The Smog Removal Game!

[Olaf]

So I've finally been slowly working through the issues on my Spider, mostly undoing things the PO had done (or started) and trying to understand what is what.

Today I had a day off and got to work cleaning up the engine bay. I want to take a lot of the smog stuff out, since half of it's been disconnected already. There are a lot of wires that do not go to anything. Maybe ten or more. There's a couple of things that look like they should have wires in them. There's also a number of holes that seem like they should not be holes.

But I'm up to my eyeballs in the manual and wiring diagram, and I can't find anything. So I thought I'd jump in here and see if I could get some help from you handsome people. Here's a couple pictures. I understand that cleaning an antique can lower the value, so I've left on the protective layer of engine oil PO applied to the entirety of the engine bay.

Let's get to the pictures:

Picture A


1. Seems like something should plug onto here. What is this?
2. Hose was here, can I just close this?
3. Hose was here, can I just close this?
4. Is this a hole? Or the one next to it?
5. What's this here, and should I remove it? The hose on left looks crimped.
6. This is the big arm that sticks out above the engine. I don't seem to see these on other people's engines, and mine looks like it may be plugged by PO. Should i leave it alone? What is it?


Picture B


This is down between the carb and the engine.
1. Seems like this is something....? What? Should something connect to these prongs?
2. This is the source of the hose in #2 below, is this a smog thing I should pull?



Picture C


1. That is a golf tee. Should I replace this with an Official Fiat Golf Tee? (Or what's the right way to close off these holes?)
2. This hose was never connected to anything. It's a bad photo, but that end starts where I've indicated with the loop. (From #2 above) Is this another pull-out or should I choose something at random to connect it to?


Thanks for any clues you can provide as I struggle and strive my way through this.
-Olaf

[FiatBen]

Olaf,
It would help to know what year the car is, and possibly what model of carburetor. It looks similar to what I've been going thru in converting my '79 to a '78 carb/manifold. http://wwwe.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopi ... =5&t=26884
The following is my best guess based on what I've learned recently. Surely more knowledgeable people will speak up and correct me on anything I mess up here.
First picture:
1. Yes, wire plugs in. Mine comes from the fender wiring. This is the idle shutoff solenoid. Your’s might not be working, because when I unplug mine the car dies.
2. Plug it. Emissions related.
3. Not sure, but probably can plug it unless it is a vacuum feed to the distributor (again, year of car determines this)
4. Probably already plugged. On some carbs this is an emission port that just gets capped.
5. I think this is a vacuum tee. On my recent conversion to a ’78 carb (32ADFA) I used it to feed the brake booster.
6. 6. Water pipin, emissions related, remove and plug. M18 x 1.5 plug.
Picture #2:
1. Electrovalve, remove and plug (M18 x 1.5 plug, same as used to plug O2 sensors)
2. Not sure, could be the speed up control assembly. I think the nipple connects to the charcoal canister.
Picture #3:
Maybe someone else will weigh in on these, not really sure.
Been going thru similar struggles so maybe my threads can help:
Intake Manifold
http://wwwe.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopi ... =5&t=26962
Carburetor (32ADFA)
http://wwwe.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopi ... =5&t=26973

[Olaf]

Hey, Ben, thanks for your quick reply!

It's a 1978... and so are most of the parts (Near I can tell). I thought it's called a DHSA carb, again near as I can tell. It's a single anyway. Could be ADFA, the haynes manual is very unhelpful on this topic.

When I plug something, should I just cram some epoxy putty in there? Or is there a proper way to be doing the plugging up of small holes and pipes? I can't find the Official Fiat Golf Tees anywhere!

Again, thanks for the help. I was so embarrassed by the up-close pics I spent the rest of the afternoon toothbrushing everything clean!
-Olaf
I'm going to go read through your other posts now. Thanks for the links.

[FiatBen]

If it is just a hose running off the carb and plugged, then I would remove the hose and cap the nipple on the carb. I like to remove everything I can and a hose to nowhere definitely fits in this category.

Plugging with epoxy would make me uncomfortable, especially if I didn't know what direction the flow thru it was designed to be. Too much chance of sucking something into a place it doesn't belong.

If the car runs with your solenoid unplugged, that would make me think the solenoid is not functioning and just got stuck in the open position. Vendors have replacements.

It is not too difficult to just pull the carb/manifold as an assembly. This would let you get to everything easily, including an electrovalve on the bottom that you can pull and plug. And you can give the carb an intense cleaning, making sure everything moves correctly and the jets are all free of any debris which could cause start/run issues.

[Olaf]

Plugging with epoxy would make me uncomfortable, especially if I didn't know what direction the flow thru it was designed to be. Too much chance of sucking something into a place it doesn't belong.

Yeah, I guess you're right. Fine, I'll do it the proper way! 8o)
I saw those little red caps on your engine, I'll try to find them at the Autozzzone or Low's next time I'm there.

If the car runs with your solenoid unplugged, that would make me think the solenoid is not functioning and just got stuck in the open position. Vendors have replacements.

