11-20-2007, 11:48 PM
|
 |
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Savannah Ga
Posts: 27
|
|
|
5th gear cold hold
most likely another noob question, but after reading through the owners manual for a 81 spider, I took note on page 15 in the bottom right of the page, a warning about NEVER shifting into 5th unless the engine temp is above 175 degree Farenheit...can anyone shed light on why this is?
__________________
regards,
Jim...
1981 Alfa Romeo Spider
a bit of Euro two wheels gone bad: [URL="http://www.esscape.com/aboutus/aboutus.htm#jim"][COLOR="Blue"]http://www.esscape.com/aboutus/aboutus.htm#jim[/COLOR][/URL]
and other complete madness: [URL="http://esscape.com/rides/2trips/trips.htm"][COLOR="Blue"]http://esscape.com/rides/2trips/trips.htm[/COLOR][/URL]
|
11-21-2007, 06:59 PM
|
 |
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Otter Creek, Florida
Posts: 300
|
|
 Quote:
Originally Posted by jcgoodlett2
most likely another noob question, but after reading through the owners manual for a 81 spider, I took note on page 15 in the bottom right of the page, a warning about NEVER shifting into 5th unless the engine temp is above 175 degree Farenheit...can anyone shed light on why this is?
|
All my manual says is "Do not drive at high speed until the oil in the engine, transmission and differential has warmed up properly" I take it easy until the engine is warmed up, but go into 5th all the time cold. Of course cold in Florida is fifty.
__________________
Richard
76 Alfetta GTV gone to rust haven, 89 Spider the graduate, 86 GTV6 on wish list
|
11-22-2007, 06:37 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Denmark
Posts: 380
|
|
|
That is certainly not written in the manuals of any of the Alfas I owned.
They have generally advised not drive the car hard until it toughly warm. This means to rev it too high (over 3000 RPM) or pressure it at low rev (below 2000 RPM).
As I remember, the general speed limit in the US then was 55 MPH; the advice might have been given, as Alfa considered 5th gear to be to high for a cold engine and transmission to pull.
Erik
|
11-22-2007, 07:43 AM
|
 |
In the Spiders' nest...
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nutley/NJ & Middletown/OH, USA
Posts: 4,860
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcgoodlett2
... a warning about NEVER shifting into 5th unless the engine temp is above 175 degree Farenheit...
|
I don't know if my 1974 manual has the same warning as jcgoodlett2's manual, but I will check it and report back. I won't be able to check until the first weekend in December, but I won't forget.
Best regards,
__________________
Enrique
Spider 74, 84 & 87
164 93L & 95Q
Milano 88 Verde
Last edited by Zunige; 11-22-2007 at 10:42 AM.
Reason: spelling
|
11-22-2007, 10:37 AM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Petaluma, CA
Posts: 100
|
|
|
My 1982 manual backs up what jcgoodlett2's 1981 manual states. Now as for the "Auto-Off" function that Enrique talks about, that part has yet to be witnessed...Thank God!!!
__________________
"With enough speed, anything will fit!!"
________________________________
1982 Spider Veloce-Cruiser Car
2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe-Go Fast Car
1990 Honda Accord-Beater Car
1977 Cessna 172 Flying Machine
|
11-22-2007, 11:04 AM
|
|
In the Spiders' nest...
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nutley/NJ & Middletown/OH, USA
Posts: 4,860
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Giovanni2000
...Now as for the "Auto-Off" function that Enrique talks about, that part has yet to be witnessed...Thank God!!!
|
 ... (Yes, I was much younger back then, and a bit impatient...) After that second "assurance" I surmised that it was akin to a car running cold. When you shift into 5th (overdrive), the fuel mixture leans out (as it should) and the RPMs drop. When a car is cold, the cold sensor kicks in and more fuel is pumped into the engine, and the RPMs go up until it warms-up. Hence, I've always thought that running a cold car in 5th was similar to trying to run a cold engine without the cold sensor, and hence without enough fuel to keep the RPMs up. The cold car will not run well without the extra shot of fuel and it will turn off, just like my cold Spider did when going into 5th...
I don't know why Alfa put that warning in the '81/'82 manuals, but obviously running an engine lean, or leaner than it should, can cause it to detonate, and that's one thing you don't want to do. If I had to guess, that's what I would say is why the manual says "never", as in "never run your engine lean"...
Best regards,
__________________
Enrique
Spider 74, 84 & 87
164 93L & 95Q
Milano 88 Verde
|
11-23-2007, 08:13 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Savannah Ga
Posts: 27
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zunige
When you shift into 5th (overdrive), the fuel mixture leans out (as it should) and the RPMs drop.
|
__________________
regards,
Jim...
1981 Alfa Romeo Spider
a bit of Euro two wheels gone bad: [URL="http://www.esscape.com/aboutus/aboutus.htm#jim"][COLOR="Blue"]http://www.esscape.com/aboutus/aboutus.htm#jim[/COLOR][/URL]
and other complete madness: [URL="http://esscape.com/rides/2trips/trips.htm"][COLOR="Blue"]http://esscape.com/rides/2trips/trips.htm[/COLOR][/URL]
Last edited by jcgoodlett2; 11-23-2007 at 08:16 AM.
|
11-23-2007, 09:15 AM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New Jersey USA
Posts: 7,532
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcgoodlett2
...a warning about NEVER shifting into 5th unless the engine temp is above 175 degree Farenheit...can anyone shed light on why this is?
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zunige
If I take out my 1974 Spider (it's SPICA, just like jcgoodlett2's 1981) when it's cold (something like 20 degrees Fahrenheit), and shift into 5th gear when the engine is not fully warmed-up, it will turn off. Yes, it will quit running!
|
I'd be most interested in learning more about this. I can not find anything in any Alfa document I have that mentions or shows a connection between the trans and the Spica pump (or ignition) for any Spica equipped year.
OTOH, maybe we should get together and fix it, eh? 
__________________
Jim
Series 1 Euro 1750 GTV
Series 2 US 1750 GTV
Series 3 Spider Veloce
|
11-24-2007, 08:18 AM
|
|
In the Spiders' nest...
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nutley/NJ & Middletown/OH, USA
Posts: 4,860
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by papajam
...
I'd be most interested in learning more about this. I can not find anything in any Alfa document I have that mentions or shows a connection between the trans and the Spica pump (or ignition) for any Spica equipped year.
OTOH, maybe we should get together and fix it, eh? |
 ). Of course, I'm sure another trip will be planned for some time in Feb, and you are certainly welcome to join me. And yes, I'd love to understand what's going on and fix it!
Best regards,
__________________
Enrique
Spider 74, 84 & 87
164 93L & 95Q
Milano 88 Verde
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
