Alfa Spider Running Rich: Rough Idle and Power Loss

Had almost identical symptoms with my 2004 Alfa GT 2.0L. The rough running and high fuel consumption pointed to faulty fuel injectors. The check engine light helped diagnose an incorrect air-fuel ratio, which was causing the engine to run rich. The fix required cleaning and testing all injectors. Two were completely clogged and needed replacement. The rich fuel mixture had also impacted the oxygen sensor and spark plugs, which needed attention. This was a serious issue that needed immediate attention. Continuing to drive with faulty injectors risks damaging the catalytic converter and can lead to more expensive repairs. The symptoms you describe, jerky acceleration, excessive fuel consumption, and weak power delivery, match exactly what happens when injectors fail. Worth noting that proper diagnosis requires specialized equipment to test injector spray patterns and fuel pressure. A professional garage with experience in Alfa fuel injection systems is essential for this repair. Suggest getting it checked soon, as running rich can quickly lead to carbon buildup and more extensive engine damage.

Thanks for sharing your experience. The symptoms match mine exactly. Taking it to the shop tomorrow based on your advice. Quick follow up, did you remember roughly what the total repair cost was for the injectors and related work? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other fuel economy issues? Want to make sure I have a ballpark figure in mind since my old mechanic would often surprise me with extra costs after the fact. An oxygen sensor replacement on my old Alfa already set me back 400 Euro last year, so trying to budget accordingly for this repair.

Been running perfectly since getting it fixed last month. The total came to 515 Euro for replacing one faulty fuel injector that was causing the rich mixture issue. The mechanic found the other injectors were working fine after testing, so no need to replace those. Fuel economy is back to normal now, what a relief after watching it burn through a tank so quickly before. The check engine light cleared right up and the engine runs smooth as silk. Most importantly, no more jerky acceleration or power loss issues. Getting the fuel injector sorted early definitely prevented damage to other components like the oxygen sensor or catalytic converter. My mechanic mentioned running rich could have led to more expensive problems if left unchecked. The diagnostic equipment showed the air-fuel mixture is now spot on. Much better value than having to replace multiple injectors or deal with engine damage from leaving it too long. Make sure they show you the test results for all injectors, helps confirm which ones actually need replacing versus just cleaning.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to share my experience. The diagnosis confirmed it was indeed injector related, two were failing and causing the rich mixture issues. Total bill came to 780 Euro including parts and labor. They replaced both faulty injectors and cleaned the others. The mechanic also checked the oxygen sensor while they were at it since it was showing some wear. The difference in performance is like night and day. The engine runs smooth now, no more jerking during acceleration, and the check engine light is finally off. Already noticing much better fuel economy after just one tank. Really glad I acted on this quickly before it could damage the catalytic converter or cause other problems in the intake manifold. The mechanic showed me the test readings before and after, pretty eye-opening to see how bad the fuel mixture was. Big thanks for helping me understand what I was dealing with before going in. Made the whole repair process much less stressful knowing what to expect.