OK, here's the first installment of my project. No, seriously, I'm sick and tired of this freaking wiring nightmare. There are too many things wrong with my car.
In a normal wiring post one would ask how to fix <insert symptoms here>. Crap, I have TOO many visible symptoms, and probably symptoms I don't even know about. I need some help going at this wire by wire. I don't ask that you be an expert at my specific model (and what are the odds that my car is wired by the manual anyway?) I just need a few things here and there.
First wire I want to go at is right off the back of my Speedometer. It is yellow with a red stripe. It is NOT the wire labeled on page 5 of brad's wiring document:
http://www.artigue.com/fiat/Pubs/Wiring_1979_1980.pdf
The one you see on page 5 is yellow/red off of the connector C26. The colors of the wires between connector C26 and the speedometer are not shown, but Brad's manual says its a 5 pin connector and I have 5 wires in and five out, so my "mystery wire" doesn't go there.
SO, anyone know where this wire goes?
Brief:
Yellow Wire with Red Stripe
Soldered onto Speedometer
about 1-2 feet long
female spade connector on end.
Project: One Wire at a Time.
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ventura ace
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
Danno,
Your 79 and later wiring is probably way different than my '70 or '76, but I took a peak inside my '76 and didn't see anything like you described. But I did see a white/black wire that was connected to the case. I would guess that your yellow/red wire is a ground wire if it is soldered to the speedometer case. If soldered elsewhere besides the case, it still may be a ground. Can you check the resistance between the wire and case? And check the resistance between the wire and the white/black wire, which seems to be a ground wire on Brad's schematics (and also ground on my schematics for earlier cars). If it ohms out to be very low resistance (0 - 1 ohms), I'd consider it a ground wire and connect it to ground
If it doesn't ohm out to be same as ground, I'd connect battery 12V to it and see if anything lights up (disclaimer: I didn't tell you to connect 12V. I just said that I would connect 12V)
Good luck!
Your 79 and later wiring is probably way different than my '70 or '76, but I took a peak inside my '76 and didn't see anything like you described. But I did see a white/black wire that was connected to the case. I would guess that your yellow/red wire is a ground wire if it is soldered to the speedometer case. If soldered elsewhere besides the case, it still may be a ground. Can you check the resistance between the wire and case? And check the resistance between the wire and the white/black wire, which seems to be a ground wire on Brad's schematics (and also ground on my schematics for earlier cars). If it ohms out to be very low resistance (0 - 1 ohms), I'd consider it a ground wire and connect it to ground
If it doesn't ohm out to be same as ground, I'd connect battery 12V to it and see if anything lights up (disclaimer: I didn't tell you to connect 12V. I just said that I would connect 12V)
Good luck!
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pope
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
Danno,
I'll bet you know what year car you have...how about letting us know!
I'll bet you know what year car you have...how about letting us know!
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pope
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
OK, from what I can see, the yellow/red wire the goes into the back of the speedometer is for fuel injected cars only. The manual says that on fuel injected cars when you are removing the speed... cut that wire, and then reconnect it upon installation. Originally that wire was a straight wire on F.I. had to be cut when the dash was disassembled.
If you dont have a F.I. auto, I wouldnt worry about it. If you do then find a yellow/red wire with the male end on it.
If you dont have a F.I. auto, I wouldnt worry about it. If you do then find a yellow/red wire with the male end on it.
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Danno
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
Pope, thanks for your help. I thought the manual I posted would be a suggestion as to my model, but it's a 1980 Carb'd model. I'll leave it be, then. It's just that I'm having a heck of a wiring time and obvious first places to start are fuses, grounds, and any wires hanging free.
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pope
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
Yah Danno I just didnot know if it was fuel injected or not, as mine is a 80 also, but F.I.
Those wire harnesses have every possible connection for either car, so some are not used. My harness is out of the car and laying in a heap. I have to deal with it a little later this year. The body comes first.
Good Luck
Those wire harnesses have every possible connection for either car, so some are not used. My harness is out of the car and laying in a heap. I have to deal with it a little later this year. The body comes first.
Good Luck
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mbouse
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
danno,
your title of this post is very near what needs to be done in actuality. ONE CIRCUIT AT A TIME is the least stressful way of attacking wiring that is acting up all over the car.
specifically, i believe the best way to do this under the dash is get back to basics, and then add aftermarket components. there should be ZERO wires added to your speedometer from the factory connection, no jumpers, no stringers or hangers on.
remember that most Spiders have been thru several previous owners, and no one knows for sure how many additional "mechanics" and boyfriends, and brother-o-law that thought they 'knew' better than Luigi.
if you can.....any supurfolous wire should be taken out and set aside for never use. splices are a clear indication of an added circuit. dump them. go back to the basics and start fresh.
if the wire doesn't look the same as the other known factory wires, it prolly is suspect of being an add-on circuit leading somewhere. that is, unless your car suffered some calamity such as a fire, and was re-wired.
your title of this post is very near what needs to be done in actuality. ONE CIRCUIT AT A TIME is the least stressful way of attacking wiring that is acting up all over the car.
specifically, i believe the best way to do this under the dash is get back to basics, and then add aftermarket components. there should be ZERO wires added to your speedometer from the factory connection, no jumpers, no stringers or hangers on.
remember that most Spiders have been thru several previous owners, and no one knows for sure how many additional "mechanics" and boyfriends, and brother-o-law that thought they 'knew' better than Luigi.
if you can.....any supurfolous wire should be taken out and set aside for never use. splices are a clear indication of an added circuit. dump them. go back to the basics and start fresh.
if the wire doesn't look the same as the other known factory wires, it prolly is suspect of being an add-on circuit leading somewhere. that is, unless your car suffered some calamity such as a fire, and was re-wired.
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Danno
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
4 connectors hanging down under the dash, more on the passenger side-ish of the dash, really. There is a Blue/Red, Lt. Blue/White, and 2 Red/Back wires (these two red/black wires are also connected by a third Red/Black wire).
Looking at my schematics makes me believe that these are for a power antenna. Does anyone actually have a power antenna? anyone confirm this? Can anyone think of something cool I can do with these or should I just ditch them (assuming that's what they are)?
Looking at my schematics makes me believe that these are for a power antenna. Does anyone actually have a power antenna? anyone confirm this? Can anyone think of something cool I can do with these or should I just ditch them (assuming that's what they are)?
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mbouse
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
my '79-80 wiring diagram downloaded from Brad's site concurs with your assessment. Please tell me that you used a different source, or i will be forced to get another book out.
Power antenna appears to be the intended use. i know no one that has one.
Power antenna appears to be the intended use. i know no one that has one.
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pope
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
The Lt. Blue/white and 1 black/red which branches off and becomes another wire are for power antenna switch connection.
Lt. Blue/red is to the power antenna motor.
It looks like the 1 red/black comes from a hazard switch and another comes from the courtesy light and both go to the power antenna switch.
Lt. Blue/red is to the power antenna motor.
It looks like the 1 red/black comes from a hazard switch and another comes from the courtesy light and both go to the power antenna switch.
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racydave
Re: Project: One Wire at a Time.
Danno, these wires were for things long gone. I checked all spare wires with a cheapie 12volt testlight. If you find you have power to a wire, then pull fuses one at a time and find what feeds it. Look at the schematics and find out what is on this circut. You sometimes can remove the fuse alltogether, or if the circut goes to other needed items, simply insulate the wires that have voltage , I often just put a butt connector on a hot wire and leave the other end open. this keeps from having a short. Concentrate on whats not workin, then get some pull-ties and burry the rest...