[dwhite]

After having my distributor cap pitted, with greenish junk building up on the contacts and having cleaned it off for the 3rd and last time. The 3rd time It came back in 20 minutes and this issue would cause rough running; time to change the ingition parts.

So, I took out a second motgage and replaced cap, rotor and wires and the car is running fantastic with power right to redline. I did not change the extenders as they all were within spec when I tested them, but i still may change them anyway. Now after a day and 80 miles of spirited driving I will pull the plugs and have a look at them to see their color.

But after doing this I want to make sure the FI settings are in spec. The P.O. had the the fuel distributors rebuilt and the car idles a bit high - 1400 RPM. Just curious if anyone has adjusted the fuel injection system and what equipment is necessary to do this procedure. The car is running really great, but I want to make sure it is running it's best.

Should I just take it to someone who knows the cars or is it somthing a decent backyard mechanic can do? If David F was local I would drive it to him, but he is 4 hours away.

Thanks for any info you can share.

 

[David @ FluentInFerrari]

David,
To check the mixture setting, you'll need someone with a 4 or 5-gas analyzer. Frankly, if the injection was set-up correctly, this may not be required. It's tough to read plug color versus optimum combustion with today's fuels.

If the car is now idling faster than before you started, was the ignition timing disturbed? A timing light will reveal where you are and if the distributor advance weights are sticking/frozen. Start here before even thinking about the injection system.

To set the idle speed, a pair of matched vacuum gauges helps. There's an air bleed on each sensor plate housing that you'll need to adjust. Short of perhaps Universal Imports, there's really no one that comes to mind I can recommend in your area.

Take a look at the owner's manual; it should depict the screws I'm referring to.

Best,
David

 

[dwhite]

Thanks David. Idle is the same as it was before, but it is time to have it taken care of, as it really should be 900- 1100. Read a bit in the 400i workshop manual, but not sure I have the right equipment to get it done right.

I probably will take it to someone like you mentioned, I know those guys. Unfortunately, it probably will not be for a few weeks at best; we are about to be pounded by a snow storm. I'll let you know what happens.

 

[David @ FluentInFerrari]

I hear you, David. We're expecting 24-30" of snow in the next day or so...So much for my wife thinking that this will be a "snow-free" winter!