Would replacing the grounds for the headlights be something to consider? I am still trying to find out if my ignition switch has been wired badly. It has 6 wires. Three are on the "ACC" location and two are on the "BATT" location. The last (yellow) is on the "ST" location.

The only things is that I don't recall the car stalling every time I turned on the headlights before I replaced the ignition system and fuel line. I do remember that whenever I turned on the headlights (high mode) before I had all the other problems the headlight on the left would turn off and the one on the right became brighter. Why, I have no clue?

Any ideas?

I'm not sure on the headlight activation turning off the engine, although as others have commented it does sound like something is grounding incorrectly.

On the ignition wiring - Have you looked at Brad Artigue's wiring diagram?

http://www.artigue.com/fiatcontent/Wiring_1980_1982.pdf

This should contain the information you need. It may be the PDF rendering of it on my phone, but on the first page where the ignition switch is shown the line for the 30/1 Black isn't there although the label is. X-ref page 3.

You've got 6 wires onto three pins (I think), and that looks wrong. An extra wire (is it brown?) is entirely possible if a PO has added an extra. The arrangement of the wiring - perhaps a PO was rearranging things that didn't work right, perhaps there's a fault on the ignition switch and some terminals don't work.... Brads diagram will help you work through these issues and go to stock wiring.

Semi success! I found out that the ignition switch had been rewired falsely by the PO. After wiring it properly I tried starting the car. It started and ran well with or without headlights. I then removed the ignition switch and the engine continued to run. So I had to stall the car. I read this thread:[url]http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... =25292/url] but it seems like some thought that it was the alternator and others the ignition switch. Any ideas on how I can tell which is the culprit?

P.S. The car gives out a rather strong smell of an old car. Yes, I know but how strong do they smell?

Oh! duh. It just donged on me that I didn't have this problem before I rewired the ignition switch so the problem has to be with the ignition switch.

On my ignition switch I have four slots ACC, BAT, IGN, ST. I have the blach wire and yellow (radio) hooked up on to the ACC, blue/black and brown on the BAT, red on the ST and pink on the IGN. This is what the wiring diagrams seemed to say. Any ideas?

Based on your description of the positions, it sounds like you do not have a Fiat ignition switch. Fiat switches don't have ACC, BAT, etc, positions. My 81 had an ignition switch wired (and named) as follows:

Pin 30/1 - Black wire (power into switch)
Pin 30 - Brown wire (power into switch)
Pin 15/54 - Pink wire (power out on start and run - powered by black wire on 30/1)
Pin 50 - Red wire (power out on start only - powered by brown wire on 30)
Pin "Int" - Light Blue/Black wire (power out on start and run - powered by brown wire on 30)

If you don't have the wiring diagram you will need it! (download from previously supplied link) I have a fair amount of information on the 81, even though I don't have the car any more. I have an electrical diagnostic manual and a set of wiring diagrams broken down by circuit. PM me if you don't have that stuff and would like it.

Adding - what are the colors for the six wires you have? You've mentioned yellow.... Which is likely non stock... What are the others? Finally - is there a small pigtail hanging out of the back of the switch? Or something that looks like it could have once done? You mentioned some spurious "pings", and there is a seatbelt reminder chime (actual chime is with the relays under the passenger side glove box), which is triggered by the wires on that pigtail.

After loking at some photos switches I realized that the switch that I have now is not a fiat one. The six wires I have are red,black,brown,blue/black,yellow,pink. I will try posting a picture of it today.

Here are some photos.

Except for yellow those are the stock colors. I would check each to make sure it is what it's supposed to be (e.g. buzz black and brown back to the alternator or battery and make sure they are the power inputs; buzz the others to the fuse box or wherever the wiring diagram says they should go).

If it were me I'd get a Fiat switch and wire it the way it's supposed to be.

Yellow may have been added by the PO to power a stereo or something similar.

They have arrived! A new ignition switch and oil pan gasket.

My windshield wiper motor doesn't work. I suppose I could take it down to an electric motor reapair shop, but is there any way that one can do it themselves?

Wiper motors can be taken apart, inspected cleaned and lubed fairly easily. I just did mine. I may be taking it to a generator shop though because after running it for 5 or 6 minutes on the bench, it gets very hot to the touch.

Thanks for the info fredquaz. I will try what you recomended before I take it down to be checked.

I recognized that I haven't posted any pictures of my Fiat so here are some.

As you can see not a lot of working room but it is still better than outside! Here are also some pictures of its paint.



I am thinking of buffing it down to bare medal and then primering it myself. The painting I will have a pro do. But I was wondering if I really need to go down to bare medal. My quess is yes since there are several rusted spots and so there is probably rust hidden everywhere. Just double checking.

While I was installing the carpet I realized that my rocker panels looked VERY suspicious. So I ended up taking out the rocker panels only to find several huge rust holes. The PO dealt with the problem by stuffing paper in the wholes and pouring a gallon of body filler over it. So after a bit of clean up this is what I have now.
So much for "rust free car"! I am not a welder and so I think I will have to have these holes welded by a pro. Does any one else have any ideas on how I could fix it myself. I really doudt the POR 15 method of patching holes will work for this since the holes are exectly where the screws go.

Any ideas?

Hello all. Although I have not been posting I have been busy with the Fiat. Here are a couple of pictures of it. It has new paint, fuel line, interior (isn't complete it), ignition system, battery, top, insulation, heating system etc… I am afraid a new cooling system may be necessary. I have several new issues though. The paint is actually metallic although it looks flat. it lightens up a bit in the sun. Will post some when it gets sunny.






I replaced the coolent just a couple of days ago and took it out for a very short drive. It started smoking very soon. So I pulled over and popped the trunk. Show'enough smoke or ?steam? was coming from the radiator. The radiator fan had also stopped working. The PO had rewired the fan to manually turn it on by a switch in the console. But for some reason it doesn't work. Could this be causing the smoke or steam? The temp gauge read 190. Could something on the radiator be burning off after sitting for almost a year? Any ideas on the radiator or fan?

The fan was working just a couple of days ago. I have no idea why it stopped. It couldn't have burned out. My guess is that some wiring broke or got disconnected. Any ideas?

Thanks,

If the temp gauge is ok and accurate, then the "smoke" is likely coolant that is leaking from somewhere and dripping onto the exhaust manifold. Best check the wiring of that automatic fan. It is a simple circuit to diagnose. Mine also was wired with a bypass, I fixed the original and left the bypass in place. The fan motor is always wired hot from position 10 on the fuse box, which runs over to the alternator and then to the fan motor, and is switched on and off by the fan thermo switch, which gives it a path to ground when it reaches ~195F or so. (switch closes, making contact). Check that there is juice to the motor all the time, then check the connections at the ground pod, and then whether the switch is working, which can be done by putting it in boiling water and using a meter.

Thanks RRoller123. I went through the wiring of the fan cleaning up all the connections and tried it again. It turned on and ran well. I think my ground was loose so it wasn't getting enough connection.

The smoke or steam was coming from the "fins" of the radiator itself not from the exhaust or any tube. It wasn't very thick smoke as well. When I refilled my coolant I filled it from the hose connection near the heater, but I kept the cap of the radiator open to let any trapped air out. Once it reached the top I closed it and finished pouring the coolant. My quess is that maybe some of the coolant might have spilled over on to the "fins" of the radiator. And although it has dried the residue might be burning off hence the smoke. Does this sound possible?