Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

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Spiderman80
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:27 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Pininfarina Fiat Spider 2000

Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby Spiderman80 » Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:10 pm

Hello all...

I am new to this site and feel as if I have spent the last week trolling the internet for a simple answer to my 1980 Spider 2000 FI not starting.

The car has been in storage off and on since I bought it back in 1984. It has 39,000 original miles, and every few years I tell myself I am going to spend a few grand and make her special again. Kids, life, and a few moves, and I end up starting her every there or four years, and other than a rough start, she always starts and runs after a new battery and some fresh gas, but she never got restored to her former glory and hasn't been "driven" like she should for more than 20yrs. This last time she sat for only a couple of years, but this time I turned the starter over and the car ran for about 3-5seconds and then she died.

Here's where the story starts... I replaced the gas filter, drained the tank, put in fresh gas with some Royal Purple Boost and Fuel Stabilizers. Same result. I popped off the air intake line and sprayed starter fluid in the intake manifold. She ran a little longer, but only for about 5-10secs. My diagnosis: fuel delivery. So I read about 50 threads and am now completely confused. I am looking for some real guidance and really prioritization of where to start and what's important first. New fuel pump? Change a bunch of sensors? Grounds? Fiddle with the AFM sensor (included with black cover surgery). I'm in the rabbit hole!

I'll admit I'm fairly handy, but this thing has me scared and I need to solve it ASAP. Looking to my fellow FIAT geeks for some collective thought capital. HELP!!!! ...please.

ORFORD2004
Posts: 1099
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:48 pm
Your car is a: 1983 PININFARINA
Location: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby ORFORD2004 » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:03 am

What about plug injectors?

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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby RRoller123 » Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:22 am

You could start with a fuel pressure gauge, mounted at the CSI Cold Start Injector, and report back what you have for fuel pressure.

Check the electrical connections at the CSI, and that the AAV is OPEN when cold.

Also you could remove and test the Temp Sensor at the front of the coolant T. Let us know the Ohm readings when it is cold, and at boiling temperature.

Beyond that, checking all the connections at the ground pods is a good idea.

After sitting so long, the injectors may need to be cleaned. High probability of this. When I bought my car, I was told it had been treated similarly, started a few times each year. It ran, yet the injectors were a complete mess, some running at ~25% throughput. There are good, quick turnaround services, I like OK Injectors, but there are others that do a good job too. They will also check the action of the Cold Start Injector too, the CSI, which is necessary. A good Injector cleaning (forget the gas additives, waste of time if the injectors are already bunged up) is an important thing to get done.

Pete
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

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Spiderman80
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Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:27 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Pininfarina Fiat Spider 2000

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby Spiderman80 » Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:20 pm

Looks like I have a few tasks... Will report back when I'm done.

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Spiderman80
Posts: 21
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Your car is a: 1980 Pininfarina Fiat Spider 2000

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby Spiderman80 » Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:41 pm

Bought a fuel pressure gauge today... Stupid question. Where exactly is the best place to attach it? There is no port so the suggestion is by the CSI. Does that mean I disconnect the CSI? Or the hose to the CSI? Just need some guidance... Is there a better place?

Also, if I want to remove the rail and the injectors, does anyone have a good thread or diagram, or video on how best to do it?

ORFORD2004
Posts: 1099
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:48 pm
Your car is a: 1983 PININFARINA
Location: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby ORFORD2004 » Thu Apr 13, 2017 9:10 pm

Does that mean I disconnect the CSI? Or the hose to the CSI

The hose to the CSI and you put a T

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby klweimer » Thu Apr 13, 2017 9:30 pm

Spiderman80,
Shoot me a PM with your email address and I'll send you my grainy scan of the factory FI trouble shooting manual.
Kirk

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Spiderman80
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:27 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Pininfarina Fiat Spider 2000

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby Spiderman80 » Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:36 am

Kirk,

You sent me GOLD! I can never repay you except I guess to learn and pay it forward. I'm gonna dive in and tell you what I found...

Pictures and results to follow... BTW, it's my anniversary today. Any advice on whether working on the car is bad form today? :)

-Brad

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aj81spider
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Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chelmsford, MA

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby aj81spider » Fri Apr 14, 2017 5:40 pm

Unless it's her car, or she loves to work on cars with you ... it's bad form.
A.J.

1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby klweimer » Fri Apr 14, 2017 8:53 pm

Happy to help. Go take your wife out for dinner!

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Spiderman80
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:27 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Pininfarina Fiat Spider 2000

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby Spiderman80 » Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:56 pm

Ok fellas, the anniversary was a success! She still loves me... Following up, I finally got everything I need to test the fuel pump and pressure. I got 40 PSI, so I know the pump works and fuel is getting to the fuel rail. What next? What is the AAV? Where is it? and how do I check if it is open. As I said, the car turns over easily, the cold start injector must be working because the car runs for about 3-5 secs and then dies. Should I just pull the injectors and clean them? It looks like some task as I would need to remove some other things to get to them. I'm trying to avoid unnecessary work, but these little Italian gems are tricky and finicky...

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby klweimer » Fri Apr 21, 2017 9:40 pm

Brad,
Have you checked to see if the injectors are getting power pulses? I think that's covered in the troubleshooting guide. If the injectors are getting power pulses, then it could be the injectors are plugged. Pulling the injectors is not that bad. Just a little awkward to pull the rail.
Kirk

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Spiderman80
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:27 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Pininfarina Fiat Spider 2000

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby Spiderman80 » Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:23 pm

Well gents... You did it! Many thanks for the guidance and input. I got her started and she sounds purrrrfect!

Here's a photo of what I'm fighting for:

/Users/bradbodine/Desktop/Scarsdale - Greenacres - Montrose Rd, April 24, 2017/IMG_1567.jpg

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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby RRoller123 » Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:55 am

What ended up being the cause?
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

User avatar
Spiderman80
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:27 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Pininfarina Fiat Spider 2000

Re: Hello and HELP! Another Spider that won't start...

Postby Spiderman80 » Wed Feb 28, 2018 12:28 am

Solved it by cleaning each injector by hand. Once completed, she fired up like a champ. Tough job, but worth the time. Now on to the electrical!!!


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