Obviously Spiders have some trouble starting now and then. I let mine sit for two months, and I tried starting it with a freshly charged battery. Nothing. It'll crank as long as the day, but it will not fire. I've found that leaving the car in run, popping the hood, and pulling the cap off the MAP sensor, and playing with that for a few till the fuel system stops making airy noises, then trying to start it, then trying to crank it, it helps out quite a bit. I've got new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor, and it's getting spark on all cylinders, so I know it's not ignition. Only thing it could really be would be fuel related, so I figured eventually priming the pump would help. I've tried this twice now, and so far it seems to work like a charm. So if anyone else would wanna try it and see if it helps, awesome.
Anybody else have any tips to help starting their Spider?
Starting Help Suggestions
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majicwrench
Re: Starting Help Suggestions
I don't believe you have a MAP sensor. You do have a MAF.
I'll let some of the FI guys chime in...
Keith
I'll let some of the FI guys chime in...
Keith
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vandor
- Posts: 3996
- Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
- Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
- Location: Texas, USA
Re: Starting Help Suggestions
When you are cranking the car the fuel pump should run. It sounds like on your car it does not, for some reason.
There is a red/black wire that goes form terminal 50 of the ignition switch to terminal 86a (I think) of the double relay. Be sure it's connected on both ends and it has continuity.
BTW, it's called an Airflow Meter (AFM), as it has an internal flap, or vane that measures airflow. An Airmass Meter, or Mass Airlfow Sensor has a wire measuring airflow, not a flap.
There is a red/black wire that goes form terminal 50 of the ignition switch to terminal 86a (I think) of the double relay. Be sure it's connected on both ends and it has continuity.
BTW, it's called an Airflow Meter (AFM), as it has an internal flap, or vane that measures airflow. An Airmass Meter, or Mass Airlfow Sensor has a wire measuring airflow, not a flap.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
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BEEK
- Posts: 1833
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
- Your car is a: 1975 Spider
- Location: clermont fl
Re: Starting Help Suggestions
also if your fuel pump is making funny noises, check 2 things, 1. there is fuel in your tank, 2. sometimes, not usually on spiders, the internal fuel strainer gets clogged up, inside the tank, varnish deposits cover it and makes drawing fuel hard. i am assuming that your fuel filter is recent.
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider , 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
75 spider , 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
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gtkid2002
Re: Starting Help Suggestions
Hah, great. I thought I was contributing, but now it looks like I have more problems than when I started.
The fuel pump does kick over when I try and crank the car, but It takes like a good minute or two of cranking before I even get a weak idle. It does have a new fuel filter (Old one was so bad it popped off and drained my fresh tank of full gas).
AFM! That thing. Everyone knows what I'm talking about, but I can never recall the name.
I'll have to check the in-tank strainer. I'm not sure, but if I mess with the thing that kicks on the fuel pump, then it seems like it almost has to rebuild pressure to the fuel system. Granted, this was also after letting it sit for two months, but modern cars don't have that problem.
The fuel pump does kick over when I try and crank the car, but It takes like a good minute or two of cranking before I even get a weak idle. It does have a new fuel filter (Old one was so bad it popped off and drained my fresh tank of full gas).
AFM! That thing. Everyone knows what I'm talking about, but I can never recall the name.
I'll have to check the in-tank strainer. I'm not sure, but if I mess with the thing that kicks on the fuel pump, then it seems like it almost has to rebuild pressure to the fuel system. Granted, this was also after letting it sit for two months, but modern cars don't have that problem.
I think that wire actually was messed up on mine when I bought it. I didn't have brake lights, blinkers, or any cluster lights. Once the car is running it's fine for a while, but after till it warms up I have a weak idle.vandor wrote:There is a red/black wire that goes form terminal 50 of the ignition switch to terminal 86a (I think) of the double relay. Be sure it's connected on both ends and it has continuity.
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rlux4
- Patron 2022
- Posts: 4211
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
- Location: Granite Falls, Wa
Re: Starting Help Suggestions
When you're messing with the AFM you must be moving the chrome arm, which is attached to the flap, if your fuel pump kicks in. The fuel pump has an internal back flow prevernter, so if you're losing pressure it must be bad. You can check this with a liquid pressure gauge. The easiest way to do this is pull the rubber line at the cold start valve and attach the gauge there. This would not only show you if pressure is bleeding off, but would let you see if the fuel pressure regulator is giving you good pressure, which should be in the 28 psi range.
Ron
Ron