b Colinb , I am assuming that you have retained the SPICA FI pump setup. An old battery doesn't affect starting on SPICA cars as much as it does on the later Bosch FI ones.
Have a look at the battery cables at the battery - are the post clean and the clamps on tight? Check the connections of the negative cable to the body and the positive cable to the starter motor. Look for corrosion and/or looseness. One test is to hook up the Spider's battery to another as if you need to jump start it before you start it and see if it makes a difference. If it does, then a new battery is in order. If the car runs normally after it has attained operating temperature, then I'd suspect the SPICA cold start solenoid. It is activated when ignition key is turned to the 'Start' position and off when the key is at 'Run'. And here is a great resource of information on the SPICA pump written by Wes Ingram: http://www.wesingram.com/SPICA_Fuel_Supply_Diagnostic_Guide_Nov_2004.pdf Bruce 73 GTV > > 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]
