Newbie from Alberta, Canada

[Trickster]

Hi to all. Just picked up a 76 with 75,000 miles, and very little surface rust, anywhere. Must not have ever been used in the winter here. (And really why would you, lol). $4,200. She has some minor issues, and I knew that when
buying it. New tires, newer top, recent paint, stupid aftermarket seats, (racing style with the option for 5 point harness ). Runs okay, needs a tuneup, will do timing belt and water pump as I have no idea if and when it was last done. Sorry to ramble, but I am excited about her and looking forward to the summer drop top time.
First question of many to come, I found an online owners manual, and in it, it shows the under dash fuse box.
What has me confused is, the 10 fuses seem to be numbered/lettered for identification, backwards to the fuse box
cover? Far left ceramic fuse on my car is definitely the horn, owners manual shows the far right as such.
Was that a typo in the actual Fiat owners manual? Or do I have a bear to deal with?
Thanks for any help now, and likely more to come.
Rick

[AriK]

Welcome fellow Canuck!
The fuses are labelled from A to L going from right to left with your horn fuse labeled at L. Slight variations may apply depending on the year, but yes Fiat has a backward way of indicating fuse positions.
The racing seats that you refer to as stupid is an alternate style some on the forum prefer to swap over. They are comfortable to some and could be a killer to others.
Please post photos.

[Trickster]

Arik,
Thanx for the reply fellow Canuck. Yes, perhaps some may like the high hip bolster type seat, but with
the top up, I have duck and scrunch my butt up in the air to slip in. Must look hilarious to some.
So, my priority repair issue currently is..... why I have no running lights, gauge lights, look to be on the same
fuse, bit fuse appears good. Let the bad "ground" search begin.
Rick

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard! You will find plenty of knowledgeable and friendly people here.

Post some pictures! They help a great deal when trying to help diagnose problems, inquiries, etc that you may have.

Here is a thread on how to post pictures directly to the forum:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... 13&t=32169

And here is another picture-posting thread:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... 12&t=23084

This short instruction covers how to resize pictures so that they don’t get cut off at the right side:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=30441

And here is a link to a map of Spider owner’s locations. Many forum members have listed their locations.

https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=191825


Pete

[Kingme2]

Where in Alberta? I'm in Airdrie/Calgary. Couple shops I could point you to, or perhaps a visit...

[narfire]

Hey, welcome to the world of Fiats.
yes, you will find all kinds of what some might say is "weird" things with these cars. One underlying thing though is they are easy to work on and figure out when issues pop up time to time....( all the time) and parts are readily available from the proprietors on this site or I have used Ital Motors in Edmonton for some bits and pieces. As a matter of fact I was talking to Fred yesterday to get a couple of rear axle seals and O rings mailed down.
Regarding that fuse box, take a few moments and clean the contacts with steel wool as well as the ends of the fuses if they have been in there for a bit.
Also make sure the brakes are sorted, consider replacing the brake fluid. Replace the rubber "donut" that connects the shaft from the tranny to the drive shaft, timing belt of course. Flush the coolant out & replace with the heater lever "on". Just a few things that are easy to do and will give a piece of mind.
Chris

[joelittel]

Fyi the heater lever is in the on position when it's near the wide side of the triangle.

Wide = on, narrow = off.

[4uall]

Hello and welcome to the greatest place on earth

[Trickster]

Hey, welcome to the world of Fiats.
have used Ital Motors in Edmonton for some bits and pieces. As a matter of fact I was talking to Fred yesterday to get a couple of rear axle seals and O rings mailed down.
Chris

Chris,
Thanks for the welcome. Small world, I was at Ital a few weeks ago, could have talked to the owner Mario and his son Fred for hours. Now their is knowledge on these cars. They have been in the same location since 1961, when they actually sold Fiats. Mario must be in his
80's and still putters around the shop in what looks like coveralls from the 60's.
When Fiat stopped with the exports to North America in the 80's, they bought seacans full of spares.
Mario knows exactly where everything is, and in minutes comes up with the part, amazing.
Cheers.

[narfire]

If the weather is good, I usually drive up to Kelowna to see Fred at the Knox Mt. Hill Climb in Kelowna in conjunction of a decent show and shine on the waterfront in Peachland. After 40 years of trying, several years ago he got below the 2 min. mark and still hold the record in that class. He drives a Alfa GT junior and for the life of me have no idea how he still manages to get through the drivers window to get in and out of the car.
Yes great people. I finally met Mario 3 1/2 years ago went I went to Edmonton to pick up my Passat. Your description is pretty much right on...
Chris

[Trickster]

Where in Alberta? I'm in Airdrie/Calgary. Couple shops I could point you to, or perhaps a visit...

Just north of you a few hours, Leduc.