Intermittent Fuel Pump? / Bad Magnetic Pickup?

[Burningmustard]

1982 Spider dies, won’t restart until it sits for 5~10 minutes.


I am having an issue that I believe is fuel related, and after searching this forum I think I need a new fuel pump. But thought I would ask to see if anyone has other ideas.

Problem was first noticed while going around a cloverleaf, two separate hesitations around 20 mph, and then no problems for the next 10 minutes (mostly highway). At the end of this trip I was about 200 yards from home and the car just dies while at a stop sign, and wouldn’t restart.

Since I was close to home, and home was mostly down hill, I gave it a push and coasted into my driveway. At this point I thought I had ran it out of gas (gauge said still had half a tank), so I poured about 2 gallons in and it fired right up. After sitting 10 minutes.

The next day I went to the gas station and put about 6~7 gallons in, everything was fine. Went on a cruise and everything was fine, but about 20 minutes into the drive, the car died at a stop light and wouldn’t restart. A couple of guys helped me push it off the road, and I sat there thinking what to do. One of the guys who helped me push thought it was fuel related problem, he seemed to know his stuff. Finally I thought I give it one more turn. Fired right up and drove it home with no issues (10 minutes).

Any ideas? I think it is getting spark, but I guess I don't know for certain.

Thanks,
Zach

[BEEK]

you need to make sure its a fuel problem, not an ignition problem. when the car dies see if you have spark.

[red107]

you need to make sure its a fuel problem, not an ignition problem. when the car dies see if you have spark.

I'm with Beek. check the ignition switch.

[rlux4]

When I first got my 82 it had an intermittent stall, no start issue. I traced it down to the inline fuse holder for the dual relay. The factory fuse holder didn't make good consistent contact with the fuse. Seeing as this is intermittent, a good way to see if your problem is the same would be to keep a 12V test light in you car. When the problem comes back put the test light on the green with black stripe wire coming from your dual relay. If it doesn't have power (goes to the fuel pump) the problem is the fuse, the fuse holder, or the dual relay.
The inline fuse holder in question is on a brown with white stripe wire in amongst the rat's nest of wires up behind the fuse panel.
Ron

[spiderrey]

I had an issue when i bought my green 68. It would stall every now and then. Might not be your issue, but who knows. I would fiddle with the carb and it would start after a while, replaced the fuel pump, still died every now and then at the worst times. Then someone told me to replace all the fuel lines. All had already been replaced except for the short one to the tank. That was the problem it was sucked air through a crack every now and then. good luck.

[So Cal Mark]

thermal-related issues are pretty common with the ignition module on electronic ignition cars also.

[Burningmustard]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions, not I know a few things to check next time it happens. I just hope it doens't happen at a busy intersection again. Although, since it seems to die at idle sitting still, perhaps I can recreate it in the driveway.

Great site by the way. Everyone if very eager to help out.

P.S. Can anyone in Kansas City can recommed a good mechanic? So far Coach and Motor Works on S.W. Blvd is the only place I can find that works on Fiats.

[So Cal Mark]

FWI, the only intermittent fuel pumps on Fiats I've run across have to do with debris causing the pump to lock up.

[stefhahn]

Hi -

once upon a time .... I had the very same symptoms - it was a ignition problem, the distibution finger had a crack. The really bad thing about it was, that the plugs (had them out for testing) did even produce a spark - but this was too weak. Took me some time to find out.
Good luck!

ciao,
Stefan

[Burningmustard]

Hi -

once upon a time .... I had the very same symptoms - it was a ignition problem, the distibution finger had a crack. The really bad thing about it was, that the plugs (had them out for testing) did even produce a spark - but this was too weak. Took me some time to find out.
Good luck!

ciao,
Stefan

Is there an easy way to check this? thanks

[stefhahn]

Actually - exchange the dist finger, it is a cheapo part and easy to be done. I finally found it by measuring the voltage at the spark plugs but I have no clue about the numbers anymore, I had another spider around to compare. Same symptoms can come from a bad ignition module afaik.
ciao,
Stefan

[Burningmustard]

Seeing as this problem is intermittent, I thought I would take a look at some of the things that might be causing it, just to see if anything looks suspect.

The in line fuse holder under the dash appears to be making good contact. I moved it around pretty good with the engine running, and everything was fine.


Next, I think I might take a quick look at the distributor like stefhahn mentions. I'm a beginner, so hopefully I don't mess anything up. I have the Brooklands book so maybe that will help me out.

Thanks!

[Burningmustard]

Took a quick look at the distributor and everything looks good expect for some black wires as shown in the first pic. Not sure what they do.

[So Cal Mark]

you need to replace the pickup unit inside the distributor. Those wires have been repaired by wrapping them with tape. When you install the new unit, take care to keep the wires away from the rotor and reluctor

[corujoxx]

I am having just the same problem. The first time i´ve thinked was the fuel punt, but at this point I´m not sure.
The pick up cable is cutted and re-welded in my car, so I have a new one waiting in my desk, and after read this, I will chech all the ignition parts.

This weekend, the car stops at the highway making a big black smoke. After few minutes, it starts again and the problem repeates up to three times. Afortunately, after the last one, we did more the 750 miles without more problems.

I´m starting to believe in ghosts...