Won't hold idle after moving

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Zoofly
Patron 2020
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Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 4:14 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Won't hold idle after moving

Post by Zoofly »

My 1978 fiat had been sitting for about four weeks. I started it up and let it idle for about 5 minutes no problem. I then backed it out and took it for a quick spin to charge up the battery. When slowing for a stop sign the car died. It started up no problem but wouldn't hold an idle after that. Every time I came to a stop sign it died. I let it sit overnight and tried again. Same thing. It idled fine in the garage but would die once I started driving it. Where should I look to solve the problem? Thanks in advance!
2020 124 Spider Abarth
2019 Alpha Romeo Stelvio - sold
1977 Triumph Spitfire
2017 Fiat 124 Spider Classica - sold
1999 Jaguar XK8 - sold
1998 BMW Z3 - sold
1988 Pontiac Fiero - sold
18Fiatsandcounting
Posts: 3799
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: Won't hold idle after moving

Post by 18Fiatsandcounting »

A couple possibilities:

1) The '78 originally came with dual points, one used for starting and warm-up and one used for normal driving. If yours still has the dual point setup, make sure both gaps (dwell angle) are set correctly.

2) There could be a thermal switch connected to a vacuum line that is leaking, so when the car warms up (the switch opens), air leaks into the intake manifold and it stalls. The switch may not turn on/off at the same time as the automatic choke does.

-Bryan
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Zoofly
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 4:14 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Won't hold idle after moving

Post by Zoofly »

I replaced the points with an electronic ignition a few years ago. I'll see what I can find out about a possible vacuum leak. Thanks
2020 124 Spider Abarth
2019 Alpha Romeo Stelvio - sold
1977 Triumph Spitfire
2017 Fiat 124 Spider Classica - sold
1999 Jaguar XK8 - sold
1998 BMW Z3 - sold
1988 Pontiac Fiero - sold
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