General 500N dash board switches

[Shanil]

Hi could someone guide me on the functions of the 3 switches found on the centre of the 500 Nouva dash

Mine has un fortunately been modified to 2 orange lights which are in the centre of the dash and blink in the event you use the signals and one blinks even if you step on the brakes

From what I know there are 2 such indicator lights on either side of the speedo meter (round one)

 

[oopsadaisy]

Hi Shanil

Could you please clarify - are you talking about indicator lights or switches?

Or have the switches in your car been replaced with indicator lights?

By the way....... where abouts are you in Sri Lanka?

I have spent quite a bit of time there, but never saw a Fiat 500 !

 

[Shanil]

HI

Thanks for your quick reply

I think indicator lights have been replaced instead of switches, Basically I think there are 3 switches at the center of the dash, where one is to turn on the lights, and the other is to switch between the head and the low beam I am not sure what else

In my Car someone has replaced 2 orange lights on either side and blink when the signals are on and also blick when you step on the brake

I dont think this is correct as from what I have read and seen on the internet here are only 2 green lights on either side of the speedometer for the direction indicators

Any assistance much appreciated

I leave in a place called Maharagama which is 15 Km from Colombo Fiat 500 is a very rare car here and I was told there are around 65 cars in good running order but never really seen them

:bang:

Hi Shanil

Could you please clarify - are you talking about indicator lights or switches?

Or have the switches in your car been replaced with indicator lights?

By the way....... where abouts are you in Sri Lanka?

I have spent quite a bit of time there, but never saw a Fiat 500 !

 

[Panda Van]

Okay, this may help, i'm not sure if your layout is the same, this is in a 500R.

Not entirely sure what the middle switch does or was, on some cars its where you put the ignition key, but its not on mine as it now has a barrel type ignition with steering lock. Dont forget to click the thankyou button if you found this helpfull !!!!

 

[Shanil]

Hi Thanks for the quick update I also have the ignition key hole in the middle but on either side 2 orange lights for the signal, is this correct or should there be 2 switches on either side?

Okay, this may help, i'm not sure if your layout is the same, this is in a 500R.

Not entirely sure what the middle switch does or was, on some cars its where you put the ignition key, but its not on mine as it now has a barrel type ignition with steering lock. Dont forget to click the thankyou button if you found this helpfull !!!!

 

[Davren]

Got these pages from the 500L Owners Handbook. They may give you a clue.

1 = Direction Indicator Warning Lamp.
3 = Main Beam Warning Lamp.
4 = Side Lights Switch
5 = Head Light Switch
7 = Wiper Switch

Dave.

 

[oopsadaisy]

I leave in a place called Maharagama which is 15 Km from Colombo Fiat 500 is a very rare car here and I was told there are around 65 cars in good running order but never really seen them

Hi Shanil - I remember it well - I have travelled along the High Level Road, through Homagama, and then on to Padukka countless times!

It sounds like you car has been modified at some time.

Our car is an "L" and has three switches plus the ignition switch.

The three switches are for the wipers, lights and panel lights.

As far as I can recall on the "D", there were three indicator lights, one which showed the indicators were working (yellow?) one which showed the lights were on (green?) and a high headlamp beam indicator (blue I think)

I am amazed there are so many 500's in Sri Lanka - as I said in all the time I was there I never saw one.

Lots of other classics or course, especially all the Morris 1000's 50 years old and up, and still going strong!

We did however just miss out on a Fiat Topolino which came up for sale on the island..... it was 1953, in mint condition which used to be owned by a Bishop on the island we were told!

Of course the problem is, getting any vehicle out of Sri Lanka - not easy I think!

 

[Shanil]

Thanks davren I have the wiper switch along with the signal light lever on the steering column on the dash I have the head light switch and the parking light switch and 2 yellow lights in the centre which illuminate when the signals are on depending on which side, Maybe the Nouva had it this way and I also dont seem to have the ashtray like yours!!!!!!

Very confusing but I really appreciate your help

:bang:

Got these pages from the 500L Owners Handbook. They may give you a clue.

1 = Direction Indicator Warning Lamp.
3 = Main Beam Warning Lamp.
4 = Side Lights Switch
5 = Head Light Switch
7 = Wiper Switch

Dave.

 

[Shanil]

You seem to be an expert on Sri Lanka

I have the head light indicator on the speedo meter which indicates in blue when the head light is switched on is this the one you are referring to or is there another one on the center of the dash

I too was amazed to know there are so many 500's here but you almost never see them running on the road

My one was owned by someone who decided to migrate and he had done up the entire engine, currently I am doing up the fron suspension and once I am done, I will be doing up a few minor stuff like head lamp covers etc, The worst part in this car is that it does not have the original Fuel Tank and has a modified one, I am searching high and low for new or used one and managed to find one which is for the F/L/R models I wonder if it will be OK for the Nouva

Hi Shanil - I remember it well - I have travelled along the High Level Road, through Homagama, and then on to Padukka countless times!

It sounds like you car has been modified at some time.

Our car is an "L" and has three switches plus the ignition switch.

The three switches are for the wipers, lights and panel lights.

As far as I can recall on the "D", there were three indicator lights, one which showed the indicators were working (yellow?) one which showed the lights were on (green?) and a high headlamp beam indicator (blue I think)

I am amazed there are so many 500's in Sri Lanka - as I said in all the time I was there I never saw one.

Lots of other classics or course, especially all the Morris 1000's 50 years old and up, and still going strong!

We did however just miss out on a Fiat Topolino which came up for sale on the island..... it was 1953, in mint condition which used to be owned by a Bishop on the island we were told!

Of course the problem is, getting any vehicle out of Sri Lanka - not easy I think!

