My electrical saga, so far...

Gotta love that wiring . . .
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reidyyz
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2021 9:31 am
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat Spider 1800

My electrical saga, so far...

Post by reidyyz »

So I'm still screwing with the wiring in my precious 1976 pine tree sap collector. Yes it's covered. No, it's not on the road. Yes it's parked under a pine tree that hates sporty little Italian cars. And yes, the cover is gross, smells nice, but sticky and gross.

What started in may this year as " just focus, get it started, certified and plated. Drive it in June.. " Nope. Still not happening. I have replaced relay bases as they snapped off the bracket, removed a ton of smog equipment and most associated wiring, repaired wiring to oil pressure/ trany Rev lights (switch replacement pending) and have pulled out, best guess, 30 ft of unused wiring. As I go, I document and update the Mid-Bay wiring diagrams that I have zoomed and copied to 11x17 paper. All removals, changes and splices are now recorded for generations and generations to come. Including the PO installed starter relay circuit. Now with a proper relay base clipped to bracket, instead of just flopping around haphazardly. The woman (that brings meaning and direction to my life) looked at it up close for the first time and only had "it used to run before, didn't it?" to say. "Fair question, but it's a work in progress, honey- bunny."

Now my question, among others to come, is is there any documented drawings of the Russian made start switch? Every where I go to look and read is Lada switch this, Lada switch that. But mine never looks like these. It has Cyrillic writing for the 4 positions on the chrome face, and marked 50, 15, 30/1, twin INT, 30, and twin 16 on the back. No remove key buzzer switch (connector capped and stowed for future) With IGN off and key out, the twin INT prongs are connected to 30. I'm guessing that is a future drain on the battery to deal with. But I digress. It could be a Lada switch, just hoping for clarification. Thx.
Henry

1976 Spider 1800
spider2081
Patron 2024
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Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: My electrical saga, so far...

Post by spider2081 »

Is there a problem with the original Sipea ignition switch?? If so have you tried to get it repaired?
reidyyz
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2021 9:31 am
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat Spider 1800

Re: My electrical saga, so far...

Post by reidyyz »

No, the Russian IGN switch is what came with the car. Just looking for info on it.
Henry

1976 Spider 1800
18Fiatsandcounting
Posts: 3799
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: My electrical saga, so far...

Post by 18Fiatsandcounting »

reidyyz wrote:The woman (that brings meaning and direction to my life) looked at it up close for the first time and only had "it used to run before, didn't it?" to say. "Fair question, but it's a work in progress, honey- bunny."
I hear you, definitely... :D But, I'm not here to talk about significant others. Let's discuss: Ignition switches!!!

Here's how it is set up in my two spiders, and while it may not match exactly what you have, I hope it will help:

Terminal 30 is connected to a brown wire that goes to +12V at the starter, and so it always has +12V on it.
Terminal 15 goes to a pink wire to fuse 9 on the fuse box and a blue/black wire to the coil.
Terminal 16 (two of them) is not used.
Terminal 30/1 is connected to a black wire that goes to the output post of the alternator.
Terminal 50 goes to a red wire that connects to the starter motor solenoid.
Terminal INT (two of them) goes to black and blue/red wires.

So, Terminals 30 and 30/1 always have +12V on them as long as you have the battery connected.

Here's how it works with the key turning:
When the key is in the "Start" position, 30 is connected to 16 and 50. 50 engages the solenoid and the starter motor runs. 16 is not used on mine, although it may be on some models.
When the key is in either the "Start" or the "Run" positions, 15 and 30/1 are connected, so the coil gets powered and fuse 9 is energized.
INT and 30 are connected in all key positions except "OFF", so the wires to INT power all the other items in the car except when the key is in the "OFF" position. Some models do not have an "OFF" position per se, but rather "LOCK", "RUN" and "START" positions. "LOCK" is the position where the key can be removed, and that also locks the steering wheel. In mine, the key can be removed in Lock or Off, but not in Run or Start.

-Bryan
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dinghyguy
Patron 2018
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Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 7:41 pm
Your car is a: 1981 spider
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Re: My electrical saga, so far...

Post by dinghyguy »

the difference's between the two switches are explained in the link.

https://www.mirafiori.com/forum/downloa ... hp?id=3387

cheers
dinghyguy
1981 Red Spider "Redbob"
1972 blue Volvo 1800ES "Bob"
1998 Red Ford Ranger
reidyyz
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2021 9:31 am
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat Spider 1800

Re: My electrical saga, so far...

Post by reidyyz »

Thanks to all for the information. There's no such thing as too much info when it comes to the elex in these cars.
Henry

1976 Spider 1800
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