i have a 1972 500, left hand drive, there is a light on the left that flashes red on and off flickering then sometimes just stays red...what does that mean? also, there's one next to it on the right that has in the past flashed red but has a "g" on it, what does that mean? oh and also, does everyone have problems where the battery runs out if you don't drive it for a few days and only use it for short distances? i live in central london so am usually stuck in traffic so don't really get the speed up to charge the battery i guess...scared of it not starting as sometimes it just makes this whiring sound when i try start it, like there's no "broooooom" to it! ha! sorry about the lack of technical language! i have no idea what things are called on this car or what things mean as have no manual!! woops!

cheers! liz xx

Hi Liz and welcome to the forum!

OK - lets take them one at a time:

there is a light on the left that flashes red on and off flickering then sometimes just stays red...what does that mean?

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That will be the low fuel warning light - which will flash when the fuel starts to get low, and will then stay on when the fuel situation becomes critical!

also, there's one next to it on the right that has in the past flashed red but has a "g" on it, what does that mean?

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This one is the dynamo warning light (the "G" stands for "Generatore") which may flicker or even stay on at engine idle speed - especially if you have the original 500 engine which has a dynamo as opposed to the more efficient alternator.

oh and also, does everyone have problems where the battery runs out if you don't drive it for a few days and only use it for short distances?

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Hmmm... not really. If the battery is in good shape and your dynamo / alternator are OK it should not be much of a problem.

it just makes this whiring sound when i try start it, like there's no "broooooom" to it!

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Tricky one to diagnose without further information - it may be that the starter motor is not engaging properly. The sound when the starter is turning the engine over is quite distinctly different from when it is not. If the starter is just whirring it may well not be engaging properly.

It may just be a case of adjusting the cable.

Do you have a tame local mechanic that understands 500's?

There must be someone in your neck of the woods??

i have no idea what things are called on this car or what things mean as have no manual!! woops!

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Take a look here: http://members.lycos.nl/dm5675/haynes/Haynes_UK.htm

This is in no way intended to sound like having a go or harsh

This car is a classic car and as such, especially being a LHD version with Italian dash warnings and graphics etc... needs to be looked after by a professional where the owner / user is not technically able to understand what is going on with every-day warning lights and / or faults.

I do understand the chic and cache of having one of these cars but seriously... love the car, find a trusted specialist who knows the marque and model and empower them to keep it tip-top for you, in fact some electrical modernisation would probably make the car a more useful daily drive, even if it may rob it of some originality.

This car is a classic car and as such, especially being a LHD version with Italian dash warnings and graphics etc... needs to be looked after by a professional where the owner / user is not technically able to understand what is going on with every-day warning lights and / or faults.

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Quite agree, but I think the point of cobwebs72's original post was to try to understand what the warning lights are indicating, and in the absence of an owners handbook or manual, I can understand that it may not be obvious what the various lights correspond to.

We're happy to assist, and after all, isn't that the point of forums like this one?

awww..thanks yes, this is my first 500 so getting to know it, have always had classics before but they where triumphs... thinking about getting the generator converted to an alternator...not sure if this is an easy diy job i can get one of my male friends to do or if i have to go to a specialist mechanic and get it done, met a guy who owns a fiat 500 classics website so reckon he may be able to assist but have no idea if he'll charge an arm an a leg!! would be better if i could get the part then get someone to put it in? is it very complicated? think polish guys are good with these little cars as they are familiar with them..?

cheers xx

oopsadaisy said:

Quite agree, but I think the point of cobwebs72's original post was to try to understand what the warning lights are indicating, and in the absence of an owners handbook or manual, I can understand that it may not be obvious what the various lights correspond to.

We're happy to assist, and after all, isn't that the point of forums like this one?

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Absolutely but the value of Forums is greater for those with some knowledge & skills so they can do-it-themselves, not exclusively of course, actually the Forum here has helped the OP a lot thanks to you

Bit off topic but did anyone else see the episode of "The Champions" on Sunday with the gorgeous Alexandra Bastedo in it...?

It was based in Rome, around early 70's I think & there were hundreds of the little blighters (classic 500's) bombing all over the place in every street camera shot!

what part would i need to convert my old generator to a more reliable alternator? someone said a Fiat 126 alternator and housing? would that work?

xx

what part would i need to convert my old generator to a more reliable alternator? someone said a Fiat 126 alternator and housing? would that work?

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Possibly....... it's certainly not a like for like swap as the mounting points for the generator are different to the alternator, so I guess you would have to swap the fan housing as well as the alternator itself.

There is a web page that covers which bits will swap from a 126 to a 500 here:

http://www.fiat500clubsa.com/niki-swaps.html

However there is no mention of swapping the generator for an alternator.

Personally I can't see why it shouldn't be possible always assuming the fan assembly is compatible. Worst case scenario I guess would be to swap the whole lot, metalwork, alternator and fan.

Not a major job but would involve dropping the engine out.

Good luck, and keep us posted!