 

[oopsadaisy]

You seem to be an expert on Sri Lanka

Indeed - please pass on my regards to the BOI !

The worst part in this car is that it does not have the original Fuel Tank and has a modified one, I am searching high and low for new or used one and managed to find one which is for the F/L/R models I wonder if it will be OK for the Nouva

As far as I can see from the workshop manual the petrol tank on the Nuova is identical to the F L and R, so it should fit fine.

Regarding your indicator lights, it certainly sounds like a non-standard modification someone has made at some point.

However, the electrical system on the 500 is so simple, as long as everything works as it should, i wouldn't worry about it.

Unless of course you want to restore the car back to original specification, then you would have to get hold of a workshop manual, or alternatively I could copy the relevant pages (highly illegal of course! :devil and e-mail them to you!

 

[Shanil]

Hi appreciate very much if you can do that, my email address is [email protected]

Did you have a company is Sri Lanka to work with the BOI?

Incase you do come down again or even need any assistance please feel free to contact me 0094 777793263

Indeed - please pass on my regards to the BOI !



As far as I can see from the workshop manual the petrol tank on the Nuova is identical to the F L and R, so it should fit fine.

Regarding your indicator lights, it certainly sounds like a non-standard modification someone has made at some point.

However, the electrical system on the 500 is so simple, as long as everything works as it should, i wouldn't worry about it.

Unless of course you want to restore the car back to original specification, then you would have to get hold of a workshop manual, or alternatively I could copy the relevant pages (highly illegal of course! :devil and e-mail them to you!

 

[oopsadaisy]

Did you have a company is Sri Lanka to work with the BOI?

Yes - a long and complicated story........ :doh:

I will dig out the manual and scan the relevant pages.

Give me a day or so, as we are at a car show all weekend!

 

[Shanil]

Got the wiring diagram many Thanks

Was able to do quite a few things on the car like replacing the entire front suspension including the shocks but to my amazement the damn shocks which are supposed to be new have been lying the store for far too long and dont seem to have any pressure need to return them and try out a new pair

If this also fails will have to get down all 4 shock absorbers from the UK or Italy

Does anyone have any contact of an Italian Fiat 500 dealer based in Rome?

It will be easy for me to get the stuff from there

 

[oopsadaisy]

Does anyone have any contact of an Italian Fiat 500 dealer based in Rome?

No, but there is an Italian Fiat 500 Club:

http://www.500clubitalia.it/index.php

All pages are in Italian, however there are lots of contact e-mail addresses, and someone might speak English....

Good luck!

 

[Shanil]

Sorted out the wiring issues i think this model has the signal indicators in the middle of the dash, it seems that it was due to some wiring error that the light was blinking every time one steps on the brake so that was sorted now

I am getting around GBP 100 worth of used parts from the UK by next week located the fuel tank as well which is in very good shape with the cap and fuel sender unit

I was told this fuel tank is attached with a strap?? is this right?

I have done up the entire front suspension and tomorrow will start on the rear

I notice on the wiring diagram that there is a rear view mirror light, anyone knows what this is?






quote=oopsadaisy;1826351]No, but there is an Italian Fiat 500 Club:

http://www.500clubitalia.it/index.php

All pages are in Italian, however there are lots of contact e-mail addresses, and someone might speak English....

Good luck![/quote]

 

[oopsadaisy]

Hi Shanil

Yes - the petrol tank is held in by two steel bands about 20mm wide and fixed with a bolt top and bottom on either side.

You will see that the tank has two horizontal grooves in the upper suface where the two bands locate.

From this it will be possible to figure out where the four securing bolts go, and also on most 500's the battery earth lead is fixed to the lower left hand side bolt.

There is nothing special about them, and if they are missing, you could easily get a pair made in Sri Lanka.

There is a small light in the rear view mirror which simply serves as a courtesy light which comes on when you open the drivers door. It is operated by a small plunger switch located in the front of the door recess.

There is one on our car, but quite frankly, it is disconnected and I think with the hassle of re-wiring it, we will live without it!

Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[Shanil]

Thanks for the update on the fuel tank

I dont seem to have the courtesy light as maybe mine was one of those early editions, I saw this on the wiring Diagram of the new Fiat 500 I dont know if its the same as the Nouva

This car is driving me nuts, I got the bonnet release cable only to find the entire mechanism is missing, any idea where the cable is fitted in the bonnet area? :idea:

Hi Shanil

Yes - the petrol tank is held in by two steel bands about 20mm wide and fixed with a bolt top and bottom on either side.

You will see that the tank has two horizontal grooves in the upper suface where the two bands locate.

From this it will be possible to figure out where the four securing bolts go, and also on most 500's the battery earth lead is fixed to the lower left hand side bolt.

There is nothing special about them, and if they are missing, you could easily get a pair made in Sri Lanka.

There is a small light in the rear view mirror which simply serves as a courtesy light which comes on when you open the drivers door. It is operated by a small plunger switch located in the front of the door recess.

There is one on our car, but quite frankly, it is disconnected and I think with the hassle of re-wiring it, we will live without it!

Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[oopsadaisy]

This car is driving me nuts, I got the bonnet release cable only to find the entire mechanism is missing, any idea where the cable is fitted in the bonnet area?

Yes - it goes from a little steel trigger which can be found on the left hand side of the left hand foot well, through the bulkhead and into the front bonnet compartment.

It then connects to the bonnet release mechanism which is of the conventional plunger type with a spring which pops the bonnet open - there is a small safety catch which prevents the bonnet from flying open accidentaly whilst the car is in motion..........

However, if the mechanism is missing you will need to source one. I am not sure if one off a different car could be modified to fit it, otherwise its back to your friendly parts supplier I'm afraid!

Good luck!