Reputable Instrument Services

[tluz]

Hi, Guys,

I lurk a lot on the forum but don't post much.

I have an 82 Spider 2000 with electrical gremlins. As a prelude to my question, Let me tell you that I have spent two days disassembling, brushing, sanding, and cleaning every electrical connection and ground in the car, with the help of a wiring diagram. This is not to say that I couldn't have missed a few, but I think I got everything relating to the issues below.

No working fuel gauge, speedo or tach. I have a working temp gauge (meaning that there's juice and ground to the fuel gage and tach, since they share common power and ground lines).

Gas gauge is wired per wiring diagram and, as noted, passes power and juice on the the temp gauge, so those both work. New fuel sender, wired per wiring diagram and with a redundant ground to a clean body bolt. Gauge stays on empty. I have to conclude that the gauge is dead.

Tachometer -- I get a good test light at the brown wire coming out of the negative post of the coil but no action on the gauge. Again, I have to conclude that the tach has passed to the great beyond.

Speedo -- worked until this spring and then suddenly stopped. I'm guessing that the internal spring gave out or became dislodged. If so, this is not something I am capable of fixing.

So the question is, have them rebuilt or replaced? And where or by whom? The parts vendors I/m familiar with do not list gauges among their offerings.

Any recommendations (and warnings) would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom

[baltobernie]

The Veglia instrumentation used in these cars is generally pretty reliable, but everything has a finite lifetime. For the electrical gauges, I'd test the circuit at the gauge end with a voltmeter before pronouncing the gauge dead, just to be on the safe side.

For replacements, post on Parts Wanted. Most of the gauges are interchangeable among Spider model years, the exception being the speedo with different cable fitting. Not an issue if you change both cable and instrument, but otherwise stick with late model unit.

These gauges can be refurbished by gently prying off the aluminum trim, allowing the glass to be cleaned. You can generally do this once or twice before ruining the bezel.

[Ramzi]

Gauge restoration.... I have had a set of Veglia / Metron gauges ruined by a so called restorer. If you should seek professional help make certain you do your home work.

[spider2081]

With the ignition switch in the run position have you removed the wires from the fuel sender and grounded them to see what happens?? Grounding the gray/red wire should make the low fuel light illuminate. Grounding the light blue/yellow wire should make the gauge peg beyond full.

Does the dash lights in the non working instruments work??

Have you measured the voltage on the brown wire at the tachometer's connector??

[redcars]

The speedo is complete macaniccal and the cable or it's connection is what is most likely what failed. These are both easy to fix. As already said lots of gauges around.

[bradartigue]

Gauges can be exchanged with virtually any Spider or Coupe, 124 or 850 series, FIAT made from 1966 - 1982. After 82 the pininfarina Spiders switched to a different font. You can also switch the electronics from some of the X1/9 clusters...the "back" of the cluster is just a bunch of regular Veglia gauges. But fixing, swapping, not worth the trouble, there are too many out there and these cars don't exactly have numbers matching parts.

If you are set on repair I just say avoid Palo Alto Speedometer or whatever they're called. You don't have expensive enough gauges to impress them into fixing them. Tell them they're for a Lamborghini (used the same gauges) and maybe they'll work on them.

[gandyrail]

Fuel reading empty sound like your tank sender sank or ethanol corrosion on the sender :arrow

[Ramzi]

I have dealt with Palo Alto and they are fine working on Fiat gauges. Certainly better than anyone else in the gauge business. The fellow to speak with is Hartmut. But dont be afraid to part with a few dollars for the service...

Youre likely going to have a better chance spending less money by finding an NOS unit or even a used on.

[bradartigue]

I have dealt with Palo Alto and they are fine working on Fiat gauges. Certainly better than anyone else in the gauge business. The fellow to speak with is Hartmut. But dont be afraid to part with a few dollars for the service...

Youre likely going to have a better chance spending less money by finding an NOS unit or even a used on.

I must have caught them during a bad year. That's how long they kept a set of gauges I sent them without working on them or even updating on status...never again.