Need Engine Compartment Pictures 1977 124 & Alternator Quest

[wmpwilson]

I have a 77 that I bought 2 years ago. It was running when I bought it, but I never drove it other than to get it home, then into storage. I then left the state for two years, and while gone, someone replaced a couple leaking fuel lines at the carburator. Now, I see several wires. hoses, connections, etc.... which were disconnected. I don't know if it was like that before or not. I am looking for detailed pictures of the engine compartment--preferably drivers side, so I can attach items back to proper places. Specifically, there are two wires with connectors (one looks blue, the other gray or brown with red stripe) located near the oil pressure sending unit. I can't find any stud within reach of wires.

I also replaced the Alternator. When I bought the alternator, I was told that year came with an internal regulator. I hooked up all the wires to the alernator, and now see that it also has an external regulator on the Drivers Side fender wall. Did some 77's come with the external regulator? Can I simply disconnect the third wire at the alternator, and combine the wires at the relay as described in a post here? The Alternator I have on it DOES have connection for both wires, plus power wires.

Here is pic of what I have now:

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u337 ... iat001.jpg

[mbouse]

ok, if you have an internally regulated alternator, the third wire is an exciter wire. Exciting, isn't it? disconnecting that wire will not disable the regulator, it will disable the alternator.

my records show that the alternator was changed from external to internal regulator sometime in '78. Hopefully, someone else will either confirm that or, blast my error.

anyway... i have a rebuilt alternator that has roughly 500 miles on it. it is for an external regulated system. I will sell it to you if you are interested, substantially less than what it was purchased for at Vick Auto. send me an email to mbouse at chartermi dot net

and, sorry. i cannot answer what those two wires are for. does your oil pressure sender have a wire on it?

[wmpwilson]

ok, if you have an internally regulated alternator, the third wire is an exciter wire. Exciting, isn't it? disconnecting that wire will not disable the regulator, it will disable the alternator.

my records show that the alternator was changed from external to internal regulator sometime in '78. Hopefully, someone else will either confirm that or, blast my error.

anyway... i have a rebuilt alternator that has roughly 500 miles on it. it is for an external regulated system. I will sell it to you if you are interested, substantially less than what it was purchased for at Vick Auto. send me an email to mbouse at chartermi dot net

and, sorry. i cannot answer what those two wires are for. does your oil pressure sender have a wire on it?

thanks for the info----I'll get with you on the Alternator. Do you have a voltage regulator as well? As for the Oil Pressure unit, yes it does have a wire to it. As far as I can tell, the grey/red wire is same color as wire leading to the Idle solenoid. It comes out of the same harness as well. It is possible that neither of these two wires were connected previously. since it has been 2 years since I have looked at this car, it is hard to remember the way it was before. All I do know is---I drove it to where it was parked. It had charging issues, even with the new alternator (probably due to the mismatch), and some leaky fuel lines. At this point, a lot of TLC is in store for this little baby!

Email on the way as well!!!

[So Cal Mark]

I believe it was mid 77 when the charging systems changed

[baltobernie]

Hello Mr. Wilson,

My engine is the same year as yours and there are two oil sending units on it; one for the gauge and a separate one for the red light on the gauge indicating zero oil pressure. Both senders are on the oil filter housing. Could one of your mystery wires go here?

[wmpwilson]

Hello Mr. Wilson,

My engine is the same year as yours and there are two oil sending units on it; one for the gauge and a separate one for the red light on the gauge indicating zero oil pressure. Both senders are on the oil filter housing. Could one of your mystery wires go here?

You are correct, one attached to top, and one to side of pressure unit---both are hooked up. the two wires from oil sending unit go to same harness wrap as the two mystery wires, as do the two wires from carburator Idle Jet. There are 6 wires in all taped together. The two mystery wires are about 12 to 16 inches in lenght, so they can't go far. One would think I could easily locate the termination pont, but I have been at it since yesterday! My eyes aren't what they used to be, may need to go to tri-focals!!!!

[So Cal Mark]

there are two switches on the bottom of the intake manifold, they may go there

[manoa matt]

That Blue wire with the red stripe should go to the diverter by pass thermo switch. It is located on the underside of the intake manifold. There are two sensors under there, the other sensor is the ignition mode relay thermo switch.

If you are elimenating emissions equipment you don' have to worry about the diverter by pass thermo switch. You will need to correctly hook up the ignition mode relay if you are still running with a points distributor, thats what tells the relay to switch from starting points to running points.

Here is the diagram for a 78 that shows those two thermo switches, go to page #6: http://www.artigue.com/fiat/Pubs/Wiring_1978.pdf

At the moment I can't remember which sensor is which, one is bigger than the other. You need to crawl under the car and look up at the bottom of the manifold to see them. Its a P.I.T.A. to hook up those wires, the crankcase breather hose is usually in the way. A long locking hemostat helps to place the connnector on the pig tail lead of the sensor, unless you do it "by feel" from the top.

[wmpwilson]

there are two switches on the bottom of the intake manifold, they may go there

Mystery Solved!!! Thanks so much!

That Blue wire with the red stripe should go to the diverter by pass thermo switch. It is located on the underside of the intake manifold. There are two sensors under there, the other sensor is the ignition mode relay thermo switch.

If you are elimenating emissions equipment you don' have to worry about the diverter by pass thermo switch. You will need to correctly hook up the ignition mode relay if you are still running with a points distributor, thats what tells the relay to switch from starting points to running points.

Here is the diagram for a 78 that shows those two thermo switches, go to page #6: http://www.artigue.com/fiat/Pubs/Wiring_1978.pdf

At the moment I can't remember which sensor is which, one is bigger than the other. You need to crawl under the car and look up at the bottom of the manifold to see them. Its a P.I.T.A. to hook up those wires, the crankcase breather hose is usually in the way. A long locking hemostat helps to place the connnector on the pig tail lead of the sensor, unless you do it "by feel" from the top.

You are right, the breather house was blocking the sensor...anyway, I was able to do it by feel from the top. Is it right to assume that these being disconnected would keep the motor from starting?

Thanks for all the prompt replies!!!

[So Cal Mark]

no, the motor should start and run just fine without those switches hooked up. I haven't seen a Spider with those attached in at least a decade