Carb adjustments - 77 spider

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 2:36 pm

the overheating is a major concern regardless of the idle problem. Was the fan running? I'd address the temp trouble first then the carb situation. The fan should come on at 195F.

It still sounds like you have a problem with the idle circuit, but a worn throttle shaft/carb base could cause the trouble you're experiencing at idle.

baggins987 · Post by **baggins987** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:52 pm

I didn't notice if the fan turned on today but it has in the past when I've had the same problem.

The coolant level is fine. Where is the sensor to turn on the fan? Could the thermostat be stuck?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:17 am

the fan sensor is in the bottom of the rad on the drivers' side. If the thermostat doesn't open the fan won't cycle on. Make sure there isn't any air in the cooling system, or the thermstat won't open.

baggins987 · Post by **baggins987** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:33 pm

How can I bleed air out of the system?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:04 pm

with your setup I'd remove one of the hoses from the choke housing and fill the system with a small funnel until only water comes out the other end.

baggins987 · Post by **baggins987** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:13 pm

Found one problem - one of the wires/spade terminals on the thermal switch is broken off. I guess I gotta drain the radiator -? Is that switch readily available, or do I need to order one online?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:48 am

by readily available, do you mean in stock at the local Manny Moe and Jack? Probably not, but all of the Fiat vendors carry them and perhaps a foreign auto parts specialty house might stock it

baggins987 · Post by **baggins987** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:29 pm

Anyone have the bowl float limit specs for a 32 ADFA?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:06 am

set the float so that it's parallel to the top when the float is at the top of its' travel

baggins987 · Post by **baggins987** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:03 pm

OK, back to the carburetor after the starter fiasco.

I got the car to start after a lot of nursing. Now it will start, idle pretty well for almost a minute, then stall out. If I try to keep it running by giving it some gas, it runs really rough, backfires a lot, and eventually dies anyway. I can restart it right away with no problem, but can't get it to keep running.

Any suggestions?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:12 pm

sounds like a major vacuum leak, have you checked the hose to the brake booster? Once you get it idling, gradually close the choke by hand and see if the motor smoothes out

baggins987 · Post by **baggins987** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:30 pm

Found a major leak - hose had come off the EGR valve (thought I'd plugged that anyway but apparently didn't). Reconnected and plugged; now the engine is hard to start, idles roughly for only a few seconds before it dies, lots of backfires. Thought maybe I'd mis-adjusted the float way back when, but checked it and it looks fine.

Tried closing the choke plate, didn't seem to make an effect but the car wasn't running well or for long anyway.

racydave · Post by **racydave** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:45 pm

Take a sample of your gas in a clear container, sounds possible to have water in it, will run good untill it sucks up water. Maybe use fuel stabelizer? Is fuel old???

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:08 pm

the small vacuum hose to the egr isn't large enough to cause stalling, and it shouldn't have manifold vacuum. If it does, it's connected to the wrong port. It should be connected to ported vacuum. If the egr comes on at idle the car will stall and run very poorly. A major vacuum leak would be the brake booster or carb base gasket, or even an intake gasket leak.
If you can keep the car running by holding the throttle open, try removing plug wires from the dist cap one at a time (using insulated pliers) and see if all cyls are affected or just one cyl. That should help diagnose the trouble

baggins987 · Post by **baggins987** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:57 pm

Can't keep the engine running long enough to disconnect plug wires.

What's ported vacuum? From what I see in my manual the EGR is connected properly. I also plugged the EGR(?) hose that goes from the intake manifold behind the carb to the nipple just above and to the left of the mix screw. I also took the precaution back in May of taking a photo before I removed the carb. As far as I can tell, I hooked everything back up the way it was. But maybe not?

Or could I have disconnected/broken something those many times I was putting starters in and out?

I replaced the brake booster hose. Car is still hard to start; dies after a few seconds. Lots of sputtering and backfiring. Giving it gas makes it worse. Starts and runs best if I don't even look at the gas pedal. Wouldn't that mean too much gas instead of too much air (vac leak)?