill-ups! I'm glad I'm not alone...ALthough I'm not able to set it and walk away, it won't prematurely shut off as long as the nozzle is not resting fully on the filler and I rotate the handle of the pump out to 5 o'clock rather than just leaving it at the 6 o'clock position..lots of experimentation to get to this but it seems to work pretty well.

As for the alignment...I've had mine done 3 times..twice on my first set of tires at a local shop..never right..then on my last set at BSC..they did a great job, never handled better. Bottom line, use a shop with some experience in high-end sports cars...

 

My Lotus has two tanks as well; top gas caps. Some gas stations it's no problem, some I can barely fill due to the shutting off. I stick to the ones that work!

Ken

 

Would agree with Ken....I occaisionally had issues with my 308 and 328, but it seemed dependant on certain gas stations or pumps. Most of the time, it filled just fine.

 

Never have had this problem on my '89 328. (Had it on my '87 VW, though. Had to replace the filler tube with the flapper / filler orifice for ~$300.)