Light stumble in the '79... suggestions?

Keep it on topic, it will make it easier to find what you need.
Post Reply
Holshot
Posts: 268
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:53 pm
Your car is a: 1982 TURBO Spider 1979 Spider
Location: Baltimore, MD

Light stumble in the '79... suggestions?

Post by Holshot »

Alright guys, I've had some time with the '79 this week and she runs great with the exception of a light stumble/miss at normal throttle/cruising speed. When she first starts up and is cold she's runs great but as soon as she starts warming up is when the issue starts. Like when your at a stop light and you start to pull off she wants to die and needs a lot rpm/gas to keep her moving. Now on full throttle pulls no issue at all, pulls clean and good power.

I've already done the basic tune up stuff, ie. plugs, wires, cap rotor, ect... Hoping that it might be a simple thing like that but it's still present and since most of my driving is at cruising speed it's a little annoying. Brief history, completely stock, 35k miles and I'm not to familiar with carbs and don't know where to even begin looking. I know it's next to impossible to diagnose a car without seeing first hand but what I'm looking for are some possible obvious things to look for in relation to the carb or if by the symptoms it would lead more towards one area to start checking considering the problem starts after she warms up. Any suggestions would be great appreciated!
Giuseppe

1979 Fiat Spider
1982 Fiat Spider TURBO
1984 Pinninfarina Spider (gone but not forgotten)
Holshot
Posts: 268
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:53 pm
Your car is a: 1982 TURBO Spider 1979 Spider
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Light stumble in the '79... suggestions?

Post by Holshot »

Well, I figured out my problem... When I did the tune up with the plugs, wires, cap and rotor I noticed that the pickup wire had been rubbing up against the gear under the rotor and frayed the wires some. I had taped up the wires while I waited on a new wire to arrive assuming the taped up wires would be ok. Well I got the new wire in and installed today and the car is running GREAT! It must have been the pickup wire all along... I just replaced the wire since I knew I had too and didn't think it was the source if my miss/stumble. I'll be ordering another one to keep on hand just in case for now on. But I still don't know or understand why the car ran great under WOT? If the wire was bad and causing the missing/stumble under normal throttle conditions yet when floored ran clean through the entire rpm range...?
Giuseppe

1979 Fiat Spider
1982 Fiat Spider TURBO
1984 Pinninfarina Spider (gone but not forgotten)
Post Reply