Initial idle problem on donor

[Timberwolf]

Got the donor back home now, struggling not to fall in love with the new italian suit!! Just have to keep taking the tarp off the stratos to remind me what I bought it for.......

Any how, the 164 has a minor fault. It's a 164 super 24v. When first started from cold, proper cold, ie after an overnight stop, it won't idle, bit of throttle work keeps it going. This lasts for 1-2 minutes then all is fine. Idles OK if started with a bit of heat in it. Feels like a lack of enrichment from cold, temp sender? I don't know anything 'bout the 'choke' system.

PO said an Alfa specialist had it on the diagnostic doodaa and it recond the Air flow sensor was at fault, but fitting a spare had the same prob. He decided to live with it.

Just want everything in order before teardown, then I've a fighting chance that any probs are self inflicted!

Do they all have a heater that functions within a couple of miles? couldn't believe it when heat started coming through that quick! Is the heater useable in the stratos?

[guy mayers]

There is a temperature sensor on the thermostat housing on the 12v engine that connects to the ecu. The Cloverleaf I bought for the next engine change had a similar problem, a really bad idle. It turned out that the connector plug was broken and the contacts poor. Cleaning them up and sorting the connector solved the problem but a faulty sensor could also be to blame. I assume a 24v will have a similar arrangement.
And the heater on the Stratos is effective, the trick is having a blower that shifts the air in sufficient quantities...
Hope that helps!
Guy

[mudhut]

24V is the same. The sensor you need to check is the one with the blue surround precisely under the top radiator hose. The other sensor with the two spade terminals goes to the instrument panel for the temp gauge and warning light.

[strat6v]

Check for any air leaks or cracks in the rubber inlet hoses and runner couplings while you are at it. Sounds like the bosch temp sender though. New ones are cheap enough on ebay plus new terminals and plugs are available from vehicle wiring products.

[chris.richard]

Idle air bypass valve faulty?

[Timberwolf]

Thanks guys, prompt as ever! I'll go out and have a decko this morning.

Is the heater on the 164 a great beast of a thing?(physically) I've seen the squirrel cage blowers on various under bonnet original strat photo's but I presume the matrix etc is elsewhere - underdash? Is the blower incorporated into the 164 system? Is the air con?

Is a hawk loom fully colour coded? The 'loom' on my part done kit has a lot of red wires and judging by a few chocolat bloks scattered around is either a chopped up lancia jobby or home made. I'm thinking of remaking it anyhow, with one of those ready made fuse/relay stations from car builder solutions (any one any experience?) or a 'Wolf built one......

I've got a feeling I'm going to provide the strat masses with many a newbi question in the near future...... peak with be after the end of may when tax runs out on the 164, and out comes the spanners!

[strat6v]

The 164 heater matrix and blower would provide enough for the albert hall and take up way too much space.(ebay or skip) There are various options from 12v hairdryer type things to more home brewed setups. the limiting factor is the space under the dash. Whichever way you go, you'll need a good fresh air feed and also someway of venting out too. Try blowing into a cup!! Look for the smallest matrix you can find, perhaps a small oil cooler? Plenty of old bmc vehicles had the snail blowers too. Try a bypass heater valve from a late ford, loads on ebay, stops you cooking the rear head ;)

Oh my Gawd! don't get me started on wiring. :rolleyes: :D Get a proper loom then make sure all heavy currents are switched through a relay, not through the column stalks.That means headlamps, rad fans, horns, spotlamps, lamp pods,headlamp mechanisms etc, etc. cables have to be sized accordingly too. Smoke from inside wires can be expensive to remedy!! A fair few of us have gone through the 24v wiring so plenty of advice available. If in any doubt with what you have then don't use it, work a couple of sundays then go and see uncle Gerry. :D

Get thi sen down to stoneleigh next sunday(not this one!) Slim chance i'll have my unfinished p o s on display for everybody to laugh at. sando's 24v there too, maybe bernie the bolt as well. if he's not on holiday. AGAIN.. :rolleyes: between him and Catswhiskers.....More holidays than Judith Chalmers.

Here's a pic of Bernie on one of his holidays (sent via interpol may i add) giving a local female a ride home....seems his bikes blue as well :confused:

[catswhiskers]

[QUOTE=strat6v] between him and Catswhiskers.....More holidays than Judith Chalmers.

QUOTE]

Jealousy my boy, thats all. :D :D

Mick

[catswhiskers]

Is the heater useable in the stratos?

Are you joking? :eek:

Mick

[Timberwolf]

To cats whiskers, no I wasn't :p I've never had anything to do with alfa's before, for all I know it could be an itsey bitsey thing like those jap alternators, modern technology, clever stuff about these days don't you know!!!!

Right, wires, yeah, hate them. Wired up my off road buggy successfully, did it from scratch, learnt loads in the process. No more curcuits on the strat so I'll go that route again, then I'll know what all the wirey things do. I'll get me some of those heat overload thingy's the wrc boys use, so much easier than replacing fuses as you try to get the smoke out!

I'm going to stoneleigh but we'll be there on sat, anyone else about? Is there a stand in the central ring?

Speaking of which, what is that gentleman doing to that sheep? Doesn't he know he should be wearing hunter wellies with the little straps for the 'ladies' legs to go in? :eek:

[strat6v]

He called round this aft to explain himself. I wasn't convinced.. :rolleyes:

[guy mayers]

I'm going to stoneleigh but we'll be there on sat, anyone else about? Is there a stand in the central ring?



The Stoneleigh show is open on Sunday and Monday........ There may be a few people camping on the Saturday but the halls won't be open to anyone but the manufacturers..... Who'll all be busy setting up and polishing!

Guy

[Timberwolf]

Globbox, thought it was three dayer, that'll be me going on sunday then......better tell the trouble and strife :rolleyes:

[strat6v]

Bring her along, It's a family club :)

[Bernard]

I was going to bring my wife but she's being sheared on sunday

B

[strat6v]

fatha, Dun't say things like that baa't me mutha, tha knows it upsets me.

Little bernie. :p