New member - 1982 Spider help

[Minlest]

Hi everyone. I have a 1982 Spider that I bought in running condition, but which is going to need a lot of love.

Before I get to exhaust, brakes, wipers, hazards, high-beams and everything else that may someday get me street legal, I decided to tune up the engine, replacing a failing head gasket and bad O2 sensor, and I figured that while I was in there I should clean everything up and replace all the remaining gaskets, sensors, belts and hoses, plugs and a disintegrating distributor cap.

I took my time and got to know the engine well, but when I went to start it I can't get the darn thing to run! It should be timed right, and I've hand-cranked it a half-dozen times; and the starter turns. Plugs are producing spark, and when I remove the fuel line to the injection there's plenty of pressurized gasoline. Just can't get the darn thing to start!

Also, I tapped the gas pedal a few times before starting (just to see), and noticed that makes a ticking noise - just once or twice per tap. Strange.

Anyone have any thoughts on next steps? Anything obvious I might have be missing, or anything I might have misconnected or forgotten to connect? Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated!!

Josh Meyers
Cambridge, MA
1982 Fiat Spider

[ORFORD2004]

Wires for the ground on the driver side head near firewall? 4 wires in 2 bundles i think. Plug injectors? Timing on the marks and distributor pointing to #4 pin?

you can spray inflammable stuff like carburator cleaner in the intake and see if it run.

[ORFORD2004]

Wires for the ground on the driver side head near firewall? 4 wires in 2 bundles i think. Plug injectors? Timing on the marks and distributor pointing to #4 pin?

you can spray inflammable stuff like carburator cleaner in the intake and see if it run.

[Minlest]

I'll check the ground, but I haven't changed anything and everything is connected as it was. What do you mean by "plug injectors?" Distributor is timed for #4 pin. Are you suggesting I remove the air intake hose and spray carburetor cleaner into the plenum? I also found the J-Tronic troubleshooting and repair manual, which I'll try to run through this weekend. Thank you!

[ORFORD2004]

Are you suggesting I remove the air intake hose and spray carburetor cleaner into the plenum?

Yes and if it run your timing and fire is ok.
Plug injectors: They don't spray

I'll check the ground, but I haven't changed anything and everything is connected as it was

If you changed head gasket, no way you can do it without removing them.

[Minlest]

Ground is OK. I had already cleaned the injectors, and they should be working fine. Put engine starter into the plenum, but still couldn't get it started (though tester reveals that I'm getting spark). Strangely I tested voltage at injector 3 and I get a solid light both when starting and when the ignition is in ON position. Wondering if there's a problem with the fuel injection controller (though regardless the engine should still start and run for a second or two with the engine starter in the plenum, I would assume?). Everything worked fine before I changed the head gasket and sensors, so it's hard to imagine something random like a major controller or relay failing for no reason.

[spider2081]

I'm pretty sure if you used a test light connected to ground and to one pin and then the other of the injector connector you will have a lit light in both pins. The ECU sends a ground to one of the injector pins that last for milli seconds. An incandescent bulb can not turn off quick enough for you to see the pulse. If you have a volt meter and you select AC you might get a low voltage reading indicating the presence of the pulses. there are special LED based lights used for testing FI signals called a Node light.
Is there any chance you removed the cam gears from the cams and they are swapped. The gears the timing belt goes on are side specific.