Giulia won't start

After a maintenance job in November '05 at 400 dollars and a huge job 3 weeks ago at 800 dollars, I am fed up now She is holding back, shocking like a monkey, giving loud bangs from the exhaust, not revving and now not starting

Last Monday she stalled again, permanently. Seems like there is something wrong with:
A) the ignition
B) the carbs
C) (hope not) the third cylinder.


The ignition shows no signs of burn or any other failure. Timing was set 6 months ago. Carbs were cleaned 3 weeks ago. What the feck could be wrong with her?

I have had a great deal of faith in my mechanic, but it is winding down....

HELP please!

Concidence seems to be the carbs....and the symptoms would match that. Perhaps something else has gone.

What was the "huge job"?

Are you getting fuel to the cylinders?
Are you getting sparks?

wrinx

Originally Posted by Joost

...giving loud bangs from the exhaust, not revving and now not starting...

The ignition shows no signs of burn or any other failure.

A bad, or loose, condensor can result in these symptoms.

Thnx Guys, I'll take it up with the garage next friday.

Faulty ignition coil??????
NB engine misfires and failure to run properly could also be coil failure. In fact misfiring under load is a common coil problem as the coil starts to fail and eventually the car will not start.

Time to learn the basics of cars it seems as early Alfa Romeos are not particulaty complicated even with twin carbs.... I learnt to tune cars using a 1963 Mini and moved to Alfa Romeos
Personally I cannot imagine running a classic car these days without same basic diagnostic skills as mechanics are so expensive.

I will not try to teach you anything but some common hints...
Basically comes down to Ignition and fuel and cam timing/valves as nothing high tech in these engines.

1) Ignition Consists of distributor, coil and HT leads
Ignition timing for an engine that won't start and assuming you have power to the distibutor .
can be checked statically with a simple light to see if timing is "roughly correct" or even an "antique" portable radio set off station which will "pop" when points open or a multimeter to check for resistance which will drop to zero as points open
etc
If distributor (points, cap and condensor), in good condition and has power then is there a spark to the plugs . If not then coil or High tension leads pr plugs are the culprits.



2) Fuel
Water in fuel
Flooding (fuel floats sticking or full of fuel due to a hole in a float
etc


I used to balance twin Alfa carbs using a simple air flow meter and then adjust fuel for each cylinder using a Gunson "see through" spark plug.

Wrinx has the right idea. Start with the basics. It's dead easy to check if you're getting a spark just take out all the plugs and reattach the leads then lay them along the cam cover, metal-to-metal and turn her over. You should see each one spark.

If they don't,then work back. Low tension leads are a classic - I even forgot to reattach the condenser lead once.

Take care with fuel and sparks of course, so put the plugs back, pull the pipe off the carbs and then see if you can pump some fuel through to a cup or something. Maybe the pump has failed or the filter is blocked.

It is likely to be fuel or electrics....like mine was.

Good luck.

Jim and Stori, thanks.

She is at the garage now, I'll wait and see....