79 spider ignition switch alternatives

[buckspet]

my 79 spider has a USA made 4 prong bastardized ignition switch that has given up the ghost! the starter started acting funny, 1st try no power, 2nd try starts up...now the car starts but the starter doesn't disengage ugh grinding on the flywheel..now the head lights don't work!! It has only 4 prongs leaving a exposed wire. now when I try to remove it it wont come out. doesn't look like a fiat piece..no bar as a integral part. I have a opportunity to get a 77 or a 80 fi ignition switch from a friend but I'm not sure if either one could be used. I saw a reference on AR about adapting other years to make the ignition function properly. One last tid-bit the PO over-road the broken hazard light switch by jamming it in a pushed in position. Between these 2 items purchased as replacement parts I'm over $200. I live in Pa. and store it from november to may, so I'm hoping for a quick fix if possible. Electrical is my achellise heal. Help

[bradartigue]

Buy a good used ignition switch, they are not rare. The 1980 will work.

[buckspet]

thank you... I think I'll bite the bullet and buy both the switch and hazard button. seems like the most practical and time efficient use of my hobbyist time , and allow me to drive it until winter approaches.

[TX82FIAT]

Before you buy a new hazard switch the failure is common and there are threads on how to take this switch apart and fix the click portion so that it works. I did it myself and it works like a charm.

This U-Tube video will help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxV39KASuLI

For the ignition switch, this is a pretty important part on our spiders because of the lack of relays in the original design. See if you can score an original Sipea switch made for our spiders if possible. There are typically a few that are plug and play out there and some of the vendors on this forum sell these as well. There are videos for the switch removal out there as well. As a second consideration, there are diagrams for the color wires and in what position they engage. In the early 80's when I was sufficiently cash depressed as a student, I wired a free heavy duty three switch race car ignition switch that worked fine for several years until I sold the car.

[buckspet]

thanks to all the members who responded...I'll report back with progress

[buckspet]

TX8fiat, thanks for the video...I believe the PO did a similar ignition quick fix...It seems the key tumbeler has self destroyed.. I'll look into using a use 80 switch...thanks again