Headlights don't work

Gotta love that wiring . . .
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Leesfer

Headlights don't work

Post by Leesfer »

My 78 spider's headlights are not turning on... all other lights on the car are perfectly fine and the high beams work well, too... could this be a fuse problem? and if so which fuse is for the headlights? They aren't labeled and I'm pretty dumb :(
mbouse

Re: Headlights don't work

Post by mbouse »

according to my shop manual, for a 1978 Spider

fuse E = 8 amps right headlight low beam

fuse F = 8 amps left headlight low beam

might also be your high/low beam selector switch not making contact for the low beams.

might also be two dead elements ... have you checked for power at the bulb? Hey... it has been known to happen.
Danno

Re: Headlights don't work

Post by Danno »

mbouse wrote:according to my shop manual, for a 1978 Spider

fuse E = 8 amps right headlight low beam

fuse F = 8 amps left headlight low beam
so are there two more fuses one for each side high beam? that seems weird.
mbouse

Re: Headlights don't work

Post by mbouse »

WEIRD? you callin' Luigi's wiring diagram weird? What are you thinkin'? of course, there are four fuses for the headlights!! isn't that common for all vehicles, everywhere?
Danno

Re: Headlights don't work

Post by Danno »

mbouse wrote:WEIRD? you callin' Luigi's wiring diagram weird? What are you thinkin'? of course, there are four fuses for the headlights!! isn't that common for all vehicles, everywhere?
No, it's not weird. Not at all. In fact, as I look at my fusebox, I see a fuse for the left turn signal rear, left turn signal front, left rear brake light, left rear reverse lamp, left rear sidemarker, left front sidemarker, trunk light, duplicates of all mentioned for the right hand side, about 9 fuses for the hazard lights, there are clearly fuses for every single dash light too. I have exactly 532 fuses, that's normal, right? there are about 10 fuses for the radio, fuses for the blower fan (one for each speed), several for the ignition, one for the horn, one for each windshield wiper speed, one for the wiper fluid pump, the list goes on and on.
mdrburchette
Posts: 5754
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: Headlights don't work

Post by mdrburchette »

it does seem odd to have so many fuses until you think about what car we're talking about! Except for this case, at least if you have a short in one circuit, you'll still have at least one healdlamp working. The same is true for the parking lamps and brake lights.
1972 124 Spider (Don)
1971 124 Spider (Juan)
1986 Bertone X19 (Blue)
1978 124 Spider Lemons racer
1974 X19 SCCA racer (Paul)
2012 500 Prima Edizione #19 (Mini Rossa)
Ever changing count of parts cars....It's a disease!
mbouse

Re: Headlights don't work

Post by mbouse »

I guess my sarcasm was too thick. Like Denise says, remember what car we are talking about.

the concept of electricity was never received simply in Italy, except for the possible exception of Guglielmo Marconi. Certainly Luigi the Fiat electrical engineer could have designed our cars with simpler, easier to maintain circuits...but i think he chose not to on purpose.

there are indeed four fuses for the two headlights. the exact fuse location may differ from fuse panel to fuse panel, but the count is still four. and never discount the fact that the bulb may be burned out on one circuit (especially the most used circuit).

Frequently when we don't understand something, we point at the most complicated solution first, and ignore the basics. i like to suggest to new owners that they pull the battery connection, then pull every fuse out of the panel...clean the panel contacts, and replace every fuse with a brand new fuse of the proper amp rating. that way, fuses that look o.k. but aren't can be eliminated right away. doing the simple stuff first solves a lot of annoying symptoms.
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