Engine turn off after a while

[spidi]

I have a 81 spider, bought last october. Last day was a very warm day and I found difficulties to turn on the engine when it was warm. On the same day, the engine stalled suddenly when I was driving. I tried to turn it on again but after 2 or 3 seconds it turns off. I also tried to wait until the engine was cold.......in that case I had to wait few seconds more but the engine turned off the same. I don't know if could be related to this problem but my idle (when warm) is always around 1300/1400 rpm........but the engine runs really smooth. Any ideas?
BTW I'm an italian guy living in the US........as you can see my english is not so good..........hope to be clear enough.

[rlux4]

Your high idle and not starting/dies suddenly are not related. You should go through the steps in Brad Artigue's FI manual to set your car to the correct specs and check the components involved. Go to the FI section in this manual:
http://www.artigue.com/fiat/tuning-book
I'm guessing your high idle is igniton timing related.
As far as the car dying suddenly or not starting, does it turn over but not start? If so, in my case this symptom was caused by the inline fuse for the dual relay. On my car it wouldn't make good consistent contact in the factory fuse holder and without this the fuel pump doesn't get power to run. Look for the brown with white stripe wire up behind the main fuse panel, on it there will be a fuse holder (probably red). It has spade terminals on both ends and screws together. I replaced mine with a standard AGC type inline fuse holder and solved the issue.
Ron

[spidi]

Thanks Ron.
I' pretty sure that the high idle is a secondary problem.
The engine starts normally (even if with difficult when warm) but it turns off after few seconds. I can try several times......the engine turns on and then goes off.........it's like I turn off the key. This morning, with the engine cold, I tried and it goes on at the first try........then It went off after 5 seconds.......I tried again but the result was the same....on and off.

[rlux4]

OK. I thought it would run normally and then die. This sounds like your car is starting on the cold start valve only. It times out very quickly and quits spaying fuel into the intake plenum. If your injectors aren't working by then the engine will die. Because it starts then fuel doesn't appear to be a part of the problem. You need to check if your injectors are getting pulse signal. A noid light is best for this. The pulse signal is weak and short termed so I never had luck with a trouble light or multimeter. You can "borrow" a noid light from the auto parts stores that have the program.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

check the intake boot for splits or cracks, or for a sticking AFM flap

[124JOE]

inside the air filter box theres a door that opens and if its stuck clean it
being stuck the computer thinks its theres no air flow and shuts down

[spidi]

Thanks for your suggestions. I think I'll start to check the AFM looking for a sticking flap or dirt. My engine has also a Power Stack Performance Air Filter........I was wondering if it could be "responsible" of the malfunctioning of the AFM.

[124JOE]

how new is that filter?

[spidi]

I don't know for sure..........I can guess at least 2 years. I'm also not sure about manteinance done (cleaning etc...)

[124JOE]

well as long as it ran well for awhile then thats probably not the problem

[spidi]

Just as an update.........my problem was the Ignition Control Module! And now the engine is running again!!

[124JOE]

kickin