AAR Orifice

[Razooli]

Since the weather has turned cool, I'm having idle problems... very low when I start the car and when it warms up, normal 900 RPM. I pulled the AAR, heated and cooled it. Is the opening when cold really only about 5 mm? When I heat it up, it closes down to almost no opening. Is this normal or should it be opening wider?

[jimincalif]

Hi Lynn,

I replaced mine earlier this year as it did not open at all and could not blow thru it. The rebuilt one opens just very slightly. It is better than the old one but I suspect not exactly right. If you're getting 5mm it is probably OK, mine is more like 1mm when then engine is cold.

[Razooli]

I looked at mine again this morning with fresh eyes and indeed, it's more like 1-2 mm. It completely closes when heated, so I guess it's working. Thanks, Jim. Rear end still holding up?

Update: I tried opening the valve up a tiny bit by loosening the little nut, putting a small screwdriver in the opening and re-tightening the nut. I now have a good 2mm opening, almost double what I had before. I tested it in the oven and it still closes all the way, so I put it back in the car and all is good. The idle starts at 900 and only increases a little bit when the car warms up. Much better than before. But I guess starting the car when the temp outside is 86° isn't a real good test. Hopefully, it'll react the same way when the temps drop again.

[jimincalif]

Glad to hear it.

Yes, rear end is still good. Weather was so good here this weekend I ended up driving the Spider about 80 miles! It was about 79 here today.

Jim

[salam]

ok i have a 77 carbed spider...am having the same problem. very low rpm when cold ..goes back to normal when its warm..pulling the throttle cable doesnt make a diffrence..whats the AAR? HELP PLEASE

[So Cal Mark]

AAR is only used on FI cars. Your carb has a choke assy with a fast idle cam. Make sure it works when cold

[salam]

is there a way i could check that?

[wikkid]

If I'm not mistaken, you can also get a manually operated Aux Air Valve, that is cable-operated, a bit like a choke. I'm looking into it, since that would allow optimum settings both for power when warmed up and better cold starting. Here's the text of an email I got from the folks who supply the piece (I have no connection to them):

Sure, I can fill you in. I am a long time Fiat
enthusiast, as you can probably tell from this page:
http://www.hiperformancestore.com/Italiancars.htm

Anyway, yes we have the manual AAV. It's a very simple
device, in practice, it's used just like a manual choke,
pull it out for cold starts, push it in when the car is
warmed up. In principle, it's simply a manual valve, the kit
includes silicone hose, and a generic manual choke cable to
activate it. It's pricey, but less than the factory part, it
works better and never fails.

The device is literally a manual AAV, it does the exact
same thing, it's just connected to a cable. It works very
well, I use it in all my vintage Alfas and BMWs.

We don't have it on the website, you have to call Misty
(wife, owns the business) to get pricing, and ordering
information.

Greg,
http://www.hiperformancestore.com
(918)760-0668
P.S. We also have a silicone hose kit for the Fiat Spider,
it's sold exclusively at http://autoricambi.us/ These guys
are my friends so I don't sell much Fiat stuff directly.

[ga.spyder]

That is a pretty interesting idea.I have replaced my AAR once already ,and now it isnt working again.

[salam]

Am sorry but my spider Isnt fi it's carbed....the rpm is extremely low when I cold start it...get to normal when warmed up..pulling the throttle cable does absolutely nothing. Any ideas on how I can fix that problem? Is the problem from my carb?