Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
I hope someone out there can help me try to diagnose the following issue with a 1982 Spider. The car worked well until one day it just stalled out. The symptoms are that while you are driving, sometimes it will not idle and the engine will die out. While you are driving above 20 miles an hour the car works without evidence of a problem. As you begin to coast it will just die out. It forces you to drive with both feet to gun the engine and keep the RPMs above 2000. Even then you can hear the engine wanting to cut out and you keep punching the gas pedal in effect keeping the engine racing.
I have replaced the fuel filter, new Cap, Rotors, Plugs, spark plug wires, some cracked breather hoses, fuel filter, and air duct hose. Could it be the exhaust gas sensor, the Fuel Injection computer box, air flow meter or even the throttle position switch? It does not do this all the time. One day I drove the car for 45 minutes and there were no signs of trouble, the car worked perfectly. Sometimes it does it for 15-20 minutes straight and then stops doing it for 10 minutes and does it all over again. Please help!
I have replaced the fuel filter, new Cap, Rotors, Plugs, spark plug wires, some cracked breather hoses, fuel filter, and air duct hose. Could it be the exhaust gas sensor, the Fuel Injection computer box, air flow meter or even the throttle position switch? It does not do this all the time. One day I drove the car for 45 minutes and there were no signs of trouble, the car worked perfectly. Sometimes it does it for 15-20 minutes straight and then stops doing it for 10 minutes and does it all over again. Please help!
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
the afm is a possibility, check to see if the flap sticks. I doubt it's the ecu, they're pretty bullet proof. I'd check the integrity of the connector at the coolant temp sensor. When it stalls, does it restart right away?
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
I have a 1980 Fiat Spider and am experiencing the same problem. It seems like we have replaced everything and still have the problem. Very frustrating. Has anyone experienced this problem and found a fix? Thanks for your help.
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- Posts: 379
- Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:41 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 Fiat 124 Spider
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
Check your altenator; I had similar symptoms and had the alternator tested under load at Avance Auto parts. Turned out to be a marginal battery and a bad diode in the alternator - it wouldn't put out enough "juice" to keep the care running at idle.
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
The car does start right away, however I need to gun it and have the engine race at higher RPMs than normal to keep it from dying out. I have already checked the integrity of the connector at the coolant temp sensor and moved it around while the car was running normally and nothing happened. There was no change in the RPMs. Is the afm difficult to check to see if the flap sticks? Is there something on line that breaks down how to do this? Also the alternator seems to be working without any problems, would there be any other signs that this could be the issue causing the problem?
I would really like everyone to know how appreciative I am for the advice. I love Fiat Spiders; I purchased my first one back in 1979. I wish I were more mechanically incline and not worry about taking the car out and having it die out when my son or I use it.
I would really like everyone to know how appreciative I am for the advice. I love Fiat Spiders; I purchased my first one back in 1979. I wish I were more mechanically incline and not worry about taking the car out and having it die out when my son or I use it.
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- Posts: 548
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:17 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 Spider
- Location: Cincinnati OH
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
Alfajag,
Do you know anyone locally with a running FI FIAT? Switch out the AFM to see if that is the issue. Worked for me.
Steve
Do you know anyone locally with a running FI FIAT? Switch out the AFM to see if that is the issue. Worked for me.
Steve
Steve
1982 Red Spider 2000
1919 Old Town Sailing Canoe
1982 Red Spider 2000
1919 Old Town Sailing Canoe
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
Everyone thanks for all the good advice. I am now looking into buying a new (probably rebuilt) AFM. Let's hope that it cures the problem. So, where is the best place to locate the AFM at a good price?
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- Posts: 548
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:17 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 Spider
- Location: Cincinnati OH
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
I recommend posting on the "parts wanted" section of this forum and checking the parts for sale section.
I paid $500 for a rebuilt one, for another spider i paid $70 for a working used one from a guy advertising in the parts section here.
I paid $500 for a rebuilt one, for another spider i paid $70 for a working used one from a guy advertising in the parts section here.
Steve
1982 Red Spider 2000
1919 Old Town Sailing Canoe
1982 Red Spider 2000
1919 Old Town Sailing Canoe
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
2nd wind thanks for the advice. I am in the process of buying a used one from another site members for $150.00. I hope this cures the problem.
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their valuable advice. I did locate a used, but not rebuilt Air Flow Meter from another member of Fiatspider. I purchased it and replaced the one that was on there. It worked! I drove the car for around 15 minutes thereafter without issue. I know that I need to spend more time testing it and drive the car for a longer duration, but so far so good. Thanks to everyone again.
- seabeelt
- Patron 2019
- Posts: 1614
- Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm
- Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
- Location: Tiverton, RI
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
Great job, keep us posted
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current
- divace73
- Posts: 1380
- Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:59 am
- Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider Silver
- Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
if the AFM is faulty (which it does sound like the culprit) you coud have 1 of 2 issues with it.
1 Door warped (you can check easily by pushing with your fingers to see if it moves freely and without any metal scraping noises.
2. Part of the track on the PCB has worn out spot (Common where a lot of drcing occurs at the same speed) The is a small amount of adjustment that can allow a new track to be run.
My 0.022 cents worth (Inclusive of Australian GST) you can claim the 0.002 cents if you export my opinion
1 Door warped (you can check easily by pushing with your fingers to see if it moves freely and without any metal scraping noises.
2. Part of the track on the PCB has worn out spot (Common where a lot of drcing occurs at the same speed) The is a small amount of adjustment that can allow a new track to be run.
My 0.022 cents worth (Inclusive of Australian GST) you can claim the 0.002 cents if you export my opinion
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
- evrenosogullari
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 11:09 am
- Your car is a: Fiat Spider 1980 Automatic
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
Hi,
I am having this same issue which I posted here:
http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39566
I've just ordered a new Air Flow Meter from here:
https://autoricambi.us/remanufactured-b ... r-1980-85/
Hopefully it will fix my problem as well!
Any idea how to replace this? I'm guessing it just pulls off and gets reconnected.
I am having this same issue which I posted here:
http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39566
I've just ordered a new Air Flow Meter from here:
https://autoricambi.us/remanufactured-b ... r-1980-85/
Hopefully it will fix my problem as well!
Any idea how to replace this? I'm guessing it just pulls off and gets reconnected.
- evrenosogullari
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 11:09 am
- Your car is a: Fiat Spider 1980 Automatic
Re: Engine dies out and stalls intermittently!
Nevermind, it was very easy.
So far looks like it may have solved the issue....
So far looks like it may have solved the issue....