Adam:
I'm a little late chiming in here (on digest) - but if a replacement fuel
pump doesn't solve the problem you might want to check that fuel is flowing
cleanly out of the tank. On my last Spit I extracted a bunch of old
newspaper and rust from the base of the tank. I believe you can just
disconnect the line at the base of the tank and check that fuel flows
cleanly - watch out though, it comes out pretty quick if the tank is full -
you probably want to wait until it's about empty.
Good luck
Mark Sinclair
MKII, also in San Francisco, already broke down once on the Golden Gate
Bridge - don't recommend it.
-----Original Message-----
From: spitfires-owner@autox.team.net
[mailto:spitfires-owner@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Adam Rodnitzky
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 6:50 PM
To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Strange Spitfire Fuel Delivery Problem
Hi all,
My '70 Mk3 (single ZS carb) has a strange,
intermittent problem that is baffling (and frustrating
and stranding) me.
At random intervals, the car will seemingly lose all
fuel delivery to the carb. I'll be driving along, and
suddenly the engine will die. If I have momentum, I
keep the ignition on and the gas pedal floored while
rolling along in gear and after 5-10 seconds the car
will sputter a bit, then catch, sputter, then catch
and spring back to life and be fine for another 10,
50, 100 or more miles.
If I don't have momentum, the car grinds to a halt,
and I either call the tow truck, or do the following:
I spray starter fluid into the carb, which gets the
engine to catch, suggesting it is not an ignition
fault. Usually, after a minute or so of the
spray/start/catch/die cycle, it'll start and run well
for another 10/50/100 miles. I also have a clear glass
fuel filter that goes on the line from the fuel pump
to the carb (supplemented by a fuel filter directly
out of the gas tank) and it shows the usual amount of
fuel in the lines when the problem occurs. It does
seem like it happens more often when there is less
than 3/4 tank of gas (but that is conjecture).
I rebuilt the carb a year and a half ago (along with
the ignition system and a new fuel pump), replaced the
fuel filters and adjusted the valves. I do know that
the mixture is out of whack.
Any suggestions before this happens to me on the
Golden Gate Bridge ;)?
Thanks!
Adam
'70 Spit Mk3
'94 Alfa Romeo 164LS (for sale...)
SF, CA USA
/// spitfires@autox.team.net mailing list
/// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive
|