Dont think it will have solved the acceleration problem, but at least i can eliminate it now as the cause.
So i think i am going to buy a new lambda sensor as so far nothing is fixing the fault.
Ive added injector cleaner to fuel, so might go onto motorway first and give it a blast !!
Any advise, comments would be appreciated.

Just an update to say that new lambda sensor has cured the hiccupping problem, and car running good now.
Did although have strong petrol smell so removed roll bar hoops, pvc lining, metal plate to get access to tank.
Instantly saw petrol lying underneath the inlet tube.
Checked the jubilee clip and it was a bit loose !!
So new clip and tightened it up snug !!
4 hours to complete job, all for slack jubilee clip.
Glad i was able to do it myself.

Heres a foto to clarify !!

I have a '98, or at least it is registered as one, according to the chassis build date it was manufactured in June 97.it has a fuel filter drivers side just in front of the rear axle. I will say my engine acted poorly on two separate occasions, gasping, wheezing, stuttering, so forth on start up. Since then I never let the fuel level get low, my gut feeling is there is a split in the fuel pump hose in the tank. it must be close to the bottom of the tank therefore letting air into the line . one of these days I will pull the pump and have a look. The last few years it has ran perfectly, so I hate to mess with it , "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Eramosa you should take a look ! No need to take this panel off on my last pic. Just the small panel on the top of the tank underneath the roof storage area.Easy enough to take the pump out and have a look.

Barchetta has failed its ITV here in Spain this year again on emissions.
Im wondering if that rubber debris floating about in the petrol is causing the problem ?
Its high CO levels at tic over and 2,500 revs.
I bought a new cat converter last year and that got it through, and ive only done 4,000km in it this year.
Can anyone tell me what that is im pointing too on the foto?
I can only find out its a valve on the inlet manifold, but what does it do ??
What are the symptoms if its faulty. When i disconnect it, there appears to be no differance to the revs etc ??
Or what else can i do ?
Adding an additive ?

solenoid valve for activating the variator on the inlet camshaft advancing it around 20º wen rpm around 4000 i think !
about emissions high check the lambda probe or probes (o2 sensor).

Jmsg, thanx so i can eliminate that from the emissions problem !
I just changed the lamba last month and the cat last year.
This morning changed the fuel filter, which i changed only 3 months ago, 1000km, and i cut it open!
It was filthy, with a lot of deposit !
I think its all coming from that disintegrating rubber that i mentioned previously !
Had a look at my readings and at idle the CO was 0.11, at 2,500 was 0.56
So i dont think im way too high ??
Im going to remove the fuel pump AGAIN, and see if i can clean more of the debris out of the tank.
Also the connectors that fit the fuel lines onto the fuel filter are a tad broken, had difficulty removing them from filter.
Where can i get knew ones ?

arnietwo, does the fuel pump just unscrew? Mine won't budge from the tank!

gar074, no it just lifts out after u remove the 8 small nuts holding the retaining ring down.
Your rubber seal is possibly perished and stuck to the metal. Just prise that ring up with a screwdriver !!
Look at my fotos from this afternoon, look at the debris in the bottom cup part of the fuel pump. I took it off cleaned it, also went around inside of the tank with a cloth and caught more bits of shti floating about.
Was a bit happier when i finished that fuel seemed cleaner.

check / clean MAF , clogged injectors , vacuum leak !?

Hi, had the same problem last autumn with 3 attempts at the itv. Eventually changing spark plugs, a bottle of injector cleaner and a good thrash on the way to the centre solved it. Haven't got the numbers.

What's the story at the mo with quarantine and itv?

Story is, as they have closed the itv stations, you can drive with expired itv.
I was wanting to go for resit this week, but its closed. So im going to continue to drive.
But not really as im only allowed to drive to the supermarket and back !
Are you not likewise in Spain ?
Where is ur place in Spain ?

Hi in Mallorca, Weird on the streets isn't it?

arnietwo said:

gar074, no it just lifts out after u remove the 8 small nuts holding the retaining ring down.
Your rubber seal is possibly perished and stuck to the metal. Just prise that ring up with a screwdriver !!
Look at my fotos from this afternoon, look at the debris in the bottom cup part of the fuel pump. I took it off cleaned it, also went around inside of the tank with a cloth and caught more bits of shti floating about.
Was a bit happier when i finished that fuel seemed cleaner.

Click to expand...

Top man! Thanks!

Planning to use self-imposed isolation to get a few jobs done!

to be perfectly honest I have never seen a fuel filter that bad. If the filter is that bad what does the rest of the fuel system look like. The tank and lines must have some serious contamination. On two occasions my car acted in the way you described and I believe it to be a problem with the fuel pump, perhaps a split in the pick up hose allowing air into the fuel line. I never let the fuel get low now and it hasn't happened for about 20K . But I do plan on replacing the pump.

eramosa said:

to be perfectly honest I have never seen a fuel filter that bad. If the filter is that bad what does the rest of the fuel system look like. The tank and lines must have some serious contamination. On two occasions my car acted in the way you described and I believe it to be a problem with the fuel pump, perhaps a split in the pick up hose allowing air into the fuel line. I never let the fuel get low now and it hasn't happened for about 20K . But I do plan on replacing the pump.

Click to expand...

I replaced the pump last year, so no probs there. Also the inside of the tank looks fine.Its the debris coming from the rubber pad that was under the pump. Hopefully i will get rid of all the debris soon. Ive bought another filter so will fit that again soon.

Took fuel pump out AGAIN this afternoon, still some rubber debris in bottom of fuel pump, so cleaned that out, also tried to put on new rubber seal around top of pump !! Ehh no chance, i had to cut half of the new one away, it just was too think, top of pump would not press into tank. I mean No Chance !! I even got up ontop of the tank and tried to push it in with my foot. So cut the rib off it !
So awaiting the itv station to open again, then i will put som e cat cleaner in petrol and hopefully will pass this time. I also took MAF sensor out and sprayed it with cleaner.

Hi, are the rubber gaskets readily available? I seem to remember in a previous thread that the gasket seal was not available and a gasket goo (silicon sealer) was used instead.

Steve, i bought it on autodoc here in spain, im not sure but does all autodoc parts not come from germany ! So doesnt matter what autodoc website u use ?