I don't want to overstate the 'running' nature of the car. She goes if I make her, but she's much happier in the driveway right now. I think some of this removing and plugging will help set her mind at ease. Can you tell me the color of the wires going into your solenoid? I can't seem to find the Idle Shutoff Solenoid in the Haynes wiring diagram.

It is not too difficult to just pull the carb/manifold as an assembly. This would let you get to everything easily, including an electrovalve on the bottom that you can pull and plug. And you can give the carb an intense cleaning, making sure everything moves correctly and the jets are all free of any debris which could cause start/run issues.

I don't really have the space or time right now to do a whole carb rebuild. I saw that bottom electrovalve on your thread, I'll try to see if I can get to it from beneath to pull and plug. Thanks again for all your help, Ben!
-Olaf

[Olaf]

I think I figured out which wire goes to the Solenoid, and perhaps a slight clue about why it was disconnected by PO:



So, yeah, I suspect it's this Brown/Red/Melted wire, or two of them? Or just the other one with the orange one? Both of these go into the fender stack. I can't find Brown/Red as a code in the wiring diagram (which doesn't mean it's not there), but I found a bold Orange one going from the voltage regulator to fuse 10. I'll investigate further...

The solenoid has one prong, but also seems to have had another in the past? Or possibly I'm supposed to insert something in that slot? Or it just has the one and is grounded through the carb...



Either way, I think I'll order a new one, it's prolly pretty cheap. Thanks for your helps, This is the end of my weekend, so I'll have to let her sit another three days before I can get back in! (Ahhhh, the slow season!)
-Olaf

[AriK]

My idle stop solenoid is green with a black stripe and leads into the main wiring loom on the drivers fender. Its a 79.

[FiatBen]

Yep, a single green w/ black stripe wire on my '79 as well. And it's really about the only wire in the area as it looks like everything else is in the harness.

Single post and grounds to carb, even though it looks like it could have had two posts at some point. Just the way it looks I guess. Can post a pic of it as originally hooked up before i swapped carbs.

[Olaf]

Well, I cleaned up the area, got some of those colorful plugs all over everything. Unfortunately, now that I can see everything, I can see a fuel drip coming from the carb. Oh, well, it does look like I'm in for a carb rebuild next weekend.

And the stop idle solenoid is definitely not working, plugging it in or unplugging it makes no difference.

Thanks for your help, I'm probably going to post for more help about halfway thorough the rebuild!!!
-Olaf

[BEEK]

i assume that you have made sure that the wire going to the idle solenoid has power?

have you pulled the jet from the solenoid and checked the plunger?

[Olaf]

I actually didn't check the wire has power, just assumed it did... heh. I'll get the multi out tomorrow and do my due dilligence.

The body of the solenoid itself is a little bent, I did take it out and apart and was able to move the squishy needle inside the cap thing. (Technical!)

Can I take it out and operate it somehow when not seated to see if it is working? I found one at a supplier, but it's $57 bucks, so if I can not replace it, I'd rather spend that elsewhere.

I'm going to get back into it on Monday and I'll let you know what I figure out. I should have the carb rebuild kit in sometime next week, and then the fun really begins!
-Olaf

[Olaf]

(Hey I'm back at it! Turns out slow season at work never really materialized so I never had all the time I thought I would.)

So long story short, I broke the carb when trying to get it out for the rebuild and I just got fed up with the whole thing and bought a new one! (32/36 DFEV from Weber) That came in today, so I got right to work!

I pulled the whole manifold and carb unit as one, unbolted the carb from the mani and cleaned the dickens out of the mani. I've got the new carb on the clean mani and want to clean up below there before I put it back on. But I have a few questions.

1. Tons of antifreeze poured out as soon as I unbolted and unstuck the manifold. Like 2 or 3 cups or more. I couldn't really tell. Is this something I need to replace before restarting it? Or does it just circulate as it runs?

2. For future ref, was there something I should have done to prevent that from happening? Or is that 'normal'?

3. Below the manifold is this pipe that seems like it should go somewhere. Can anyone tell me what that is?



Ok, I'm going to start cleaning now.
-Olaf
Why do I always post the photos while it's all dirty? I'm going to take a clean photo this next time.

[bbuckl]

That pipe outlet is for the crankcase vent. There should be a hose on it that attaches to the air cleaner housing. Without a hose on it, you will have a lovely coating of oil all over the side of the motor (don't ask me how I know).

Regards,
Brian
79 2L

[Olaf]

Oh! So that explains the artfully applied oil coating over that whole quarter. Thanks!

I'll need to get a hose for that I guess... Thanks for the info!
I've got it back in, there seems to be 5 hoses to put back on but only 3 places to put them... Gotta do some research.
-Olaf
Boy, putting that manifold back on may be the single most manually dexterous thing I've ever done.

[Olaf]

Ok, the two extra hoses were for the old water choke. The new carb seems to have an electric choke, which I think I knew. I think I've got the rest sorted.

The air filter housing in no way fits back on the new carb... didn't know that, but I guess it just means one of those shiny bug-eyed things for me. I think I'd have done that anyway sooner or later, so sooner it is.
-Olaf