Fuel out of air box

[kevbo]

Hi all, don't know if anyone can help but my fulvia sport had a problem starting yesterday, I managed to get the car out of the garage but it stalled after a few feet. I thought it was a fuel supply issue but in my investigations must have managed to disconnect the LV wire from distributor to coil.  I've reconnected this and the ignition caught, but I didn't let it run.  Anyway same thing again, started the car, out of the garage and it stalled.  However, This morning I managed to get the car started but it's not running on four cylinders and I have petrol coming out of the air box.  Is this a stuck float or something?  can I just unscrew the top of the carbs to inspect?  These look more complex than SUs!

[kevbo]

Just an update, on the front carb the little chamber between the two choke barrels seems full of petrol, and I think this is where the fuel is coming from.  There's nothing in the rear carb equivalent.

[lancialulu]

Likely stuck float / float valve. I have the same on my Fulvia right now. disconnect the choke connecting bar and 4 screws take off the float cover to reveal all. Care with float as it is critical not to bend it out of shape. The float is set to a specific level on its hinge. I have attached a pic of a tool you can make to check.

[kevbo]

Many thanks for that.  I've blown through with my airline and let the car run for about 5 mins.  No more signs of fuel in that chamber.  But it does sound like a sticking float, thanks for the tips on dismantling.

[nistri]

Make sure both needle valves are marked 1.3 and not 1.1, also compare the washers beneath the needle valves, Andrea

[kevbo]

Thanks for that Andrea. 

I've given the car a short run locally and all seems well at the moment.  But I should get a chance to have a look at the float tonight.

[lancialulu]

Kev

You generally will not see anything wrong. If you do, change it! If you don't, change it.

Solexes run at a low 3 psi so excess fuel is a bad thing. Bear in mind that the fuel will also get into the relevant cylinder(s) and cause further problems especially if you dont use the car that often. Cylider bore wash with neat petrol is to be avoided. You may also find when opening these carbs up if they havent been serviced (ever) that there will be a lot of crud at the bottom.... Best plan to whip them right of and service them having bought a service kit (on ebay  etc) - these include float valves.