Runs 5 min then dies and will not restart for several hours

[dsp3930]

My 1974 124 Spider will crank up fine but then after either running at full speed or at idle will die.
The motor will turn over but but will not start for least a few hours. Distributor looks to have already been converted to a 1 point setup.

The next steps (I assume) are:
- Check fuel line and pump
- Check for spark

Am I missing anything obvious before I start in?

David

[majicwrench]

If it stays dead it should be simple to find out why. Check for spark. Pump throttle, see if gas is squirting in. You are likely losing fuel or spark. Which one? Then go from there.
Keith

[kmead]

Start with this download:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3359580/Bosch%2 ... Master.pdf

and then look at this:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3359580/Spider% ... 0%2081.pdf

[dsp3930]

Thanks!

The dist. cap on my car was bad and so was the one from my parts car.
I had a complete distrib from a '74 124 sedan that I picked up for ($25).
I love parts interchange manuals.

The dist cap from that one fixed literally everything.
I'll be ordering a brand new one and keep that one for a spare.

I was getting misses above 4k RPMs before and the engine died after warmup.
Now it works perfectly without cutting off and screams without a hiccup past 4k.
Amazing such a basic part can cause so many issues.

Those PDFs look nice, I'm going to add them to my colllection.

David

[whiterabbit]

Runs 5 min,dies then takes a few hrs to restart? Sounds like something gets hot then has to cool down to run again. Coil going belly up? Put your hand on it after it has ran for 5 min. It should be warm not HOT.
It's not fuel injected so no electrical pump, regulator, computer, sensors, and injectors to deal with unless someone put in one of those cheap little square electric pumps. (really hate those lil' %*^$!) When it dies pull the air filter and work the throttle and see if it squirts fuel into carb a few times or pull the fuel line and put it in a bottle and crank the engine. Should get lots of fuel. Just go ahead and stick a new fuel filter on it while your messing with the fuel system anyway. People forget to change it and it cost very little but causes alot of headaches.
You did put fresh correctly gapped plugs in after you replaced the dist. cap right??
Oil level correct? Temp gauge reading ok? Engine not overheating?
Please keep us updated. More Spiders on the road means less Miatas!

[minimike]

does it have a condensor in the dizzy? That is what I would change. They fail when they got hot and when they cool down
will work sometimes intermittently.

[minimike]

cut to the chase. it's either fuel or eletrical. Right? Makes sense? Check the oil level in an above post????? Why not wash the car and put air in the tires. Start with the condensor if it's got one. If not, go to the electronic box and test the chip. I think a replacement is about $20.

[chrisfiat]

when it won't start check to see if the car has spark, and fuel, one or the other is missing but if you are going to diagnose the car you are going to have to diagnose the car