'81 FI SPIDER RUNS 10 SEC. THEN DIES. HELP

[chastrialer41]

Hi Gentlemen (and Ladies)
Im the guy that posted a few days ago with the No Start problem. Still pulling hair out. I will give a brief history before I pose the problem. After removing gas tank and having it professionally cleaned and reinstalled with NEW sending unit we then had no power to fuel pump. Replaced with new fuel pump relay under glove box and fixed that. We then had no spark. Installed new magnetic coil pickup and new control module--Problem solved. BRAND NEW injectors, cap, rotor, plugs, fuel filter, fuel pump. She cranked and would run for a minute then die. Found that the New Bosch fuel pump had locked up. After talking to a few Fiat friends was advised to install secondary inline fuel filter just before fuel pump. So another brand new Bosch FP and new seconday fuel filter was installed (located right before fuel pump). Did that and bingo she cranked according to the mechanic and ran like a sewing machine for at least 20 minutes. He called and said come get her. I get to shop Friday and he cranks her up and it runs for 20 sec then dies. Recanked and ran but quickly died. Each time it would crank up but die. He put her back up on rack and removed the little seconday fuel filter and blew thru to make sure it was open which it was. We put 2 fresh gallons of gas in (even though new sending unit was showing that we had gas). Let her back down and same problem.
Today mechanic connected test light AND pressure gauge to FP. Cranked the car. It ran 10 sec then died. He said pressure came up to 38 to 40 lb. When the car died the test light went out. He stated the FP had shut off therefore something was making the fuel pump shut off. After talking to an experienced Fiat guy by phone this man suggested to look into the AIR FLOW METER as a culprit. We need help on this as to how to test it and/or diagnose/repair it if it is defective. OR if you know what other factors to check possibly causing problem. Thank you. You may email at calliscrew@hotmail.com or post your reply. Thank you much for your help.

[So Cal Mark]

the AFM has a set of contacts inside that operate the fuel pump. If the flap doesn't move, you only get a few seconds of power to the fuel pump from the ecm. As I wrote before, check the integrity of the intake boot. If it's split you get air bypassing the AFM and the flap doesn't move. If the boot is okay, open the air filter box and move the flap by hand. If it's stuck, the door may be warped and you'll have to replace the AFM. If the flap moves freely, turn the key on, then move the flap. Once the flap is open you should hear the pump run

[majicwrench]

As a professional mechanic for 30+ years, I would say the first thing you need is a new mechanic. You ( or the mechanic) have been changing parts like crazy instead of properly troubleshooting. This is a simple system that any qualified profesional mechanic should be able to deal with.
Mark has given you some good advice. Move the flap,, with key on the pump should run, and stay running as long as the flap slightly open.
You stated "when the car died the test light went out" this is normal and is always going to happen. What should NOT happen is for the light to shut off BEFORE the car dies.
Good Luck,
Keith