[Seawitch]

My GF wants me to help her bring her 1991 Alfa Romeo 164 Green Cloverleaf back to life after many years of slumber in a garage. It's so rare it seems to be a bit orphaned as far as internet info is concerned, so it's going to take meeting people on it I can talk to. We don't have an owners Manual yet and the first question I need to ask might cause some laughs, I need to change the spark plugs but can only find the three cylinders that meet the eye when you lift the bonnet, so far I can't find the other three !

 

[Alfaomegatron]

Seawitch welcome to the forum, copy your question to the 164/166 technical area. You will get a response from there.

 

[sprint_veloce]

Assuming your 1991 model is a 12V engine, you can just follow the plug leads from the distributor. 3 will lead you to the front bank spark plugs which you have already found, and the other 3 hopefully to the rear bank plugs. Luckily, on a 12V it's then a simple matter to remove and replace the spark plugs. If you happen to have a 24V engine, then you're going to need to put aside a bit more time to do the job.

 

[HaydnW]

Being a 1991 it will be a 12V engine, so as mentioned above by Sprint_Veloce it's a simple job to replace the front and rear spark plugs. You will require a long extension for your ratchet tool to replace the rears though.

 

[Seawitch]

Thanks for the input. We found the cylinder heads hiding place and she remembered where the tool kit, complete with specialist plug spanner was. New battery, plugs and fuel but alas engine turning over but still not starting....:depressed:

 

[Ralf S.]

Check that you have sparks and/or fuel.

If you lay one of the old plugs on the head (connected to an HT lead) it should spark when you crank the engine.

If you wire a bulb into one of the fuel injector connectors, that should flash when you crank the engine.

If BOTH of these don't show signs of life, it will be the crank sensor.


If you have no sparks but fuel injection, then the coil pack/connector/relays etc. could be the culprit.

If you have no injection ... but sparks are okay, check the injector side relays.


If you have BOTH and still no joy, remove the fuel pipe from left hand end of the fuel rail (fuel will spurt out, so keep your face/ciggies clear) and check that fuel primes through, both when you turn on the ignition and also when you crank the engine (catch the fuel in an aerosol can lid etc.).

No fuel coming out means it's the fuel pump, pipes/filter or relay (on the bulkhead.. driver's side-ish) or something simple like the fuel shut-off valve under the passenger seat (just press the button in, if it's popped up).

Good luck!


Ralf S.

 

[sizewell]

Check that you have sparks and/or fuel.

If you lay one of the old plugs on the head (connected to an HT lead) it should spark when you crank the engine.

If you wire a bulb into one of the fuel injector connectors, that should flash when you crank the engine.

If BOTH of these don't show signs of life, it will be the crank sensor.


If you have no sparks but fuel injection, then the coil pack/connector/relays etc. could be the culprit.

If you have no injection ... but sparks are okay, check the injector side relays.


If you have BOTH and still no joy, remove the fuel pipe from left hand end of the fuel rail (fuel will spurt out, so keep your face/ciggies clear) and check that fuel primes through, both when you turn on the ignition and also when you crank the engine (catch the fuel in an aerosol can lid etc.).

No fuel coming out means it's the fuel pump, pipes/filter or relay (on the bulkhead.. driver's side-ish) or something simple like the fuel shut-off valve under the passenger seat (just press the button in, if it's popped up).

Good luck!


Ralf S.

Brilliantly concise - excellent post