dying spider

[Pottree@domain.elided]

In a message dated 12/16/2001 4:10:13 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:


>     I bought a beautiful '77 Spider last summer and have subscribed to
> the digest for about two weeks now.  I've been reading and watching the
> activities in the digest, so that I can learn the tenor of discourse
> among you guys before I zing you with my first big question.  I think
> now's the time for me to seek some advice.
>     My Spider has only 28,500 documented miles on it.  So, it's been
> sitting for long stretches in a garage over the last 24 years, but has
> been well maintained and seems to be in good running order.
>     Soon after I bought it, I had a problem with it just flat out dying
> during a drive and refusing to restart

You may have a proximate cause, such as a minor leak, a cold start problem, 
etc., that is leading to flooding... and with a little hunting and some help 
here you will find it and fix it and it will not be a very big deal in the 
scheme of things.

Meanwhile, I think your car is suffering from a much worse condition that 
only YOU can figure out how to solve, and that is depression.

A spider is not meant to sit abject and neglected for 24 years, and it is not 
meant to putter a little now and then with a fickle friend.  This will only 
cause a cascade of problems and mystery symptoms.

Once fix what's flooding the engine with too much fuel, you need to pay more 
attention to this car, and that means you need to go out and DRIVE IT HARD.  
Once it has warmed up and you can take it over 3000 RPM, you need to give it 
a frequent workout, running up through the revs and showing it some respect.  
Apart from the psychological boost you will both enjoy, you will help burn 
away depositions in the engine that are robbing you of performance and 
leading to other problems.  Make sure you achieve hot, high speed (at least 
highway speed) driving for a good amount of time, like an hour at least.

You will learn, as I have after 4 Alfas and X00,000 miles, that there are 2 
major things that contribute to almost all problems owners have with Alfas 
(well, 3 if you count morons running into you):

Bad electrical connections, usually a bad ground, and usually from corrosion 
on terminals or connectors or fuses.

Neglect and despondence from not being driven like a thoroughbred.

Charlie
LA, CA, USA

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