OMG it runs! Sorta.

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macawlover70

OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by macawlover70 »

Wow, It started. I was not getting the power to the ecu side of the relay like you guys siad I should so I put the old relay in that I had opened up and maually switched the switch inside and got power to 88b and e. So then I found my noid light and tested for power to the injectors and walla. Tried to start in and nothing. So I went back to the beginning and made sure I was getting spark and gas and I was getting no gas. Out of gas. Put some gas in it again and first time I cranked it over it puttered. I tried a few more times and it ran good for about 3 seconds and stopped like it ran out of gas.
That's where I am at now. It seems as though I am loosing pressure in the fuel injector line because if I let the fuel pump run and try to start it it will start for a couple of seconds and die. I have a couple of small leaks in the fuel hose to #1 injector and from the cold start valve to the fuel rail. I am going to make sure everything is sealed up and try again. But wow! Talk about excited. :lol: I can't wait to test drive her. I still have a ways to go but, She runs!
Thanks to everyone who helped me. I still need a new relay cause the one I bought and my old one are not working and I don't think a piece of paper to hold the switch on is a great fix. Anyone know the best place to buy one?
Again Thanks. Robert
rlux4
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Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
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Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by rlux4 »

Hey! Sounds like progress. (Of a sort.) It sounds like your only running on your cold start valve. If you're getting pulse at the injectors, it could be that the leaks in your fuel lines are allowing too much pressure loss. The injectors need about 30-35 lbs. at least to squirt. I'm glad to read this before I shipped off the stuff to you. I'll check my source out here for the current price on the Bosch dual relay and give you a call later.
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
pope

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by pope »

Glad to hear your are getting somewhere. The few seconds of start are on the cold start injector. Sounds like when it tries to switch over to main injectors, is when it stops.

With the key on, open the air flow sensor ( 1 ft. square box on passenger side fender wall), and push on the flap to see if you can keep the fuel pump energized. That is what controls the fuel pump after the engine starts.

Whoo hooo!!!!

edit: as I posted this, I see Ron beat me to it. He sure types fast for an old man.! LOL
Last edited by pope on Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.
majicwrench

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by majicwrench »

Methinks if the old relay, and the one you bought, both don't work, a third relay is not gonna work any better. Test test test.
Keith
So Cal Mark

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by So Cal Mark »

I'd suggest you quit buying used electrics on ebay
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launieg
Posts: 454
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:17 pm
Your car is a: 1981 spider 2000
Location: Duncan, BC, Canada

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by launieg »

Fantastic, nothing like a bit of success to raise the spirits! I agree, sounds like cold start injector only. And, again, more testing required. Did you test/adjust the throttle position sensor yet?

Great advice from everyone, and good peseverance from your side :D Keep going. More excitement around the next corner...
Launie
'81 Spider Rolling Restoration
bwilson27

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by bwilson27 »

So Cal Mark wrote:I'd suggest you quit buying used electrics on ebay
Best advice given so far.
macawlover70

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by macawlover70 »

No doubt.
Anyway, Wish me luck all. Ron sent me a relay,ecu,fuel pressure tester, fuel pump, and resistor so I should be able to find out what the problem is, I Hope. I'm gonna work on it tomorrow and i sure hope I figure it out. Thanks all for the help.

Robert
My Project
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So Cal Mark

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by So Cal Mark »

where's the blanket and picnic basket?
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ga.spyder
Posts: 3478
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:19 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Blairsville ,Ga.

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by ga.spyder »

Glad to hear you are making progress.However...I have some bad news.You are gonna have a tough time pulling that camper with the Fiat,unless you can find a way to mount a 5th wheel! :roll:
Craig
Craig Nelson

1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
pope

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by pope »

You turned the Spider into an electric car? Your gonna need a longer extension cord to drive around the block.
rlux4
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Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
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Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by rlux4 »

We're all rooting for you Robert. I'm on pins and needles, waiting to hear what the problem is. Craig, I think he's parked there so he can sleep in the 5th wheel to be closer to the car and get to work on it quicker.
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
macawlover70

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by macawlover70 »

Man you guys are funny. :P Well, It appears it was the ECU because it runs, sorta. The fuel injectors are now working. It starts and runs. I can throttle it and it revs now. But for some reason it runs good for about ten seconds then acts like it runs out of gas. My battrey died and is charging so I have not had a chance to troubleshoot the problem yet but the ecu was definitly bad so I need to get one of those. When my battery charges up I'll try to see what the problem is. Any suggestions? It acts like something either shuts off, or it runs out of fuel in the rail. But I checked the pressure in the line and it is at 42 p.s.i. That's correct I believe. Or close enough. Anyway, I am getting there.
I guess while I am waiting for the battery to charge I could put in the fifth wheel hitch. :roll:
rlux4
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Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
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Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by rlux4 »

I just got off the phone with Robert. We discussed the issue and I reminded him that the resistor in that range will only give the ECU the correct reading after the coolant is up to normal operating temperature. A good sensor on a cold engine will give the ECU a resistance reading in the range of 2-3,000 ohms with the ambient temps he's got down there in by God Texas. So, it appears that the problem is the temp sensor at this point. Just to verify that I'm giving him good info, I went out to my car and put a 280 ohm resistor in the connector and the results were what I expected, the car started, ran a few seconds and shut off. Now I have to go out to find the resistor that slipped out of my fingers and dropped down somewhere in the front of the engine. :roll:
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
So Cal Mark

Re: OMG it runs! Sorta.

Post by So Cal Mark »

if the car runs for 10 secs, I'd suggest that the injectors either aren't pulsing or are stuck shut. Or the fuel pump is only working with the engine cranking. As for the resistor, the only "correct" reading is the one that corresponds to the coolant temperature. Using a resistor only tricks the ecu to change the injector pulse rate, it doesn't trigger the cold start injector.
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