No Start when hot

Gotta love that wiring . . .
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satufiat
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2016 7:31 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000

No Start when hot

Postby satufiat » Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:10 pm

My problem: Starts fine when cold, once it warms up it wouldn't start. Cranks ok. Acts like no fuel or spark.

History: Installed new heater core and heater hoses, (previous owner had the heater core by-passed at the heater hoses). No prior problems with these symptoms.
Filled radiator and burped system using a spill-free funnel. Temp stable on gauge, fan comes on when necessary.

After filling and somewhat sure all air is out of the system. shut her down and cleaned up the work area... 10 min later went to start her and ...'no-start'. Cranks but no start. Check all connectors, etc. and about 10 min later she starts up and out of the garage I go. I get about 5 miles away and she dies... silence. Rolled into a parking lot and ... no start... cranks but no start.

Get a ride back home and begin my research on FiatSpider.com. Thought for sure I had a failing Temp sensor (at the Tee), causing the fuel not to pump. Waited about 2 hours, went back to the car and she started and I drove back home.

Now start troubleshooting. Cold...starts right up. Stop take an ohms reading of the Temp Sensor(at the tee). 4.7K ohms. Cold.
Start it, let it get up to temp, the fan kicks on just above mid-range on the gauge. Gauge drops down below mid-range(approx. 180 deg). Shut the engine down. Take an ohms reading of the temp gauge - 673 ohms. Slowly starts to rise after a few minutes.

Go to start.... No start.

Ok. Spark tester on coil wire. No visible spark. Pull distributor cap. This is what I found.

Image

I guess before I go any further I need to replace the Pickup Coil. The insulation just crumbled away once I touched it. Could this be causing the problem? maybe making the Control Module fail?

I watched a Youtube video from international Autoparts on the magnetic pickup https://youtu.be/wzYxTlV8kKs @3:40 they talk about the magnet positioned with a stripe down. Mine wasn't. Does this matter?

Image

I know I'm long winded, but hopefully I've provide infomation for someone in the future. I won't know if this fixes it till the parts come in. New Pickup Coil, Control Module, Distributor Cap, Rotor and plug wires on the way.

fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: No Start when hot

Postby fiat218 » Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:26 pm

Green corrosion on them wires?
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider

fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: No Start when hot

Postby fiat218 » Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:27 pm

I would say that could be why too
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider

AriK
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1148
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider
Location: Montreal Canada

Re: No Start when hot

Postby AriK » Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:41 pm

The car won't run if the magnet is the wrong way. Follow the instructions on the particular magnet you receive. Pay attention to set the correct gap as well.

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satufiat
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2016 7:31 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000

Re: No Start when hot

Postby satufiat » Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:43 pm

Yes, green corrosion. It wouldn't take much force to break the wires off. Just a strand or two still holding on at the pickup head.

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satufiat
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2016 7:31 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000

Re: No Start when hot

Postby satufiat » Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:47 pm

AriK wrote:The car won't run if the magnet is the wrong way. Follow the instructions on the particular magnet you receive. Pay attention to set the correct gap as well.



That is the way I found it. It was running. Apparently changed once before...there was no screw holding the wire at the distributor entry point.

The pickup coil was also 'loose' on the mounting plate. Also probably not a good thing.

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courtenay
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Posts: 1321
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:41 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: Courtenay, BC, Canada

Re: No Start when hot

Postby courtenay » Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:14 am

Had a similar problem. Check your fuel pump. Mine worked fine when cold, not so much when hot.
Bruce Shearer
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago

User avatar
satufiat
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2016 7:31 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000

Re: No Start when hot

Postby satufiat » Sat Apr 08, 2017 10:06 am

Update! Replaced magnetic pickup coil, Ignition Control Module, Distributor Cap, Rotor and plug wires.

Seems to have fixed the problem. Several hot / cold sessions and she runs like a champ!

fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: No Start when hot

Postby fiat218 » Sun Apr 09, 2017 4:53 am

Great , just a simple fix
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider


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