My 1981 Fiat Spider is now sputtering and coughing After cleaning the engine. Help!!

The water. It got into some electrical component witch will give you all kinds of grief. Something is wet causing shorting. Check inside the distributor cap for moister and any electrical connection on the motor for moister. Most of the time it is the distributor cap, plug wires, or coil.

Apparently, all is well now. No sputtering tonight. Runs more smoothly. All I did was blow air into the engine bay, remove one spark plug and turn the engine over. Replaced the plug and it's fine. Thanks for the help.

I dont know if you have electronical start system, but think you have to check the ruptor calibration. If it is not electronical as bran new the calibration is betwen 0.37-0.4mms on clean surface, I mean without rust, clean the apace first using an eraser paper (200-300), THEN CLEAN it whith a cotton or a paper. If you have electronical starter the range varies from 4.0- 4.23mms, in the first case spak plugs shoul have 0.6 mms and in the second one 0.62-0.62. ry to do it , is easy if you want to have an antique as your car, I have an argentina version named 125 from 1974, uh, but 42 yearsdont make my car differat, it is a thunder as every Fiat, enjoy your spider. I repair mine with my hands, no technician required, even to repeir complex things like motor, but I think that it is a hobby, my old Fiat takes 190 kms/h and any more

That is where WD40 comes in handy! Spray over the spark plug wires and around and lightly in the distributor. This should drive out the water(moisture) and it should run fine!