FI spider starts when cold then dies

[dnudelman]

Hi Folks,
Kind of an urgent situation. My son is at college in Bellingham with his 81
Spider injected
Has been running great since tuned by Ray Mortenson, Peformance apex

Now:
Cold, Starts ok, idles at 1000 for about 3 minutes and dies
won't re-start. Prior to this ran great, than developed a stumble and now
undrivable.

1. Replaced rubber intake hose
2. used a paper clip to short connector to FI water temp sensor
3. Tried holding open the afm door a bit while cranking.
4. checked for spark

He doesn't have a fuel pressure guage up there to check fuel delivery.

We had rebuilt the double relay some time ago. He's listened on the passenger
side for that crazy clicking from the double relay at low idle. No sound.
When cranking the engine, the electric fuel pump is vibrating.

LMK what we should be checking for.
thanks
David









80 Spider
59 Abarth Alemano
59 Alfa Giulietta Spider
1991 Alfa 164

[wizard124]

This is a educated guess......
Since it starts when cold and dies at 3 minutes......That is about the time it takes for the Aux Air Regulator to close its orifice, shutting off the extra air that is needed for cold starting. If the Cold Start Valve is staying energized and keeps spraying fuel, maybe the engine dies from a too rich/flooding situation.

The CSV is at the forward end of the intake manifold. You will see it connected to a fuel line and it will have a two wire connector. Try disconnecting this plug in the first couple of minutes when the car is still running. Does the car keep running? This would indicate the cold start timing circuit is faulty.
The other possibility is the CSV is stuck open. You can easily remove this valve. When the car runs for 3 minutes and dies, it should be warmed up enough to prevent this circuit from operating (assuming the circuit is functioning properly). Remove the valve, hold it over a container, have someone crank the engine, and see if fuel is sprayed. I dont think it should spray fuel at all, maybe for a very brief time. If it does, I would replace the CSV.

Maybe the easiest step would be to vice grip the CSV fuel line closed before it dies to find out if this is the problem.

[dnudelman]

A big thanks to all who replied.
I think we have it sorted out. Replaced cracked hose from Idle valve to intake, new afm to intake hose, and replaced 4 badly fouled plugs.