Re: Fuel pump still running???????????

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>]

Hi Todd:

Ever play that game where you're supposed to be looking for something, and 
the other person with you says "Hot" when you get close and "Cold" when 
you're looking in the wrong place?  Well, you're way cold.  If you've got 
Spica injection, the fuel pump (that's the one in the rear of the car) is 
on at all times when the ignition is switched on.  Fuel circulates up to 
the injection pump (that's the one on the right side of the engine) and 
then back to the tank, the excess fuel being used to cool the Spica 
injection pump.

If you're getting lots of backfiring below 3000 rpm, and your foot is 
completely off the throttle pedal, then the problem lies in he fuel cut-off 
circuit of the injection pump (remember, the rear fuel pump is ALWAYS 
on).  The fuel cut-off solenoid is on top of the Spica injection pump, and 
is also used to adjust the mixture.  The cut-off function of that solenoid 
is governed by a microswitch that sits on the bottom of the injection 
pump.  It could be that the switch has gone bad, the solenoid has gone bad, 
either is misadjusted, or that 12V+ is not being supplied to the solenoid 
via the switch.  Don't mess with that stuff until you know what you're 
looking at, or you may end up with an undriveable car, followed by the 
daunting task of getting things back to where they should be, or finding 
someone to do it for you.

The inertia switch has nothing to do with your problems, and you'd be doing 
yourself a favor by taking it out of the circuit, assuming it still works 
anyway.  It's meant to turn off the main (rear) fuel pump in the event of a 
collision or rollover, and doesn't have any other connection to the Spica 
injection.

Take a look at the website listed below, see if you can figure things out, 
or seek out someone in your area who does know the Spica:

http://alfaclub.org/techstff/tunespca.htm

If you'd like to purchase a Spica manual, AROC sells one, as does Wes 
Ingram, and there may be a factory guide out there that someone might have 
to share.

Regards,

Dean W. Cains
Lutz, FL
'74 Spider Veloce


At 12:54 PM 6/14/2002, you wrote:

> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 08:32:53 -0700
> From: "Tod me" <tod_d@domain.elided>
> Subject: Fuel pump still running???????????
>
> Hallo again, I'm still dealing with a 76 alfetta gt fuel pump that won't 
> shut off after priming.
>  I found the shut of solenoid, and it appeared to be fine, however the 
> shut off enertia switch had been previously jimmy riged by a previous 
> owner(not connected at all. Instead there were two orange wires and one 
> black twisted together right below it. I can disconect the black one and 
> there is no noticable difference, but if I disconnect the two orange ones 
> the fuel pump is off when in pre-start position, however when started it 
> idles rough and, wont drive right at all(no power). The problem here is 
> my car back fires when slowing down alot(a problem directly attributed by 
> the manual to be fuel cut off related), so I'm assuming the fuel pump is 
> on full blast all the time, but really dont know? could it still be the 
> cut off solenoid, or the enertia switch,,,,,Fuel pump????????? 
> Help!!!!!!!!!! please
>
>  Todd
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