Loss of power

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marbleheadjed
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:57 am
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Spider2000

Loss of power

Postby marbleheadjed » Mon Jul 31, 2017 7:56 am

Morning , my 1980 spider has an intermittent problem. From a cold start once you get rolling in 1st gear the power will cut out and it will only run at idle in gear. If you put it in nuetral it will rev the whole power range . Usually once it is hot it won't happen. . Recently it happened when it was hot. .?? Have any of you experienced this before? Thanks for any input . Marblheadjed

bobplyler
Patron 2022
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Posts: 816
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: Loss of power

Postby bobplyler » Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:02 am

I'm guessing it's automatic.
Carb or Fuel Injection?
Just because it revs in neutral doesn't mean it won't pull in gear. When it's in
gear, it's under load. In neutral, there isn't any load.
1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).

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AndyVAS
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Posts: 141
Joined: Thu May 18, 2017 9:42 am
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Loss of power

Postby AndyVAS » Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:31 am

I'm guessing pick-up coil. Maybe control module.

Take off the distributor cap and look closely at the pick-up wires. Also check the lead that runs from the distributor to the module. If there is cracking of the plastic insulation on the wires then replace it.
Andy Phillips
Vick Auto - Technician, Performance Engine Builder & PFI Developer (with ITBs)
http://www.vickauto.com
Stock parts or Performance parts we've got what you need.

marbleheadjed
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:57 am
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Spider2000

Re: Loss of power

Postby marbleheadjed » Tue Aug 01, 2017 10:39 am

Thanks for the input. It's a standard with FI . If you give it steady throttle pressure. At about 2000 rpm the car will idle up and down . If the revs go op by the redline the car will operate normally after. .? I just got a new complete distributor from Vicks . The old one had bad seals and bearings . I hope that does it . No time to install it yet . Thanks for the help.

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RRoller123
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Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Loss of power

Postby RRoller123 » Tue Aug 01, 2017 2:38 pm

Do you mean that if you hold the throttle steady at about 2000 rpm, it increases and decreases up and down significantly by itself? Sounds like a bad AFM.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

NSFIAT
Posts: 89
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:09 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Pininfarina

Re: Loss of power

Postby NSFIAT » Wed Aug 02, 2017 6:13 am

I can relate to the cold start issue with my '81 FI. Until it came up to temperature I'd have severe loss of power - pretty much cutting out completely. Once at temperature it would run just fine. Turns out the coolant temperature sensor was at fault - the connector was spinning freely on the metal body of the sensor and when cold the car was running wayyy too rich. Swapped it out and zero issues.

It was frustrating as I was looking at all of the other suspects first!

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: Loss of power

Postby klweimer » Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:29 am

Jed,
Shoot me a PM with your email address and I'll send you a scan of the factory FI troubleshooting manual. It's the best for these kinds of issues.
Kirk

marbleheadjed
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:57 am
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Spider2000

Re: Loss of power

Postby marbleheadjed » Fri Aug 04, 2017 10:29 pm

Thanks for the help everyone . I haven't had Time to try anything yet but I'm off next week so I'll run through your suggestions . Can't thank you enough . I'll keep you posted . Plenty of nice fall driving ahead !

marbleheadjed
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:57 am
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Spider2000

Re: Loss of power

Postby marbleheadjed » Fri Aug 04, 2017 10:51 pm

Yes with steady pressure on the accelorator at 2000 rpm ,it fluctuates on it's own up and down to 3000. If you hold the pedal down for awhile it will respond up and down with the pedal. Thanks Jed


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