[alfa] RE: NEW DATA! 164LS Challenge - taming of the shrew round two

[dmasters@xxxxxxxxxx]

Jason,

On my ALFA75 TS there was one extra thing:  the earths through the
connectors in the firewall.  What I mean is, that in the big plugs that
either join the looms, or are any type of big or small connector, the
earths fail first.  In the ALFA75  there is one well known big plug right
on the firewall on the RHS of a RHD car that the advertised solution is to
solder a permanent by-pass onto it.  Many of the big plugs have burning or
corrosion on the earths, and I have to clean them every few years. One day
I will invest in Stabilant 22 rather than just contact cleaner.

Maybe that will help!

Also, I continue to find obscure air leaks through hidden, small, vacuum
hoses.  If you introduce "false-air" say, by lifting the dip stick, does
the idle change and then settle?

Cheers,
david
------
David Masters
1989 ALFA75 TS
2000 Alfa 156 TS
Newcastle Australia

- -----Original Message-----
From: hagen_jason@domain.elided [mailto:hagen_jason@domain.elided]
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 6:42 AM
To: Karl Chen
Cc: Alfa-Digest
Subject: NEW DATA! 164LS Challenge - taming of the shrew round two

For all of those with 24 valves, here is what I have done to try to solve
the poor starting condition on my 164Q.   My car exhibits this during cold
AND warm start.  Any additional suggestions would be great, but I feel like
I have exhausted just about every option...

- -  Car is fully tuned up (plugs, cam timing, timing belt, throttle body,
etc.)
- - No vacuum leaks, idles perfect
- -  Checked fuel pressure (this is the USUAL culprit I am told).  Holds
fuel
pressure at right level for hours even after car turned off.
- -  Had injectors professionally cleaned and blueprinted.
- -  Replaced coolant temp. sensor.
- -  Swapped in a known good ECU.
- -  Checked all wiring to all components from ECU!
- -  New O2 sensor
- -  Checked intake air sensor and air-flow sensor
- -  Checked copius grounds.  Added additional ground strap from intake
plenum
to the engine.
- -  Swapped out idle air actuator
- -  Replaced Motronic and fuel pump relays (front of car near radiator,
under
black cover, towards driver side).

My car runs PERFECT once started.  Sometimes it fires right up (warm or
cold), sometimes it requires 5+ seconds of cranking with opening the
throttle.  It always starts eventually.

Here's what I haven't changed:
- - Ignition coil control packs
- - Ignition coils (but since car runs perfect when running, this seems
remote
possibility.
- - Actually swap out AFM (air flow meter)
- - Ignition switch (though this appears fine based on other tests)

No error codes by the way.  And I have been working on this problem with
Paul from DiFatta brothers (over the phone) for months.

My next step will be to put trouble lights on the coils and injectors to
see
which isn't working when cranking initially.  Also, will try spraying
starting fluid into the plenum through a vacuum hose to see if this makes
it
start all the time.  If so, I will look to ignition.

I have also disconnected the alarm to see if that was cutting out the ECU
circuit.  No such luck.  I did notice the Cardisc calls for a wire called
ignition ground to the ECU, which my car doesn't have.  Interesting.

I hope this helps others.  Any advice or suggstions would be great.

- --
Jason Hagen
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