Just Bought an '89 Spider - Page 2

**ghnl** · #16 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisCorso

Ground wires all seem to be intact at the engine.

Duke58 · #17 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 09:36 AM

"Well congratulation on your new adventure! Add pictures so the rest of us can point and laugh as we remember bringing home our first Alfas. Mine was three weeks ago"

My '86 Alfa Spider ran when I test drove it, or I wouldn't have bought it for any price. Paid $2500 for it. Been running everyday, in town and to Amarillo and back. Everything now works.

Good luck on your car. Drive it.

Duke

**spider4me** · #18 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 10:04 AM

Be sure you have the plug wires on the cap in the right order. Some of the caps, even from our own suppliers show a different firing order on the cap. I struggled with this one early on. Good luck, be sure to post pics

ChrisCorso · #19 (**permalink**) 08-06-2008, 07:37 PM

Hi,

Sorry about the long delay, I have been on the road alot. Anyhow, today I finally got the car running. I installed a new(used) injection rail and injectors I got from ebay.

Now, the car runs and drives...but it idles very lopey. Also, TDC for my car ended up with the rotor pointed towards the back of the car...opposite what is shown in the manual. Not sure if that matters or not.

Anyhow, anyone have any ideas what would make the car idle real lopey? I suspect my idle speed is too low...but my tach is not working yet, so I can't be sure.

Cheers,
Chris

PS, I'll be posting pics soon. I just washed it today, it looks decent...needs wax really bad.

**Tifosi** · #20 (**permalink**) 08-06-2008, 07:40 PM

Idle speed can do it, yes, but so can a VVT that is stuck 'on', or that has been adjusted in too far so that it never releases the plunger which would allow the intake cam to retard back to its smoother running postion.

I'd not be overly worried about the dizzy being 180 out as long as the ignition timing is correct. (as in it's something you can deal with at a later date without hurting anything if the timing tests as correct with a timing light)

**ghnl** · #21 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 06:04 AM

Glad to hear of your success.

re: the lopey idle: Try running some Techron fuel injection cleaner for a few tank fulls. That might help clean the injectors. And is the O2 sensor functioning? If that is not functioning the computer never goes into closed loop and adjusts the mixture. Instead it remains in a default slightly rich mixture. As would an engine that does not fully warm up (T-stat stuck open) or a faulty coolant temp sensor. Rich mixture tends to make the idle lopey. With the engine fully warmed up you can use the O2 sensor to adjust the idle air bypass which adjusts idle mixture. Info is in the L-jet diagnosis page.

Waiting for those pictures....

ChrisCorso · #22 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 06:44 AM

Here's my spider. I noticed, I get some blue smoke when I give it the gas...but I am hoping that may be a result of all the injector cleaner I have in the 5+ year old gas that is in it right now.

Also, I have put about 100 miles on it...it is running much smoother. I suspect another hundred and it will be running excellent! The car is a blast to drive! I have some stainless bullet style mirrors en route...the factory ones were gone when I bought it. I think it will look cool with the stainless ones!

[IMG]<a href="http://s513.photobucket.com/albums/t331/chriscorso/?action=view&current=Pics039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t331/chriscorso/Pics039.jpg" border="0" alt="1988 ALfa Romeo Spider"></a>[/IMG]