Need help w/ unhappy Daytona

Jimmy Chen Shiba · Post by **Jimmy Chen Shiba** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:05 am

Maybe some of the expert tinkerers can help me. May Euro model Daytona has been running very fine for about 2000km since pruchase last summer. However, without any warning, she is unhappy. One morning when I tried my routine startup, she cranked sluggishly and after multiple tries, I gave up. My mechanic friend was here for couple of hours checking possibilities but no answer yet. We checked battery, fuses, distributor, starter, plugs, etc. Seems like the right bank is not receiving adequate electricity. We are puzzled because everything was very fine until this event. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. Meanwhile, the car is sitting pretty. Thanx in advance. Jimmy

Yale · Post by **Yale** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:38 am

Hey Jimmy,

Notice the Abarth in your ownership footing and I wonder how long have you had it and how do you use it? Drive to get milk? Race around the neighborhood? Cross border excursions? Sculptural use in your living room? Alternate with the AMG on your morning commute? (I am sure someone with actual mechanical knowledge will have some Daytona ideas in no time.)

Best,
Yale

Michael Bayer · Post by **Michael Bayer** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:52 pm

Jimmy Does your car have Dinoplex ignition or just points and coils? Also be sure someone has not added an MSD (perhaps under the battery shelf) ?

Art S. · Post by **Art S.** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:15 pm

Jimmy,

I'm in line with Michael.

If you don't fix it, just mail it to Francois. ;)

Yale,

Cross border excursions??? Jimmy lives on an island... :)

Regards,

Art S.

Yale · Post by **Yale** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:06 pm

One day Art, you too can have a sense of humor ;-] . Yale

Art S. · Post by **Art S.** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:12 pm

Not very likely...

Regards,

Art S.

Jimmy Chen Shiba · Post by **Jimmy Chen Shiba** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:40 pm

Michael Bayer wrote:Jimmy Does your car have Dinoplex ignition or just points and coils? Also be sure someone has not added an MSD (perhaps under the battery shelf) ?

This is a Euro model and has just points and coils, no Dinoplex ignition as said. When it was running fine, I noticed the cranking was a little "slow" in comparison to the BB. However, that did not have affect the actual starting until this problem. Jimmy

Timo · Post by **Timo** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:19 pm

Jimmy.

Just as Michael B. was referring to the issue of possible ignition transistor malfunction, it could be the case and it might be easily tested (and this is, of course, only by assuming Your car has M.M. transistor units or something similar). First, as to establish reference, try to start and run the car as is. Then, after shutting it off, unplug one of the ignition transistor boxes (maybe right side first) and try to start the car again, to see if there's any change in it's behavior. Then plug it in again and try the other side. And if one of these trials produces change, You can also try to switch the boxes from side to side to see if that will change the behavior issue from one bank to another. Hopefully, You'll get the idea(?).

Timo · Post by **Timo** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:23 pm

Jimmy

obviously You got to this just before me, so never mind about my answer.

Jimmyr · Post by **Jimmyr** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:53 pm

Jimmy, have checked the usual elements - fuel, spark, etc? If no spark check the points first as the Marelli made points have a rep for breaking the leaf spring or the contacts coming loose. Result, no HV. The coil is the next weak link; do you have bettery volts at the + terminal? Jim

Dr. Ian Levy · Post by **Dr. Ian Levy** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:08 pm

Jimmy
Similar thing happened with my GTC4.
Euro Daytona has twin coils-you can bet that the coil for the right bank has a problem
Regards
Ian L
UK

Jimmy Chen Shiba · Post by **Jimmy Chen Shiba** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:50 am

Many thanx for the positive constructive comments and suggestions. Since I am not a mechanical wizard myself, let alone a beginner, I shall relay the suggestions to my mechanic to solve this puzzle. As for Yale, I must ask you to explain in details to me regarding your "humorous" ??? statements. I want to enjoy your joke too. Are there messages or somekind of oracles between those comments that I am missing ? Thank you Yale. Waiting for your detailed digested explanations. Thank you in advance. Jimmy

Yale · Post by **Yale** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:30 am

Jimmy,

The question was a serious one. Here is your list of cars:

97 MB SL600 AMG; 94 AMG E60; 94 Porsche Turbo 3.6 S Flatnose Exclusive ; 97 RUF-THR 993 Turbo S; Ferrari 69 Dino 246GT Tipo L #00508; Ferrari 73 365GT4 BB Boxer #17585; 70 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona #13745; 1962 Porsche356B S; 1958 Abarth 750GT Zagato.

All Italian and German muscle and then there is the 750cc Abarth sticking out on it's own. So I just wondered how it fit in to your life, how you used it? Tom Yang thinks I have an odd sense of humor, I just feel it's an East Coast one even if New Jersey Art doesn't get it. If everyone here is going to be so literal I guess I am going to have to stick to the facts....or just be prepared to write a long follow up explanation ;-] Best, Yale

Rudy van Daalen Wetters · Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:05 pm

Um......it might be a bi-coastal thing, Yale.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705

mikewegener · Post by **mikewegener** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:38 pm

Yale - I always enjoy your posts. To savor the abarth you have to look at Italy's economic history. You would find that Abarth and Ferrari go hand in hand. In the fifties and early sixties Italy was still climbing back up from WW II and many italians had to find work abroad. Those that worked rode the bus, scooters, motorcycles or micro cars. The lucky ones could afford a family car, maybe a Fiat 600. Compared to a worker in this country it would be the same as buying a brand new '57 Chevy.
And here comes the connection to Ferrari. Even though a worker at Ferrari or Pininfarina could not afford the vehicle he built he could afford his Fiat and with the same spirit these guys went racing. Small manufacturers sprang up and created aftermarket parts ( like Holley or Edelbrock in this country ) and eventually build hot rod versions of popular cars. Like a Yenko Camaro for a blue collar american an abarth is the true blue collar italian hot rod. And pound for pound performance wise I bet it would compare favoribly to any ferrari. To own a zagato bodied abarth is I think only an extension of the appreciation for italian machinery and quite an elegant decision.

Jimmy - I would really enjoy if you could post a picture of the Abarth.

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