Problems starting my '88 Spider

[Walter Blady]

Wonder if somebody could help me with some info.

I have a 1988 Alfa Spider QuadriFoglio. About 8 months ago I was driving along when the car started to sputter then died. It started up a few minutes later. This sputtering came back every once in a while, but I managed to keep the car running by quickly half-pumping the gas several times. The engine would sputter a little less with each pump until it ran normally. Felt like dirt in the fuel line.

The other day I started the Alfa and it ran for a few minutes then died completely. I haven't been able to start it since.

I removed a plug to see if it was wet with gas, but it was dry with no smell of gas in the cylinder. Looks like it's not getting any fuel.

I checked the primary fuel pump for noise or vibration when the ignition was on and there was nothing. The 2 power contacts were still covered and clean. There is no fuel pump fuse, only a Petrol supply Motronic relay (wherever that is located).

Has anybody else had this problem? Could it be a fuel pump, filter or something else I'm not aware of?

I would prefer to fix this myself if it's not too serious. Appreciate any help before I have to tow it to the mechanic.

Thanks.

[gotglasses]

I have an 86 - it has a fuse , always check that first. Pump won't start if AFM flap is down, here is a link to a good troubleshooting site. Sure sounds like the pump which is easy.

http://www.alfaclub.org/techstff/boschfi.htm

[bill_bain]

The other test that you can do is to see if the cold start injector is firing, but if the plugs are dry, no fuel is the likely answer. There is a separate fuse for the fuel pump on L-Jet Spiders -- it's located by the brain box on the rear shelf behind the passenger seat. That's the first thing to check -- if that's not it, then you need to check the relay.

Those are the most common things It's possible that one of the pumps is fubar'ed but check the fuse first. And then the relay -- a lot of times they go and it's not something folks think to check.

Can you borrow a relay from a fellow Alfisti to check? They're expensive ($50+) so you don't want to throw parts at it. I've been told that the early VW Rabbits use the same relay (check the Bosch part number) if there's no ready source of Alfa parts close by.

It's also possible, in a pinch to open up the relay case, and use a penny to jump the power terminals in the relay, leaving it in an "always on" mode. A fellow Alfisti showed me that trick when my relay died at VIR hundreds of miles from home. He opened the case and jumped the relay and I drove the car 400 miles to home that way. Every time I stopped the car, I'd take the fuse out to shut off the pump. Beat walking, that's for sure!

It's possible that there's some other issue but the fuel system on an L-Jet is pretty simple, so I'd check there first.

[-P-]

the fuse by the brain was the cause of every single problem for my starting woes