Need help with 86 spider

There is a search feature to this BB which works great. You have an L-jet equipped car, features lots of places for air leaks and other symptoms similar to yours. Seems everyone today is concerned with whether their Alfa can do 135 mph, but perhaps someone can point this Alfa fan to the L-jet troubleshooting guide. Suggest you peruse the link, buy a manual from any of the vendors interested/loyal Alfa fans and read about the car.

Really is a fine vehicle once all the bugs are ironed out. My 86 Graduate, (with AC, by the way), has never left me at the side of the road for the past three plus years. I drive it often and drive it hard. (Pedal to the medal a lot). You can buy it from me when it does. (Cheap).

Hopefully, someone will be more interested in helping another Alfa owner rather than talking about doing 135 mph and being featured on America's Most Wanted or featured on a live high speed chase.

The link to the Spider L-jet diagnosis page is in my signature block.

Have you put in fresh gasoline? Changed fuel filter? Checked for fuel line obstructions?

The most common problems in our L-jet Spiders are intake air leaks and iffy electrical & ground connections. It's all in the L-jet page.

Good luck and let us know what you find. And post some pictures! We likes pictures.

P.S. when you get it sorted - keep it under 120 mph...

thanks guys, i was actually reading the info in your link. I will start with that first. I know one problem right away. My air intake hose is in very bad shape. it actually has duct tape around it. Hate to buy a new one but don't know if it cna be fixed/repaired. It is actually missing a 2-3 inch section. I have not changed the filter yet either. Is that something i can get from a regular autoparts store? thanks

jdw -

Sounds like you're off to a good start in that the car is running. All you need to do now is a little tweaking, none of it complex. Just do all the simple things - check the plugs, check all the wire connections, make sure all the wires in your engine bay are connected and not cracked, etc.

If you plan on driving the car, and it was sitting outside, and there was rust in the tank or anything, you probably need to stop by an auto place and just give it a basic once over. Some new plugs if the ones in there are old (check plug wires for cracks), maybe a new dist. cap and rotor if they're old. A new air and fuel filter. Change the oil. Get some fresh gas in there if you haven't already.

And then just look over all the ground connections. Check your fuses. Basic stuff. $75 worth of stuff you'll need to do anyway. 95% chance that and a little running will take care of it. if not, then you need to start checking your fuel pumps and other components.

Also, if your battery has been sitting for over a year with no recharging, it's shot. No doubt about it if it sat through a winter, it's toast. Get a new one. $45 at Wal-Mart.

jdw1222 said:

My air intake hose is in very bad shape. it actually has duct tape around it. Hate to buy a new one but don't know if it cna be fixed/repaired. It is actually missing a 2-3 inch section.

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The intake ducting is quite a vital component. Check out this thread for the trouble a loose hose and a tiny crack in the large duct caused to our '84 Spider.

I have not changed the filter yet either. Is that something i can get from a regular autoparts store?

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I bet you could. Advance Auto has a decent web page for looking up parts. It can tell you if parts are available, if they are in stock or how long it'd take to order them. Otherwise, check out the 'suppliers' thread in the "anything about Alfa Romeos" section of the forum.

Filter is definitely obtainable at Advance Auto.

From the poopy Fram all they way up through the high dollar K&N. (both in air and oil types)

How about the fuel filter? We were talking about the fuel filter (but a new air filter would be a good idea, too).

link to fuel filters at Advance Auto

Yup, they had that too, but not the in-tank sock one.

In Tank filter

Tifosi said:

Yup, they had that too, but not the in-tank sock one.

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International Auto has the intank filter and a new gasket for the in tank pump. Just got them

thanks for all the help guys!! You have given me a very good place to start. ANyone hav eany ideas on my intake hose. If I have to buy a new one where is the cheapest place to get it from?

jdw1222 said:

ANyone hav eany ideas on my intake hose. If I have to buy a new one...

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With a 2-3 inch hole in the hose, there's no if about it. The hose MUST be replaced. Both Centerline and IAP list this hose within a few dollars of each other.

Sounds like you're going to want to replace that hose anyway. Even if that's not the culprit, sounds like you need a new one. I think you have a lot of fun ahead of you - at least you aren't dealing with a non running car. Sounds like you just need to sort through a few things. Chances are if your intake is that bad, some other hoses might not be in that great a shape either. Also, look at the engine running at night, and look for errant sparks from the plug wires.

Mostly when we're dealing with 20 year old cars, all the rubber parts are starting to deterioriate.

yep, found one of the vaccum hoses split today. Can I use fuel line to replace these or do i need special vacum line?

Thanks

I used fuel line to replace some of the intake hoses.

The ultimate is to get the silicone hose kits from Greg Gordan at Hi-Performance Store.

another question. My air box won't stay alligned with the bottom part of the air box. Is there a gasket that goes between the two metal boxes? The clips won't keep it tight and it gets off center very easily allowing air to by pass the air filter

Nope, the only thing that keeps it lined up is the number of clamps and thier location along with the edge of the filter itself.

If the clamps aren't doing thier job, you'll have to give the hooks a bit of a workout with pliers to get them to grip a bit tighter.

From where they pivot on the 'handle' to the point where they double back on themselves to hook should be a pretty prominent curve. This is what applies pressure when you trip the latch on.

ok, thats what i thought. Thanks, will give it a try today!!