Re: alfa-digest V7 #1094

["Christopher A. Stephenson" <cs_tscg@domain.elided>]

I had the exact same problem with my Spider. It turned out to be the Rev Sensor. It
attached to the bell housing on the right side of the car. You will need to jack the
car up to access it. Apparently, the flywheel has a magnet or something in it and
this sensor picks up the current to measure engine revolutions so that it can fire
in the proper sequence. Well, it turns out that the thing fell off!. It was just
dangling there held on by its connector wire. When I tried to put it back on, the
threads were stripped so I took some JB Weld, put it into the hole, put the sensor
back on ahd lightly tightened it. Seems to be working fine.

I too checked and replaced the coil. I had a spare. I was getting juice from both
sides at all times - even when the engine was cranking. That is what pointed me to
the Rev Sensor.

Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

Chris Stephenson - Atlanta, GA
PeopleSoft Consultant

'85 Alfa Spider
'67 Jag 420G Big Bertha (The only car I own with a roof)
'63 Sunbeam Alpine
'63 Sunbeam Alpine GT
'98 Saab 900ES

>
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 13:44:10 -0400
> From: Sixto Gonzalez <sixto@domain.elided>
> Subject: help, no ignition on 85 alfa spider
>
> hello everyone;
>         I am having a problem with my 85 alfa spider. My wife called
> me last week that she was stranded on the highway, the car just cut
> out and would not start. After a ride home on a flatbed I checked and
> found no current from the distributor so I went ahead and bought a new
> one (I am sure Fred D. has some choice comments on this style of
> 'fixing' cars). The car started up and ran like a champ with the new
> coil but then it still cut out again and only runs intermitently. I am
> not upset about buying a new coil becasue the car runs smoother.  The
> problem is I could not figure out what was wrong so I took the car to
> my local 'european' car shop and they think it is one of the flywheel
> sensors, they are checking to see which one right now. Do you guys have
> any other suggestions? Also I had never heard of one of these sensors
> failing and they are not available at my usual vendors, apparently not
> even at the alfa warehouse.
>
> ciao
>
> sixto
>
> -

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