Car died while driving now won’t start

[Pescado]

So the car has been running good after our small repairs, probably put on about 300km already this year. Today is our first street breakdown. While driving the car it just died and now won’t start. It cranks good but won’t spark, from what I’ve read so far sounds like I need to prove spark at this point. Just wondering if the coil or condenser craps out will the car just die? Has this happened to others? Luckily this happened right after getting off the highway on a side street.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Just wondering if the coil or condenser craps out will the car just die? Has this happened to others?

Any chance you just ran out of gas (is the fuel gauge correct?), or your fuel filter got plugged up or the fuel pump quit? Look down the carburetor throat and work the throttle by hand. If you see a squirt of fuel from the accelerator pump jet, then it's likely not a fuel issue.

If the engine passes the above test, if a carbureted car is running fine and just dies, it's usually an electrical issue like a wire came loose (or shorted). Carburetor, timing, points, or coil issues will usually give some prior indication like missing, hesitation, etc. Pull a spark plug but leave it connected to its plug wire. Lay the plug on the body so it's grounded (I use the #3 plug and the hood latch), and watch for a spark when you crank the engine. Do this in dim light so you can see the spark.

For fuel injected, it's usually electrical but the possibilities are more broad, like sensors, ECU, etc.

-Bryan

[Pescado]

Thanks Bryan…it’s a 79 with carb. Ya I can see fuel being jetted in the bowl but just keeps cranking. I’ll start some troubleshooting tomorrow and post my findings…thanks again.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Don't overlook the possibility that the engine is flooded (with gas). Hold the gas pedal firmly to the floor, but don't pump it as you crank the engine. If it eventually fires, your engine was flooded and we can go from there.

-Bryan

[Pescado]

Ok so checked for spark and don’t see anything. Time for a new coil?

[Pescado]

Any recommendations on brand?

[Nut124]

More likely the electronic pickup under the dizzy cover or the ignition control module under the coil.

Remove dizzy cover and look for damage to the two pickup leads.

With key in run position, check for 12V at the coil.

https://autoricambi.us/1966-1985-fiat-1 ... -ignition/

Do not pay extra for the performance module.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Any recommendations on brand?

I see that Nut beat me to a post, but here's what I wrote:
I would imagine any of the coils sold by the usual vendors (AutoRicambi, Vick Auto, Midwest-Bayless) would be fine, but then again, I've never had a coil fail. I've seen them get weak over the decades, but I'm still thinking that if the car died all of a sudden, it might not be the coil. Have you checked that you get +12V on the B+ terminal of the coil, the points / condenser (if you have them) are all OK, spark plug gap too large (aim for 0.025"), etc?

My '69 and '71 spiders have their original coils and work just fine as far as I can tell. Maybe I'm just lucky?

-Bryan

[TX82FIAT]

When these cars get real hot the Magneti Marelli pick up coil will fail. They will often work again once the car cools down. https://autoricambi.us/magnetic-pick-up-coil-1979-85/

[spider2081]

Time for a new coil?

A good visual inspection of the inside of the distributor is a good idea when there is no spark. Frayed or broken pick up wires is fairly common.
Measuring voltage on the coils pink wire is important. Battery voltage should be present at the pink wire terminal in both the "start" and "run" position of the ignition switch.
Make sure the pick up coils white cable is properly plugged into the Electronic control module under the ignition coil.

When checking for Spark I like to pull the wire off the #3 spark plug and use a spare plug. I use the cowl portion of the hood latch for the ground point of the spark plug. On some engines the valve covers do not make a ground connection to the engine and so the plug cannot spark.

[kilrwail]

Make sure your points haven't broken. I've had that happen twice in 44 years.

[spider2081]

Make sure your points haven't broken. I've had that happen twice in 44 years.

Does a 1979 Spider have points or does it have a solid state ignition

[Pescado]

Found the problem…magnetic pick up wire. To be honest at first glance it looked fine only after touching it did I confirm the break…thanks guys. Part has been ordered

[Pescado]

You guys make this easy…thank you. We changed the magnetic pick up coil and the ignition module and our car is back on the street . Some pictures of the engine clean up we did during the winter for your viewing pleasure.

[Pescado]

When will I learn??? So the car started great in the garage figured I was all good…but no. Went for a test drive and suddenly ran into issues when accelerating. Car would bog/choke like no fuel available or something. Drove it around the block VERY slowly and parked her back in the garage. Hood up and start the car…sounds all good pull on the throttle linkage to get revs up and a BIG bang comes from the carb…just about pooped my pants. Starting looking around, lots of fuel smell, and than found a fuel drip coming from somewhere under the carb ( picture attached)