Re: Symptoms of failed ECU in '85 Spider? Here's what happened..

["Daegrigg (Don)" <daegrigg@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jeff,

You may have activated the kill switch located on the passenger side
firewall.  Also, as on mine, the contacts to this switch can become loose or
corroded.  Try resetting the switch and shunting the contacts to be double
sure this circuit is working.

Hope this helps,

Don
I don't know about the rev limiter.

----- Original Message -----
From: <AlfaNeely@domain.elided>
To: <JeffreyOlson@domain.elided>; <alfa-digest@domain.elided>
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2003 12:29 AM
Subject: Symptoms of failed ECU in '85 Spider? Here's what happened..


> In a message dated 4/6/2003 10:58:46 PM Central Daylight Time,
> owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:
>
> > Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2003 03:37:09 +0000
> > From: JeffreyOlson@domain.elided
> > Subject: Symptoms of failed ECU in '85 Spider?  Here's what happened...
> >
> > Stupidly took now 'ex-friend's' '85 Graduate for a romp and may have
> > touched
> > electronic rev limiter under full throttle in 1st gear (Italian
tune-up!).
> >
> > Anyway, the engine abruptly cut off and now refuses to start at all
(Damn
> > it!).
> >
> > I've checked ALL fuses, cam timing, distributor timing, fuel pump,
inertia
> > switch, fuel pump relay, compression, etc., and all obvious stuff
appears
> > well
> > EXCEPT...
> >
> > The fuel pump will not activate with the ignition switch on and the air
> > flow
> > meter door held open.  The fuel pump activates only with the starter but
> > the
> > car will not fire at all despite having good spark at all plugs.  Spark
> > plugs
> > are still dry after prolonged cranking indicating NO fuel in the
cylinders.
> >
> > The fuel injectors do not appear to be getting a signal from the ECU.
Any
> > chance activating the rev limiter circuit failed the old ECU?  Any other
> > possibilities?
> >
> > I'm a bit baffled but may swap the ECU with a known good one out of my
car
> > just
> > to see what happens.  Meanwhile, 'friend' is pissed because I blew up
his
> > car...
> >
> > Other than me being a dumb-ass, any symptoms sound familiar?
> >
> > Jeff
> > Davidson, NC
> >
> > '84 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
> > '78 Alfa Romeo spider (just SOLD to a now ex-Fiat enthusiast in VA!)
> >
>
>        Four cylinder Alfas do not have rev limiters.  Or at least none of
the
> ones that were imported to the USA had a rev limiter.  I have turned Bosch
> spiders to 7500 without hitting any rev limiter.
>        Before you swap computers, check the fuel pump fuse behind the
> passenger's seat.  They commonly fail.  And the rollover cut off switch on
> the firewall.
>        Swapping the computer is a good idea.  If you have spark but no
fuel,
> then you need to swap the silver computer.  If you have fuel but no spark,
> swap the black one.  But be aware your 84 fuel injection (silver) computer
is
> not the same as the one in the 87.  The change in the fuel computer
happened
> about the same time as the switch from centrifugal activation of the VVT
> intake cam advance to the solenoid.  I assume the VVT advance is
controlled
> by the silver computer.
>        To the best of my knowledge, the black ignition computers are the
same
> for all Alfa spiders from 1982 to 1989.
>
> Ciao,
> Russ Neely
> Oklahoma City
> --
> to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
> or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided