no start spiders

[Robert Clauss <beckyco@domain.elided>]

Recently there was a spate of late model spiders that would crank, but not
start. I recently experienced the same situation with my '86, and did the
following. Checked for spark by installing old plug in spark plug wire and
laying plug on cam cover, then cranking- spark OK. Checked fuel pump by
undoing the two wires to it, then wiring the pump to a spare battery with
jumper wires (the side of the pump with the black wire to it is the ground,
or negative, side). Pump hummed away, so it appeared to work. With the pump
running off of the spare battery, I tried to start the car, and it ran
finely, so the problem was not a failed fuel pump. I pulled the back shelf
out and inspected the fuel pump fuse, which is in an in-line fuse holder
next to the ECU box. The fuse (the euro type with the plastic core and
metal on the outside running from end to end) itself was intact, not blown,
but distorted from heat, as was the holder. One end of the fuse holder was
welded to the end of the fuse. I cut out the fuse holder and replaced it
with a plug-in type. Problem solved, and now the car is fine again. Talking
to Al Promisco at Italia Automobili, he told me that this is  a common
problem, and that the fuse and holder should always be checked in a no
start situation. Just something to file away.


Robert Clauss  AROC, ARA
BeckyCo@domain.elided
Mt. Prospect, IL  USA

'64 Giulia TI
'86 Graduate Spider

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