1989 S3 Spider injector problem?

[andytitterton]

I think I may have an injector problem with my Spider. The car is not quite running on all four cylinders and I have had a plug foul up on one of the cylinders a couple of times, so I'm wondering if I am getting a slight leak from one of the injectors. When running, the car sounds rich, as if the choke is on, but it does start ok.

I should point out that the cylinder head has just been overhauled with new valve guides and valve seat inserts. However, the above problem was apparent before the rebuild, so I've cured the smokey exhaust and the rattle from the loose valve seat, but not the actual running!

Any suggestions welcome. New injectors will be expensive, so I'd like to be sure before proceeding. Are the injectors common to any other car?

[Tifosi]

The Bosch p# for the injectors is 0-280-150-128 if you want to try to find other vehicles it may be on, or compare to other manufacturers injectors.


Have you checked the temperature sensors? If they are out of whack or have failed, they can certainly make things run rich.

AFM harness properly and securely connected, with confirmation that the contacts actually are contacting?

If you click the link in my sig, it'll take you to a spider L-jet specific page that'll 'splain how to test the various sensors.

Of course if the problem is limited to strictly that one cylinder, while the other appears as a somewhat light tan to gray, then it likely is the injector.

If that turns out to be the case, sending all of them out for a cleaning might be a more viable (and certainly less expensive) option than replacement.

And it would give a good excuse to change the short hoses that go form the rail to the injectors. (some cleaning services will accept the injectors still attached to the rail, and replace the hoses for you as part of the package)

[andy303]

Darren:
Can you provide the name of a company that cleans the injectors & replaces the hoses too?

[johnnym]

Andy,

I had a similar problem. I pulled the faulty injector and gave it a very good clean, leaving it to soak overnight in carb cleaner, then blowing it out with air. I don't think you can get carb cleaner in the UK, but any strong solvent will do. Relpacing the tube, then keep the injector off the car and turn the engine over to see what the spray pattern is like, before replacing it. There are other cars that have injectors that fit- seach for Bianchi's posts on the subject.

John

[Elio Comello]

Dont Fool around. For $16 Cruzin Performance will blueprint your injectors, replace in let screen, replace the pintle cap provide new upper and lower seals. ultrasonically/solvent clean complete with a full report for $16.


See my "Sooty" exhaust thread.

TTFN Elio

[ghnl]

Your car is nearly twenty years old (and thus I assume the fuel injectors are too). Running some Techron through them might help but removing them for proper cleaning is well advised. The company I used was Cruzin Performance (there are others that offer similar service). Note that any claims of 'rebuilt' FI's are bogus. They can be cleaned, screens & seals changed but the internals are inaccessable without destroying the injector.

First I would suggest you check very carefully for intake air leaks. They can fool one into assuming there is an injector problem - well they can fool ME anyway - if the leak is such that it affects one intake/cylinder more than the others. See this thread: Embarrassing Confession

[Tifosi]

Remember folks, Andy is in England, not the US.

Cruzin' Performance may be great, but would you send stuff across the ocean to get to thier shop?


EDIT to answer the query directed at me in post #3:

Nope, sorry, I don't have a clue about any shops on your side of the pond. (nor really my side either as I do most of that stuff myself)

[andy303]

Darren: I should have my location in my header. I made the third post and I live in Ohio. The first Andy who posted is obviously located in England. (Huzzah!)
My user name, coincidently, does however refer to the caliber of those fine British battle rifles, the Lee Enfields, another hobby. With the price of ammo these days (high quality .303 running about a $.90 per round) a day at the range could start to eat into the Alfa parts budget!

I will be sending my injectors to Cruzin when I commence on my blown gasket project. Thanks for the info, Elio!

[tmrobinson23]

A lot of people recommend Cruzin Performance for injector rebuild and I've sent them injectors as well. There is, what I believe, a much better option for about $25 each.

Motor Man Fuel Injector Supply
989-644-2695
Motor Man Fuel injector Websites sell a full line of Automotive Fuel Injectors @ wholesale prices & no core charges or core returns due back.

They did a MUCH better job for my Spider and as a result have earned my business exclusinvely.

[andytitterton]

Just a thought - I no longer have a cat fitted to this car. I have, however, refitted the Lambda sensor to the new exhaust system, my theory being that it will still be sensing the percentages of gases as before. Could this be the cause of any problem, and if so, why have I only got a problem with one cylinder? What would the effect be if I disconnected the sensor - would it make the mixture richer or leaner?

Incidentally, just found that injectors don't seem to be available over here for the L-Jetronic Bosch system....... I hope the problem can therefore be cured by cleaning since comments about not being able to be reconditioned have been noted!

[Tifosi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by andytitterton if I disconnected the sensor - would it make the mixture richer or leaner?

[andy303]

Just for merde et giggles I went to the Bosch site, which has a part finder here: http://www.boschautoparts.com/Resour...clePartFinder/

I looked up 84 Alfa Spider (my car) and pasted the results in an Excel spreadsheet. I did the same for various other makes in that model year. Attached is a pdf that gives a summary of my very brief search. Some parts are indeed common to other makes, in other cases the part numbers are so close you wonder if the part could be adapted.

[Elio Comello]

I followed up on TMROBINSON23's source (Motor Man)

I noted that their website lists 0280 150 764 injectors for the Bosch S3 Spiders.

This is not correct, the correct # is 0280 150 128.

I corresponded with them, they offer an equivalent to the 128 for $29.99

Somehow I am not confortable......

At least with Cruzin Performance, what you send, you get back, blueprinted and for less.... comments?

TTFN Elio

[ghnl]

I glanced at the MotorMan web site but did not study it.

The injectors in our cars cannot be "rebuilt" or "remanufactured". They can be cleaned, the external screens replaced & the external seals replaced but the internal components are inaccessable.

That does look like a good source for replacement injectors if yours are defective.

[AlfaTango1]

I just looked up injectors a few days ago for my 89. Here's the link:
RockAuto Parts Catalog
You'll have to enter the info since it defaulted back to the home page not the injector page that I copied.