400iA running like crap!

Is the timing set incorrectly? Might not even be the advance.

 

I removed and installed the cap about 10 times in a couple of week period so I got it down pat. Use a 1/4" drive socket set. I have long sockets for my set but short sockets and a short extension might do okay too. Be sure to get the socket size correct on the easy one at about 8 o'clock from right side of car. After that it is EASY! Less than five minutes in and out. You can feel your way to bolt cap but can get fooled by putting in wrong gap between wires.
Ken

 

Check the fuel pump relays. Better yet, just replace them.

 

Hamfisted fitting, it looks to me.

 

One of the reasons why professional maintenance on these cars can be expensive is because there is always something in the way of whatever you want to service that needs to be removed first. It is pretty crowded in that engine compartment.

 

From the looks of the inside of the distributor cap you may want to inspect all of the advance mechanism, due to what appears to be corrosion (rust).
I didn't price the cap and rotor but it probably is, as all Ferrari parts, quite expensive.
Removing components to get at what needs fixing is just a way to separate the enthusiasts from the owners.

 

It also is just a way to separate the owners and enthusiasts from their money!

 

With the price of the cap, the "400" is most likely the price of each lead!
I think there might be a Jaguar V12 cap that will fit. Maybe less costly?

 

Actually, TRutlands has the complete set for USD$390. shown as 2 sets (1-6 & 7-12) @ $195 ea.
Ferrari Ignition - T. Rutlands

Go for it, I'd like to see a comparable cap!

 

NAPA sells a 6 cylinder universal set for around $25.00. They are 7mm and have the boot attached. The other end is unfinished and you can easily cut them to the desired length. I've used these for several years with good results on my car. They are their top of the line 7mm wires and are dark blue.

 

I worked on a BB512 many years ago that kept getting moisture in the cap. I found the seal on the cam shaft had failed allowing the crankcase ventilation to suck air/moisture through the distributor.

Cheers Al

 

V12 IGNITION SYSTEMS / AJ6 Engineering

read down until you hit the Marelli part.

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Distributor caps? - 365 GTC/4 Assistance - Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Forum


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I have not checked it carefully, but I don't need one at the moment, so I have other things more demanding.

 

When you look at the distributor cap in the attachment, note that the center carbon contact is jammed in the cap. As the rotor has a fixed flat surface for contact, the center carbon should be spring loaded to maintain continuous connection. If it does not, the ignition system is "looking" at much higher resistance and more voltage needed to complete the circuit from the coil to the spark plug ground. This causes the system to look for a "shorter" path to ground with less resistance resulting in miss fires.
Every place in the circuit, the wires, the cap terminals, the cap contacts, the rotor, and the plugs add more "work" for the system as in higher firing voltage and increased current draw. The point is to make sure all contacts in the distributor and rotor have crisp clean sharp surface edges, no pitting, rounding, or corrosion, for maximum performance and longer plug life.

 

I'm amazed that PLUG WIRES are $500 for these cars. I mean really. It's the same wire that every other car uses, just cut and terminated to the proper length.

 

Well not really. They are the correct color and resistance rating with the correct boots and the correct grommets and white silicone sleeving with the correct mounting brackets.

Some of that is very hard to find and important to people and if you make your own and by the time you find it all you wish you had just spent the $500.
And if you place any value at all on your time you are far better off just paying the $500

For everyone else there is Kragens.

 

Really guys? That justifies $500? Come on. There is nothing special about the 7mm proper resistance wire. There is nothing special about the boots. My point is, people are making some SERIOUS profit margin on these simply because they are for a Ferrari V12. The almost identical Jag V12 wire set is $150-250 depending on source and if for the Marelli ignition or earlier.

Anyway....I mean, I get it..these are Ferraris. But some things, my god...are just silly. And spark plug wires are one of those items.

 

So go to Kragens. It's OK with us.

I have made a lot of correct looking wire sets and have boxes full of the stuff left over. I know exactly what it takes.


Don't know about you but I place a value on my time.