You've may know of this guide, but if not it may be helpful...

https://www.wesingram.com/SPICA_Roadside_Diagnosis_Nov2004.pdf

Also much more Spica help from former member 144 available by entering Spica guide into the advanced search function.

Best of luck,

 

Which fuel pump did you put on the car? Did it run at 16 psi with the old pump and then 23 psi with the new one?

 

The pump is from Vicks. It has 23 pounds of pressure when I turn the key on. The pressure drops when the car is running. If the fuel cut off switch goes bad what happens?

 

Hi there, is the fuel cutoff solenoid shorted, so always on?

 

Is there a test to see if it is shorted? I have taken the wire off the FCS and tried starting the car and there is still not fuel coming out of the injection pump.

 

If the wire is off, that should keep it from operating. Not that it matters in this instance but is your low fuel pressure light working? Turns on briefly when you first turn the key to run? Spica system otherwise rigged correctly? In the above reference roadside fault guide it would be worth checking the barostatic compensator and the hairspring clip.

 

I purchased this car back in the summer. It had been sitting for 16 years. Once I had it running the fuel pressure light always stayed on which is why I added the fuel pressure gauge after the front filter but before the injection pump.

We pulled the BC and did not see any sign of a broken spring. The hair spring came off as I did not realize the screw beside the BC held it on. It does not appear to be broken. The wire was on the FCS but after reading the for mentioned guide I pulled the wire to see if it made a difference.

When I loosened two of the injection lines there is no fuel that comes out of them when I am cranking the car over.

What allow the fuel to move through the injection pump? I know it has pistons but if fuel is going in to the pump and coming out the return line why is fuel not going to the injectors?

 

Did you check to see if the drive belt is connected for the injection pump. Unless your injection pump has a broken crankshaft, which I have never seen, there is no reason that fuel wont pass through the injection pump if you have a good fuel pump, clean fuel filters...there are 2 separate filters. Try loosen the fitting on the injection pump. Your injector nozzles could be clogged. Good luck!!

 

16 years is a long time.... maybe pull the panel off the side by the serial number tag and see if the pistons are moving, when you turn the engine by hand.
The spring that mounts by the BC and the hair spring are different springs.
The fuel pressure light on while running is not good, that should be made better.
Seems that something is not right between pistons and injectors. Unless with the fuel pressure light on actually means you are too low in pressure. My experience is fuel pressure light on means coasting to the side of the road.

 

16 years is a long time for an Alfa to sit, especially a SPICA system. Check your oil dip stick. Does the oil smell like gas? The fuel could be going into the oil system instead of the injectors. A common problem on old SPICA systems that have sat for a long time. If this is the case, call Wes Ingram immediately to get your pump into the que. I hear its about 9 months now. Good luck.

 

I just returned a long-idle spider to service. Somewhere between 12-20 years. Among other things, new pump, filters, hoses, etc. Also drained tank (nasty, but no leaks), and rinsed several times with a mix of fresh gas and tank/fuel system cleaners.

Ran fine for about 10 miles, then fuel pressure light came on. Still ran ok, but low pressure not acceptable.
Short version.... new rear fuel filter completely plugged with whatever crap finally flushed out of the tank. Another new filter has it going again.

 

Turns out the hair spring broke at the bottom. I think its time to pull the engine and freshen everything.