Back up light issue...

Gotta love that wiring . . .
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FiatSpider1

Back up light issue...

Post by FiatSpider1 »

Norm having pblm with back up lights...
1976 124 Fiat Spider 5 speed tranny.

Quick question, can anyone tell me what other components are on the same circuit as the back up lights.
Switch appears to be good, there is no voltage at the white wire going to the switch. Thinking maybe a bad ground at a different location or another area killing the circuit....
tks
TStark
Posts: 127
Joined: Thu Sep 26, 2013 10:24 am
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: NE CT

Re: Back up light issue...

Post by TStark »

Perhaps the switch grounds the lights.
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bradartigue
Posts: 2183
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Sport Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Back up light issue...

Post by bradartigue »

If you have power to the switch when open and power from the switch when closed then check:

- The bulbs are the correct type and size, and the sockets are nice and clean
- The ground in the rear trunk is connected to a good clean spot on the body

Wiring diagrams abound, download one.

http://www.artigue.com/fiat has most of them
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pressonregardless
Patron 2018
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Posts: 83
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:02 pm
Your car is a: 1974 Spider
Location: Atwater, Ca

Re: Back up light issue...

Post by pressonregardless »

Just a thought, when I purchased my '74 from a PO, somewhere in it's life, the white wire was cut and folded back to disable the backup lights. Not sure why someone would want this, but I had to shoot the wires and finally found the bundle under the carpet (almost directly under the drivers left knee) where someone did a professional job of clipping the wire, folding 2" back, and securing it.

This made sure the backup lights would never work. Funny, wouldn't it be easier to take out the light bulbs?
1974 Spider, 1756cc, points & Carb, 118K California miles
spider2081
Patron 2024
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Posts: 3015
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: Back up light issue...

Post by spider2081 »

the white wire was cut and folded back to disable the backup lights. Not sure why someone would want this,
The wires are prone to breaking off the back up light switch and shorting to ground. This blows the respective fuse. I think for the PO this was the simplest way around the issue.

As far as I know all the Spider back-up switches switch power not ground to the back up light bulbs.

I did not find a fuse list to answer your question but looked at a 76 wire diagram. I think the fuse protecting the back-up light circuit is fuse 9. It also protects the warning lights in the dash and some emission switches.

Hope this is of some help
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