Engine Help

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CentFiat
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:39 pm
Your car is a: 1977 Fiat Spider

Engine Help

Post by CentFiat »

Hi Fiat Friends

I am in need of some help. I recently installed a new Weber 32/36 DFEV carb as I was having trouble with my OEM one. Everything went in okay and I tried starting it but it would just crank and crank. I pulled the also new mechanical fuel pump as i figured this was where the issue lied. I hand pumped it until I could hear fuel going into the carb. I then reinstalled it and started the car. It turned over and started pretty quickly but obviously ran rough. It look like little dropplets of fuel was spraying out of the carb. I turned it off and check all the hoses to make sure everything was tight.

I started it again and it started right up and sounded a little better but running at a high idle. Then it made a little popped and turned off. I went to start the car and nothing. It won't even crank over.

I am not even sure where to start now. Any advice would be most welcomed.

Thanks all
Rich
Richie
JohnMc
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 226
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:30 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Fiat 124

Re: Engine Help

Post by JohnMc »

The new carb won't effect the electrical/starting system.
I would start from the beginning - see if battery ok, then move to starter, etc. I even had it that once I must have hit a wire to my ignition switch - of course did not turn over at all.

That is not to say that the carb may not need adjustment or something else.
I followed the redlineweber.com site to adjust carb.
Your new carb does have electric choke - so that is the only electric thing on it.
Also, did you adjust or change out anything else? I always seem to change out 5 things at a time and then have to back track and figure out which of the 5 I did not put in right.

Sorry that cannot be of more help - maybe others.
CentFiat
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:39 pm
Your car is a: 1977 Fiat Spider

Re: Engine Help

Post by CentFiat »

JohnMc wrote:The new carb won't effect the electrical/starting system.
I would start from the beginning - see if battery ok, then move to starter, etc. I even had it that once I must have hit a wire to my ignition switch - of course did not turn over at all.

That is not to say that the carb may not need adjustment or something else.
I followed the redlineweber.com site to adjust carb.
Your new carb does have electric choke - so that is the only electric thing on it.
Also, did you adjust or change out anything else? I always seem to change out 5 things at a time and then have to back track and figure out which of the 5 I did not put in right.

Sorry that cannot be of more help - maybe others.

Hi JohnMC

Thanks for the reply and any help is great. I know the battery is on the outs as it doesnt hold the best of charge. I was jump starting it to get it to fire and it worked until the car stalled out. I tried again with the jumper cables on but still nothing. It doesnt even try to turn over. Almost like something is stopping the engine from rotating.

I will look at replacing the battery and starter and go from there.

I am sure I will have to spend sometime adjusting and playing with the carb. The only other thing I replaced was the spark plugs.

is there a way for me to manually turn the engine. For instance, if I put a socket and breaker bar on one of the cam nuts, can I rotate the engine?
Richie
JohnMc
Patron 2018
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Posts: 226
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:30 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Fiat 124

Re: Engine Help

Post by JohnMc »

An easy way to turn the engine is to put the car in fifth gear and take off parking brake and manually push it. Can also do the same thing but jack up rear of the car and put a block under one wheel and then manually spin the tire. (If you do not block one of the rear wheels then the other wheel will spin and it won't have the engine turn).
If you really want to do the above easily then you can remove the spark plugs. It will be really easy to either push the car or turn the back wheel when in fifth gear.
I do this when I adjust timing and also when adjusting valves - as you have to turn the engine.
Hope this helps.
John Mc//
Nut124
Posts: 748
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 6:39 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: Engine Help

Post by Nut124 »

Did you check the idle mixture screw position before starting? It may have been pouring gas into the engine.

If you run like this for a while, the rings can overheat, seize and the engine will stop.

Did the exhaust smell extra rich?

I would put a wrench on the crank nut and try to see if the engine will turn or is stuck.

Does the starter solenoid click?
ORFORD2004
Posts: 1120
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:48 pm
Your car is a: 1983 PININFARINA
Location: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada

Re: Engine Help

Post by ORFORD2004 »

Remove your spark plugs and crank. Maybe you will see lot of gaz. :shock:
tima01864
Patron 2021
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Posts: 702
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:01 pm
Your car is a: 1983 FIAT Pininafarina Spider 2000
Location: Wilmington, MA

Re: Engine Help

Post by tima01864 »

A little pop? Have you looked at the ignition timing?
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