Fuel pump questions

[metalsmith]

I need advise from someone as to what my car problem is. I recently bought a 1981 Spyder 2000 which has always been stored in a heated garage and has not been started since 2000. The car will not start. In draining the fuel tank of the old gas I discovered that the fuel pump only runs when the key is in the start position and does not operate in the run position. Is this normal or do I have a bad ignition switch? The car only has 14,000 miles on it and it is cherry. It was running normally when last parked in the garage.
I was also told that it is a special car and only a few were made and they were all a gold color. I can see nothing on it that would make it special. What can you tell me about this?

Thanks,
metalsmith

[sptcoupe]

Your fuel pump should be on when the key is in the run position. Does the engine turn over at all, or is it that nothng happens when you try to start it?

It sounds like you might have one of 1000 spiders that had special paint and badging, and were made to commemorate FIAT's 50th anniversary. They were called the Anniversary Edition, were painted a metallic "champagne" color that was reserved for these 1000 cars, had a tan leather interior, and were badged (I think the "# _ of 1000" badge was on the glove box door, as I recall). Even if it isn't an anniversary editon, with ony 14,000 miles on it, it sounds like a great find. We would love to follow you progress in bringing her back to life, and of course we are all phto freaks!

[rlux4]

The fuel pump should run whenever the key is in the start or on positions, as long as the engine is turning over. The switch sends power to the dual relay (on the relay tray above the ECU) and then when the engine turns over a switch in the air flow meter send another signal to the dual relay that completes a circuit to send 12V to the fuel pump. To test the signal to the dual realy you'll need a test light. The brown wire has constant power. The brown with white stripe wire has constan fused power. Turn the key to "on" you should get power at the pink with black stripe wire at the dual realy. Crank the engine and you should get power on the green with black stripe wire at the dual relay (it goes to the fuel pump). The brown with white stripe wire has an inline fuse on it, located up behind the main fuse panel amongst the rat's nest of wires. Check that the flap in the AFM (air flow meter) has full, smooth range of movement. If the key is "on" moving the flap by hand should energize your fuel pump.
There are others, but here's a good diagnostic manual for the FI control system;
http://www.wcmotors.com/personal/Fiat%2 ... agnostics/
Ron

[metalsmith]

Your fuel pump should be on when the key is in the run position. Does the engine turn over at all, or is it that nothng happens when you try to start it?

It sounds like you might have one of 1000 spiders that had special paint and badging, and were made to commemorate FIAT's 50th anniversary. They were called the Anniversary Edition, were painted a metallic "champagne" color that was reserved for these 1000 cars, had a tan leather interior, and were badged (I think the "# _ of 1000" badge was on the glove box door, as I recall). Even if it isn't an anniversary editon, with ony 14,000 miles on it, it sounds like a great find. We would love to follow you progress in bringing her back to life, and of course we are all phto freaks!

Thanks for the reply. Yes, the engine does turn over as normal but does not fire. I did not try a little starting fluid to see it that would make it hit.
The car is the Champagne color with the tan leather interior so it must be the anniversary edition. I'll try to take a picture when I get it down off of the jack stands.
Metalsmith

[metalsmith]

The fuel pump should run whenever the key is in the start or on positions, as long as the engine is turning over. The switch sends power to the dual relay (on the relay tray above the ECU) and then when the engine turns over a switch in the air flow meter send another signal to the dual relay that completes a circuit to send 12V to the fuel pump. To test the signal to the dual realy you'll need a test light. The brown wire has constant power. The brown with white stripe wire has constan fused power. Turn the key to "on" you should get power at the pink with black stripe wire at the dual realy. Crank the engine and you should get power on the green with black stripe wire at the dual relay (it goes to the fuel pump). The brown with white stripe wire has an inline fuse on it, located up behind the main fuse panel amongst the rat's nest of wires. Check that the flap in the AFM (air flow meter) has full, smooth range of movement. If the key is "on" moving the flap by hand should energize your fuel pump.
There are others, but here's a good diagnostic manual for the FI control system;
http://www.wcmotors.com/personal/Fiat%2 ... agnostics/
Ron

Thanks Ron. Since the pump does not run in the switch run position it may be a relay that is bad. I'll go through the proceedure you give and see what shows up. I have a manual coming that should be here Monday but it may not cover it as well as you have.
Metalsmith

[rlux4]

So there's no confusion: the fuel pump should run with the key in the on position if the AFM flap is open, either by the intake of air as the engine turns over, or by opening it by hand.
You probably got that, but I just thought I'd reiterate.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Ron