My "NEW" 1982 Fiat Spider 2000 Will not start!

[Jamrsthearcher]

I am sure this may have been covered but for the life of me I can not find it.

I met with the owner and looked it over, test drove and said yes to buying it. We went in wrote up a bill of sale and I paid. Went outside and put the key in and ..........nothing. Once, twice, three times nothing.....Ha....ha...ha......forth and it cranked. It is was what it was at that point so off I went. Had no issues for a week or so then turn the key and nothing......second try it cranked. This happened one more time. Last night I come out of the gas station and nothing............just nothing. Tried a jump just for the giggles. I noticed the head lights were not working either. I had running lights on the middle light setting but try the head lights and even the dash lights go out. Car will not turn over. There is no noise when you turn the key.

To sum up the batt is good
Turn the key and you get power to the radio and running lights.
Turn the key and nothing no starter not even a click from the engine compartment.. Might as well not have a batt in it. that and the head lights will not come on.

Gave myself a push start and it started right up but the head lights still will not turn on. Made it home.

Checked to see if I could find a lose wire.......nothing yet.
Found the post about the brown wire. Chased it to do the FIX. Bought 10 ga but the wire in the car is much larger so Im going to match it. One brown wire runs from the batt up to the passenger dash to a junction under the glove box. The brown from the key switch goes to the solenoid. There is another brown wire that goes from the the same post on the solenoid to the alternator...... The wire from the switch to the solenoid has at least three splices in it. So I am going to rewire it as soon as I get the thicker wire but I did test it and there is power from one end to the other.

I would really love to drive my "NEW" car. Any ideas???

[RRoller123]

The ignition switch itself is a frequent culprit.

[So Cal Mark]

besides the ignition switch issue is the connector from the starter that is near the top of the left front shock absorber. It's common to find that connector completely corroded

[htchevyii]

Oops double post, see below

[htchevyii]

Congrats on the "new" car they are lots of fun, but can be addictive. The ign switches in both of my cars were bad when, or just after I bought them. There is lots of info out there, some say the replacement switchs are junk and you are better off fixing yours, so far mine is just fine. I'm sure a bad starter solenoid or connection could also be the culprit. Link to switch repair:
http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/switch/index.html

[courtenay]

Check the connections on the brown and red wires shown in this picture (ie the ones beside the alternator, not the red wire going attached to the alternator). Pull them apart at the bullet connectors, clean, spread the contacts and apply dielectric grease. Be prepared to do this often. Or do what several others have done, get rid of the connectors and solder the wires and cover with shrink tubing.

[2ndwind]

Same issues with my '82. Bought 2 used ignition switches in case one used one was bad. Replaced ignition switch, voila, starts every time.

[Jamrsthearcher]

I pulled the switch and did the rebuild. Not really that hard at all. Popped it in and cranked right up. Went to bed. Got up the next day put the key in and.........cranked right up.!!!!YAY Opened garage looked over my should went to shift into reverse and............the whole shifter came out........DAMN. The little plastic cup that holds it broke. Yay a new job.