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Hi Folks, I need to troubleshoot a potentially fuel related problem,
The car is a Spider 2000, 1976, euro spec, dual Webbers and mech fuel pump (which is brand new, purchased from Classic Alfa). The fuel system has an inline fuel filer and a Malpassi fuel pressure regulator (with its own filter). Fuel lines are new. Carburetors have been revised recently with a set of new gaskets. The carburetor mounts have also been replaced with used Pirelli ones, in good condition, 1,500 miles ago.
Battery is ok
Starter is ok (brand new)
Spark it ok
Local temperature : 104F
After traveling 1,300 miles in 4 days without a hitch, here’s what happened.
I arrived at my folks’ town (the car tank was half full) 2 weeks ago. I topped it off and parked it in our garage, where it sat for 2 weeks straight (we were at the farm during this time).
When I came back and I tried to turn it on, It took several attempts to start the car (at least 15 minutes trying). When it finally started, everything was fine. It idled normal.
I waited about 10 min to warm it up properly and took it for a spin. It run fine. When coming back home I noticed it was dying at the red lights when I stoped.
I got at my parents home and parked the car. 30 minutes later we were about to leave for dinner, I started the car, it run for a couple of minutes and died...I tried again, and the time the engine run before dying got shorter and shorter...until I could not get it to run. It starts and dies right after.
I called a local mechanic to help and the next day we checked. The inline fuel filter was dry. We thought it could be a vacuum leak, although the roses did not show any visible sign of tear or leaks. We pulled gas back though the system and it fired and run fine.
After about 12 miles the same problem. Tried to start the car after parked for a few minutes, it fires and died light after.
This time we towed it to the mechanic and after checking the filter was dry again...
We checked the roses more carefully and did not find any leak...
Finally we decided to disconnect the Malpassi fuel pressure regulator (brand new) and the problem stopped, so far.
I’ve since driven about 30 miles, including some road, and had one event of the car dying in a red light after coming back. I thought I was going to get stuck again but this time after I fired it it kept going. This was last evening and since then it hasn’t had the problem again (I drove the car to the office this morning).
Im still not sure what the problem really was and I’m still not confident to take the long road back
Any clues would be enormously appreciated !
TIA
Gui
The car is a Spider 2000, 1976, euro spec, dual Webbers and mech fuel pump (which is brand new, purchased from Classic Alfa). The fuel system has an inline fuel filer and a Malpassi fuel pressure regulator (with its own filter). Fuel lines are new. Carburetors have been revised recently with a set of new gaskets. The carburetor mounts have also been replaced with used Pirelli ones, in good condition, 1,500 miles ago.
Battery is ok
Starter is ok (brand new)
Spark it ok
Local temperature : 104F
After traveling 1,300 miles in 4 days without a hitch, here’s what happened.
I arrived at my folks’ town (the car tank was half full) 2 weeks ago. I topped it off and parked it in our garage, where it sat for 2 weeks straight (we were at the farm during this time).
When I came back and I tried to turn it on, It took several attempts to start the car (at least 15 minutes trying). When it finally started, everything was fine. It idled normal.
I waited about 10 min to warm it up properly and took it for a spin. It run fine. When coming back home I noticed it was dying at the red lights when I stoped.
I got at my parents home and parked the car. 30 minutes later we were about to leave for dinner, I started the car, it run for a couple of minutes and died...I tried again, and the time the engine run before dying got shorter and shorter...until I could not get it to run. It starts and dies right after.
I called a local mechanic to help and the next day we checked. The inline fuel filter was dry. We thought it could be a vacuum leak, although the roses did not show any visible sign of tear or leaks. We pulled gas back though the system and it fired and run fine.
After about 12 miles the same problem. Tried to start the car after parked for a few minutes, it fires and died light after.
This time we towed it to the mechanic and after checking the filter was dry again...
We checked the roses more carefully and did not find any leak...
Finally we decided to disconnect the Malpassi fuel pressure regulator (brand new) and the problem stopped, so far.
I’ve since driven about 30 miles, including some road, and had one event of the car dying in a red light after coming back. I thought I was going to get stuck again but this time after I fired it it kept going. This was last evening and since then it hasn’t had the problem again (I drove the car to the office this morning).
Im still not sure what the problem really was and I’m still not confident to take the long road back
Any clues would be enormously appreciated !
TIA
Gui