Hey all! Newbie here from Central Florida

[llafren]

We just bought a 1981, it's pretty, it's red, and it doesn't run!

The gas in it was awful, the car has been sitting forever, and we have since replaced the gas and the fuel pump.

Here's hoping we find the answers as to what to do next.

LL

[bakercs]

LL,

Here's hoping we find the answers as to what to do next.

Welcome! As a new owner myself, with my own questions, I assure you that if there is an answer, you will find it here: just ask. You will also find answers to questions you never even thought to ask.

[rlux4]

Hello Double L. Welcome to the forum. Is this your first Spider? If so, it will seem different and maybe even a little intimidating at first, but you'll find that the more you work on it most of it is not difficult at all. It's just a matter of familiarizing yourself with it. You'll need a couple of repair manuals, no one manual is perfect, so with a couple you should be good to go. You should also have Brad Artigue's electrical diagrams, but his site is down until the end of the month. Be sure to watch for it and download the diagrams. He also has a good maintenance manual at the site.
Here's a good diagnostics manual for your L-Jetronic FI system:
http://www.wcmotors.com/personal/Fiat%2 ... agnostics/
Post pics of your car for us, and bakercs is right, this is a great site to come to for help and Fiat comraderie.
Ron

[Europa]

LL, Welcome to the forum. Plenty of good folks with lots of great advice. You'll love this site.

Great to see another Floridian on this forum! We have a couple of guys on this forum from Orlando.

[llafren]

Here's a picture of the car LOL



There is no gas going from the fuel tank to the fuel pump

We think, maybe, the fuel filter in the tank is clogged, going to try to clean that tomorrow and see what happens.

Yes this is our first Fiat, my first car was a MG Midget, and I've wanted another convertible since a Coca-Cola truck ran over it

Our current car collection consists mainly of AMC's...1 1970 Mark Donahue Javelin (race car, not even remotely street legal), a 1974 Javelin AMX and a 1976 Gremlin.

So we are definitely on a learning curve here

[wachuko]

Welcome!! Greetings from Orlando, FL.

Do keep us posted on the progress.

[llafren]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I will definitely keep everyone posted on the progress (When I'm not begging for help that is).

[wachuko]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I will definitely keep everyone posted on the progress (When I'm not begging for help that is).

Can you share condition, a few photos around the car, how long was the search and, if you feel comfortable sharing it, what you ended up paying for it?

We should use a format for the car description... something like this:


Purchase price (in USD please):
Purchase date:
Mileage at purchase date:
State or country where purchased:
Model year:
Exterior color:
Interior color:
Top color:
Manual or Auto:
NA or turbo:
Any aftermarket accessories that came with the car (including but not limited to wheels, suspension, exhaust, seats, stereo, mirrors, pedals, steering wheel, etc.):
Did the vehicle come with tool kit:
New owner assessment of the vehicle history in terms of paperwork/receipts (1-10, 10 being highest):
New owner assessment of the interior quality (1-10, 10 being highest)
New owner assessment of the exterior quality (1-10, 10 being highest)
New owner assessment of the mechanical condition of the vehicle (1-10, 10 being highest)
Photos of your car (share one of the exterior, interior, trunk, and engine bay):

Thank you!

[mbouse]

nice looking car. gonna be worth the effort !!

welcome to the site. never hesitate to ask even what you think are simple questions here. we've all been there, knowing that simple questions are often the hardest.

[llafren]

I answered all your questions I do believe LOL

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I will definitely keep everyone posted on the progress (When I'm not begging for help that is).

Can you share condition, a few photos around the car, how long was the search and, if you feel comfortable sharing it, what you ended up paying for it?

We should use a format for the car description... something like this:


Purchase price (in USD please): $1500
Purchase date: Feb 17, 2010
Mileage at purchase date: Odometer shows 76010
State or country where purchased: Brandon Florida
Model year: 1981
Exterior color: Metallic Red
Interior color: Red and Black
Top color: Black with white stitching
Manual or Auto:Automatic
NA or turbo: Fuel Injected, no Turbo
Any aftermarket accessories that came with the car (including but not limited to wheels, suspension, exhaust, seats, stereo, mirrors, pedals, steering wheel, etc.): it came with a kick a@@ aftermarket stereo LOL
Did the vehicle come with tool kit:umm, no was it supposed to?
New owner assessment of the vehicle history in terms of paperwork/receipts (1-10, 10 being highest): I would have to rate that a zero, I got the title
New owner assessment of the interior quality (1-10, 10 being highest) 8 easy, the interior is completely redone, it's missing one window crank and the cover for when the top is down
New owner assessment of the exterior quality (1-10, 10 being highest) again an 8, few chips here and there but overall in excellent condition
New owner assessment of the mechanical condition of the vehicle (1-10, 10 being highest) since the gas won't leave the gas tank, I have no idea yet
Photos of your car (share one of the exterior, interior, trunk, and engine bay): give me a few and I'll post more pictures

Thank you!

[llafren]

Since I am the newbie on the block, I don't know what the limits are for pictures, so for anyone who is interested, here are more pictures of the car.

LL

http://s690.photobucket.com/albums/vv27 ... %20Spider/

[rlux4]

Very nice looking car. Good luck getting the gunk out of your fuel system. When you get the crap out of the tank, it might be a good idea to disconnect the line at the fuel rail and run some good gas through the system to clear the lines. It doesn't take much to plug up the injectors.
Ron

[ga.spyder]

Welcome to the site and please post some pics....of the Mark Donahue AMX.Is it real or a replica of one of the Penske AMC's?Either way,very cool.There are a lot of you Floridians all of the sudden(I am a 3rd gen. native cracker myself ),now you guys need to organize a FLU chapter! Good luck
Craig

[llafren]

Welcome to the site and please post some pics....of the Mark Donahue AMX.Is it real or a replica of one of the Penske AMC's?Either way,very cool.There are a lot of you Floridians all of the sudden(I am a 3rd gen. native cracker myself ),now you guys need to organize a FLU chapter! Good luck
Craig

The Mark Donahue is not an Amx...and it's the real thing LOL

Neither of us is a native floridian, we are both transplants, but both of us have live here since we were kids.

Here is a picture of the Mark Donahue Javelin (left) and the Javelin Amx (right):

[ga.spyder]

LL,
Thanks for the pics,I love the Javs.I did a job for some people here last year,and when I went in their garage I found a perfect 1974 Javelin w/a 390.Customers mother had owned it since new.The car is a time capsule...could have been sitting in the showroom.Not for sale !!
The Spider is an excellent buy for 1500.00.I bought a 77 for $850 last year that was a good runner.I have done a lot of TLC and it is a pretty nice car now.To make it as nice as yours it would have to have paint though.Even if your 81 needs a little engine work,you should be way ahead of the game.A big bonus that its a FI car! Good luck!!
Craig