I have very little mechanical experience but am attempting to restore a '76 Spider and I believe I am a quick learner. Most of the bodywork is completed but am at a standstill early on in the next phase. Was told it runs well but it does not appear to be getting any gas to the carburetor. Where do I start: check fuel lines and filter or replace mechanical fuel pump? Do I go for an electric or stick with mechanical? If someone knows where a similar question has been dealt with before then point me in the right direction. A few searches have just confused me. Many thanks in advance.

Posted in the new member section, but I have a used mech pump kicking about if you want to try that. Came from a 79 though and not sure if the arm is the same, perhaps someone could chime in on that.
Pm an address and I can mail it off on Monday.
Chris

Wow! That is real friendly of you. Can I pay you something or send you a sample of the world famous Alberta Ammolite for your trouble?

I am at:

Tommy Dryden
Box 959
Raymond, AB T0K 2S0

you need to check the integrity of the fuel lines from the tank and inlet of the pump. Leaks on the suction side will prevent the pump from working

The fuel filter is easiest to check. Just undo it on the fuel pump side, and see if it's pumping fuel.

Replaced fuel pump and filter and tested the one way valve and fuel lines and system is pumping gas through but still not running. Am replacing diaphram in Accelerator pump and overhauling carburetor. Any more suggestions?

Help! I have blew the fuel lines and replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, Accelerator Pump diaphram, rebuilt the carburetor and still cannot keep the car running. It fires up when fuel is trickled into the carb but wont remain running. What next?

bobplyler wrote:The fuel filter is easiest to check. Just undo it on the fuel pump side, and see if it's pumping fuel.

Have you disconected the fuel line and made sure fuel is comming out when you crank the engine?

Yes, gas is coming out and is spraying into the carburetor and there is spark but will not catch.

How's your timing? If its too far retarded the car will only want to run under rich conditions( pouring gas in the carb)

1976 Fiat spiders cam stock with an electric pump mounted in the trunk area near the tank. The pump runs off a relay in the engine bay on the drivers side fender. 1976 spiders also came with a dual points distributor. One set of points is for starting, and when the car gets to operating temp. A thermo-switch and change over relay switches power from the starting points to the running points. The change over relay is also in the engine bay next to the other relays.

A few years ago I bought a 1976 parts car. It was sitting in the sellers driveway and he could not get to run for more than a few minutes. It would start, but eventually cut out. The closer it got to operating temp it would cut out faster.

Without spending hours diagnosing the problem in his driveway I studied the electrical diagram and concluded it was one of the two aforementioned systems that was cutting out. I bypassed the fuel pump relay so the pump would come on when the key was turned to the run position( not the safest thing, but for the few miles I was going it would be ok) I also converted it to single points which bypassed the ignition mode relay and thermo-switch.

After that the car would start and stay running. The single points conversion is popular, and will make troubleshooting the ignition system much easier. Many spider owners do this modification. The dual points are an emissions thing and are not really needed. Here is the link for the modification: http://www.international-auto.com/fiat- ... ersion.cfm

I would first do the points modification, then if it still cuts out suspect the fuel pump relay, but if it runs, the relay has to be good. The 1975 and 1976 models have pretty much the same electrical system/diagram, here is the link for the diagram: http://www.artigue.com/fiat/wiring/1975_124_spider.pdf There is also a site called http://www.spidercenter.com that had a PDF of the original, and its much easier to read. The site was not loading for me just now, but if you send me an email I can send you the PDF.

matt.scarton@gmail.com

Does anyone know of a fiat mechanic in the Lethbridge, Alberta area? I have reached an impasse on getting this baby running. Need some professional help.