1978 Spider suddenly acting up Hi everyone. I've been driving my '78 Spider a fair amount recently because of trouble with another car. It's been fine until today, when all of a sudden I had trouble starting the Alfa and that car ALWAYS starts on the second try--so reliably that's it's a joke in the family. You never have to give it any gas, just turn the key. It goes for a second and dies and then starts right up the second time you try--normally.
Now, all of a sudden, it will barely start at all. Battery is quite old, but it seems to be cranking. I figured out that giving it A LOT of gas now helps it start (which, as I say, has never been the case). It's as if it's not getting enough fuel. The sound of the fuel pump when you first turn the key is a bit weird now--not what I'm used to. Once started, it idles very, very roughly at about 500RPM (usually about 800-900RPM) but it doesn't stall. Engine sounds very rough suddenly--a pulsing kind of sound--yet, it feels fairly normal once it gets going and drives right along at highway speed. Does this make sense to anyone? I thought the battery at first, but that wouldn't explain the roughness, I don't think, so maybe the fuel pump is failing? What should I test? Please note that I'm not the kind of guy who can do anything complicated, but basic stuff I can handle. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks Colin Talcroft Santa Rosa, CA 1978 Chocolate Brown Spider -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
