My Spider turns over but won't start

[HersheyPAGreg]

Hello, last week I took my 1980 FI Spider out for a drive, stopped for lunch and when I came out, it wouldn't start. It turns over normally but just won't start. I'm not very experienced with DIY repairs but I'd like to try to fix this myself. Any suggestions on what to check first would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know if this is related or not but every now and then (especially after driving for awhile, shutting it off to go somewhere and then trying to start it again) it used turn over very slowly but it always started. I'd had it in the back of my mind to have that checked but never got to it and lately it wasn't happening. Like I said I don't know if that problem is related to why it won't start now but I thought I should mention it.

Thanks in advance

Greg

[SunnySideUp]

'80 was a transition year for carb to fuel injection. Which version do you have?

In either case you could look at the electronic ignition pick-up as those seem to go bad once in a while. http://www.international-auto.com/index ... sid=866863

[katsi]

That's a loaded question, could be so many reasons. Assuming it's fuel injected, before you start check simple things to make sure you don't have a wire loose or something silly like that. One time I got in mine and turned it over and it wouldn't start. Took me a while to realize that the top end was not turning and that my timing belt had broke.

[narfire]

Yeup, I'd have a look at the pick up as well. Take the dist cap off and check the two wires. They have a habit of getting brittle and giving one grief. I also had a lousy connection at the control module that hides under the coil and white wire from the dist. I zap-straped that in place and no issues.

[majicwrench]

Before you look at Pick up or anything else, you need to figure out if it has spark.Pull a plug wire off, put in another spare plug, lay plug on engine, have someone crank engine over. You should see a blueish spark jump the plug gap. If no spark, THEN you can start checking ignition parts.
Check for spark, get back to us.

[rlux4]

I see you identified your 80 as a FI model, good job Greg.
There are two things that are common culprits in no start situations with our FI cars; no spark as Keith said, and no fuel flow. Once you determine that you have spark you'd next check that you have fuel flow. You can check whether the fuel pump is running while you crank the engine. Seeing as it was just pumping we can assume if it's running, it's pumping. If it's not running it's not getting power from the dual relay (assuming it's not bypassed). If this is the case, check whether the power from the inline fuse is getting to the dual relay. A test light on the brown with white stripe wire at the dual relay should light when you're cranking.
A car in tune with spark and fuel will start.
Ron

[HersheyPAGreg]

No spark. What's next?

[majicwrench]

Pull dist cap make sure rotor is turning when cranking engine. If it is, take a good like at wires inside dist, they are often falling apart. With key on, take volt meter or test light and see if you have power at coil + terminal.
Let us know.
Keith

[HersheyPAGreg]

Thanks Keith. I'll pick up a multimeter and get back to this tomorrow evening or Friday.

[HersheyPAGreg]

With a lot of helpful advice from Keith in emails I was able to fix the problem last evening, it was the ignition control module. Thanks to all you guys who offered advice and a big thank you to Keith. It's a beautiful day here in Hershey PA, 83 degrees and sunny. Can't wait to finish work and go for a drive.