RE: [alfa] Quick test to see if a Spica FI Pump is basically dead or alive?

["John S." <roadtrip999@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jeffery - Getting an initial start, then immediately dying is a classic 
symptom of a shorted fuel cutoff solenoid (FCS) microswitch. The function of 
the FCS is to cut off the fuel delivery during throttle-off decel to prevent 
burbling and backfiring. The microswitch, in that triangular looking cover 
on the bottom back of the FI pump, controls current to the FCS. If the 
microswitch is shorted, it sends a constant electrical current to the FCS. 
The reason you get an initial start is that when the key switch is in the 
"start" position, current is cut off from the fuel cutoff circuit. Soon as 
the key is returned to "on," current is restored, the FCS energized, and the 
fuel is cut off again and the engine dies.

The temporary fix is to simply remove the wire from the spade terminal on 
top of the FCS. (The FCS is the solenoid that's in the middle of the 
injection pump.) It's has threads on it. That will prevent the FCS from 
being energized at all. If the car starts and stays running after removing 
the wire, you've found the problem. The FCS is not absolutely essential to 
the function of the injection pump. There's a redundant mechanical decel 
fuel shutoff internal to the pump. The FCS mechanism is just better at it. 
It won't hurt the engine to run without it, however, you might expect a 
little backfiring or burbling during decel, especially if the mixture is 
tuned a little too rich.

The real fix is to replace the microswitch. But, for that, the injection 
pump has to come off the car and a new microswitch fitted, which is very 
simple to do once the injection pump is on the bench. The switch costs about 
$60.

_________________________________________________________________
Dont just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! 
http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided