warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Post by kevsem65 »

Just recently my 78 started some bad behavior i cant figure out . Its starts and runs just fine but after running for a while it dies at a stop. I adjusted the carb slightly but it runs fine at all speeds at first when it dies it will restart after about fifteen minutes. I changed the fuel filter and tapped out the end, lots of sediment came out and i thought that would fix it but still doing the same things. I got the car home yesterday's and left it to idle a bit and the idle began to surge. Ive also noticed that the engine and compartment seem very hot like an egg would sizzle on the head. Thw temp gauge never gets past the middle and the fan runs it just seemed excessive to me. Not sure what to look at next i cant drive more tha a few miles.
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
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azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Post by azruss »

Do you have an electric fuel pump. If so, is it between the tank and filter. If so, then you fuel pump may have crap in it that settles and then stirs up and reduces flow. This would give you a lean condition that would make your motor run hot.
kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

Re: warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Post by kevsem65 »

So I thought maybe the fuel pump was dead but when I looked at it it doesn't seem to be connected to anything. its got a vacuum hose on one inlet going to the carburetor ( where the diagram says its supposed to be going to a charcoal canister) and when I looked in the trunk there is what I now realize to be a facet electronic fuel pump. when one of these installed what is supposed to happen to the original fuel pump? when I pulled one of the hoses off the original I could hear puff ,puff,puff coming from it like it was still trying to pump . And why are the old fuel hoses routed elsewhere? Looks like the po did a decent job but when you don't know what mods were done its a guessing game!
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
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azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Post by azruss »

just follow the fuel hose from the carb. The mechanical fuel pump on the side of the block is probably still working, but disconnected. just see which pump is providing fuel to the carb.
kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

Re: warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Post by kevsem65 »

I checked, the fuel is coming from the facet pump. the po installed a kill switch on it in the dash. if I hit it while the car is running it dies, turn it back on and it fires right up. so I know it working. the car only dies when it get to operating temp then after I drive it and come to a stop.
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
sshukes

Re: warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Post by sshukes »

I had the same problem and it ended up being crud in the gas tank that only got into the fuel when the car started to move. When it dies takes a fuel sample and check to see if there are any abnormalities in the fuel.
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Ptoneill
Posts: 606
Joined: Thu Jul 15, 2010 1:28 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Re: warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Post by Ptoneill »

You can by a cheap flexible video camera from harbor freight, they work great for inspecting the impossible to view spaces. I have used mine to inspect tanks, engine cylinders via spark plug holes etc. I am putting money on sediment in the fuel system for your problem. As for the mechanical pump you can remove it and buy a cover plate to seal the block.
Stay Safe,

Pat
79spider
HAVE FUN!! It's a FIAT!!
ptoneill@msn.com
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kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

Re: warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Post by kevsem65 »

Yeah I kinda was thinking the same thing like the flexi camera idea tho , innovative!
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

Re: warms up, runs , dies at a stop wont turn on

Post by kevsem65 »

Just to give an answer of how I figure this out because I don't like to leave an issue unresolved , it turns out the electric switch for the electronic fuel pump had a bad connection and kept getting disconnected at a stop the car kept dying because the connection to the switch kept stopping the electronic fuel pump. it was a cheap one minute fix that drove me nuts for months.
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
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