A monkey did my electrical

[Fonz]

I've had some odd electrical problems with my spider and was wondering if you guys recognized these symptoms, if so, help?!

-flickering headlights (light potency depends on what gear I'm in sometimes)
-Hazard button must be left in on position in order for turn signals to work.
-Interior gauge lights also flicker
-turn signals work when they feel like it (recent problem)
-speedometer stops working ( happened for the first time yesterday)

also the trunk light was making bad ground and shorting out a fuse so I removed it. (the trunk light)
I have read in other unmentioned forums that these set of problems were related and common but I couldn't come across solutions.

[mdrburchette]

I would lay odds on the hazard switch being most of your problem. On the later models it seems everything runs through that little sucker in one way or another.

[adrians]

Yes,

Everything you described is what happen when my hazard switch stopped working ......

I think someone once said 'get a toothpick and stick it into the switch' works as a temporary fix.

Then Buy a new one or pull the old one apart and clean it up !

[mbouse]

depending on which hazard switch you have, a toothpick MAY fix a few of the things you mention for a short while:
http://flumichigan.italiancarclub.com/T ... switch.pdf

your turn signals may indeed be directly related to the hazard switch, or may not... but if the hazard switch is faulty, it certainly causes other issues. it will need to be fixed or circumvented.

however, the speedometer and the headlight issues you are experiencing have nothing to do with the hazard switch. light "potency" i am betting depends on your RPMs and not the gear selection. that being said, your car's alternator may be failing, and the voltage regulator is also suspect.

flickering lights on the dash sounds like a bad ground or a loose fuse; with the exception of the above comments.

that trunk light is one of the easiest to restore. course, sounds like you found a simple solution there...

[Fonz]

thanks allot guys, I was close to tearing my interior apart again trying to fix the electrical. I'll order a new hazard switch and check all the grounds.

yes Mbouse the potency was related to the RPM. I am wondering if a HID kit would bypass the flickering as the current is going through the ballast. (even though the alternator will be faulty)

I will try the toothpick for now, thanks guys!

[Fonz]

Ok well I cleaned all the ground connections and terminals on the car last weekend, replaced the emergency light switch and fixed my courtesy light. BUT i still have the same problem, turn signals only work sometimes and the headlights lose and gain power while I drive. I have a new speedometer on its way since the one I have now doesn't even flicker. I'm at a loss and I feel like giving up, can you guys help me out?

[Fonz]

bump?

[baltobernie]

I think Mike answered your question, a check of your charging system is next.

Your post seems to indicate that your car is drivable. Most nationwide auto parts stores will test your alternator and regulator at no charge. If you don't have an AutoZone, etc. near you, any service station can check it. If you have access to a voltmeter, you can check it yourself. Google "How to test alternator in the car". There's even a video or two on YouTube describing the procedure.

Let us know the results, and we can move from there.

[Fonz]

Went and got my alternator checked out and it came out fine. I installed my new speedometer and it solved almost all my problems, only issue left is the non-functioning emergency lights. Thanks for the feedback gentlemen.

[SLOSpider]

I had the same problem with Monkeys!

[baltobernie]

Yow! What is that nasty frayed wire near your monkey's left ear?

[SLOSpider]

Its posted under my thread for Burn Alternator wire help.

[Luddite]

I had similar problems, and replacing the hazard switch cured all. It was a little disturbing to find all those connectors without a home behind the console, but everything works ...

[Fonz]

Haha! SLOSpider your monkey looks more competent than mine. I still have headlight problems but all in all it's been relatively OK.