Is My Fiat Haunted???

Gotta love that wiring . . .
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WYSpider

Is My Fiat Haunted???

Post by WYSpider »

I have an intermediate problem where both the dash brake light and seat belt light come on and stay lit in the middle of a drive. The always come one and go off together. Sometimes they stay lit for hours at a time, sometimes they go off after an 20-30 minutes.

Is my Fiat haunted? Is the delay relay giving up the ghost? Has anyone experienced this before?
76was124
Patron 2019
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Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Detroit Area

Re: Is My Fiat Haunted???

Post by 76was124 »

Likely it is, with the ghost of the last mechanic :D

If the lights are on, and you have the hand brake down on the switch what happens if you unplug the wires on the sensor/test switch on brake reservoir ? Do one or both lights turn off?
Current 81 Spider 2000
Previous 76 Spider
vandor
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Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Is My Fiat Haunted???

Post by vandor »

I think there is a 'delay relay' in the Spider 2000s that is supposed to let the lights stay on for a few seconds after you start the car. Likely it's bad.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
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spider2081
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Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
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Re: Is My Fiat Haunted???

Post by spider2081 »

I believe vandor is correct. I think is some sort of a thermal device also because mine doesn't turn the lights of properly during the cold winter months. I opened it up and cleaned the contacts but that didn't help. I havn't checked to see if any vendors sell them.
76was124
Patron 2019
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Joined: Sun May 16, 2010 4:43 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Detroit Area

Re: Is My Fiat Haunted???

Post by 76was124 »

spider2081 wrote:I believe vandor is correct. I think is some sort of a thermal device also because mine doesn't turn the lights of properly during the cold winter months. I opened it up and cleaned the contacts but that didn't help. I havn't checked to see if any vendors sell them.
I think you are both correct, that's where I was going with the test of pulling the break reservoir level test wires. If memory serves me correctly, if the delay relay is not opening the circuit, both lights will turn off with the wire removed. If only the brake light turns off and the seatbelt light stays on, then it might be something else, as they share the same path to ground when the relay is closed..
Current 81 Spider 2000
Previous 76 Spider
WYSpider

Re: Is My Fiat Haunted???

Post by WYSpider »

76was124 wrote:Likely it is, with the ghost of the last mechanic :D

If the lights are on, and you have the hand brake down on the switch what happens if you unplug the wires on the sensor/test switch on brake reservoir ? Do one or both lights turn off?
No, neither of the lights goes out when unplugging the reservoir wires.
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: Is My Fiat Haunted???

Post by spider2081 »

I think your problem is the seat belt timer. It is mounted on the relay board.

Image
supplyguy

Re: Is My Fiat Haunted???

Post by supplyguy »

I would say yes, just by reading the title of your posting and without reading content. All Fiats are haunted. It's a fact.
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