no start 90 200 qw

[Dave Michael <dave.michael@quantum.com>]

Well, the audi gods should be truly embrassed that my reliable, allways start 
no matter how cold it is mode of transportation is 12 year old Alfa Romeo 
Milano with 150,000 miles....

The hard start situation on my car has developed into a no-start situation.

This morning, it was 25, and was in the teens overnight, The car didn't even 
think of starting. Its a
1990 200 qw.

I checked a few things:

diagnostic self check runs fuel pump, cold start valve and all other valves.
LED test lamp connected to cold start valve connecter lights for ~4 seconds 
while cranking
temp sensor ok at 3kohm
Plugs look pretty dry

last week I checked:

System pressure ok @ 87ps
Control pressure ok @ 15psi @ 32F
air flow plate rest postion ok
air flow plate free play ok
sensor plate to air cone clearance ok once all the gunk was cleaned off - but 
maybe still not ok at
cold temps
idle speed and co setting both needed adjustment - the freq valve was cycling 
down to 100% duty
cycle every 10 to 15 seconds. I reset every thing, and then it idled fine.


My latest therory is that the sensor plate is sticking, but that is so bloody 
hard to get to cause
that big rubber boot thingy that attaches to that air flow sensor housing is a: 
not inclined to flex
enough at cold temps to allow removeal  and b: even less inclined to flex 
enough to go back on.

I did not actually check this morning to confirm that I was getting a spark, 
but the car ran last night
when it was 40F.

any suggestions?

thanks

dave
1990 200 qw (dead)
1987 alfa romeo milano 3.0 (alive)
1986 mbz 190e 2.3-16 (wifes car)