78 Fiat 124 Spider Owners Manual and Dash Switches Function

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MrBlimp
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Jun 15, 2017 12:03 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chichester, NY

78 Fiat 124 Spider Owners Manual and Dash Switches Function

Postby MrBlimp » Sat Jun 17, 2017 7:24 pm

Is there a Owner's/Driver's Manual for the 124 that describes the dash components and various levers on the steering column?

I already own the Bradley Artigue "Engine Maintenance and Modification" manual and the factory Fiat Spider "Service Manual", but I didn't see any descriptions of the dash, etc...
Last edited by MrBlimp on Sun Jul 02, 2017 9:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
69 Triumph Spitfire
70 MGB
78 Fiat 124 Spider
92 Mustang LX
00 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L - Totaled
00 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0L
05 Hyundai Accent

User avatar
MrBlimp
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Jun 15, 2017 12:03 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chichester, NY

Re: 78 Fiat 124 Spider Owners Manual and Dash Switches Function

Postby MrBlimp » Sun Jun 25, 2017 8:52 pm

Now that I have the car home I have specific questions:

- There are 5 Toggle switches mounted in the chrome dash stripe above section with the Hazard Light Switch and Map Light:
- 1. unknown function
- 2. Heater Fan/Blower toggle switch - operational
- 3. unknown function
- 4. Map Light toggle switch - operational (the little switch on the light itself is non functional)
- 5. unknown function

There are two knob type rheostats on the dash:
- 1. Left of Emergency Brake light - looks like a sweep gauge/meter needle across a open arc
- 2. Right of the Fasten Seat Belts light - looks like a sweep gauge/meter needle across a sectioned arc

Can anyone assist with what these switches are for?
Last edited by MrBlimp on Sun Jul 02, 2017 9:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
69 Triumph Spitfire
70 MGB
78 Fiat 124 Spider
92 Mustang LX
00 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L - Totaled
00 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0L
05 Hyundai Accent

zachmac
Posts: 1278
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:20 am
Your car is a: 1978 Spider [1979 2 ltr engine]
Location: Aiken, SC

Re: 78 Fiat 124 Spider Owners Manual and Dash Swicthe Function

Postby zachmac » Sun Jun 25, 2017 9:09 pm

The toggle switches you are describing on the lower section with the map light are not sounding stock. Way to many of them and a 78 should have the fan motor switch in the center console between the seats.

The two switches on the upper section should be the dash light dimmer and the high / low speed wiper switch.

You can view a 78 owners manual here: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/10270 ... -1800.html Google is your friend!
Jeff Klein, Aiken, SC
1980 FI Spider, Veridian with Tan (sold about a year ago), in the market for another project
1989 Spider, sold
2008 Mercedes SL65
2008 S600 Mercedes V12

User avatar
MrBlimp
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Jun 15, 2017 12:03 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chichester, NY

Re: 78 Fiat 124 Spider Owners Manual and Dash Switches Function

Postby MrBlimp » Sun Jul 02, 2017 9:26 am

zachmac wrote:The toggle switches you are describing on the lower section with the map light are not sounding stock. Way to many of them and a 78 should have the fan motor switch in the center console between the seats.

A PO removed the fan motor toggle switch from the center console. Obviously they rewired it to one of these dash mounted switches they must have installed at the time.

I now know that these switches are as follows:
- 1. not connected to anything
- 2. Heater Fan/Blower toggle switch - operational
- 3. connected to the monster amp the PO installed with the two large speakers and horns where the back seat is supposed to be
- 4. Map Light toggle switch - operational (the little switch on the light itself is non functional - it is broken or missing a piece so the PO soldered in a wire which they ran to this switch)
- 5. not connected to anything

zachmac wrote:The two switches on the upper section should be the dash light dimmer and the high / low speed wiper switch.

That they are and, by multimeter testing, the wiper speed knob appears to be working, and the dash light knob is definitely working.

zachmac wrote:You can view a 78 owners manual here: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/10270 ... -1800.html

Excellent - thank you!

zachmac wrote:Google is your friend!

Yes but I wasn't able to find that site and I ran plenty of Google searches.
69 Triumph Spitfire
70 MGB
78 Fiat 124 Spider
92 Mustang LX
00 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L - Totaled
00 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0L
05 Hyundai Accent

User avatar
MrBlimp
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Jun 15, 2017 12:03 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chichester, NY

Re: 78 Fiat 124 Spider Owners Manual and Dash Switches Function

Postby MrBlimp » Sun Jul 02, 2017 6:51 pm

Wipers fully functional - Yeah!!!!!!!
69 Triumph Spitfire
70 MGB
78 Fiat 124 Spider
92 Mustang LX
00 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L - Totaled
00 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0L
05 Hyundai Accent


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