(G) Scary Motorway Moment

Greetings one and all, just joined this auspcious and learned group as I have a Fiat Uno 60-S. H-reg (91/92?) that has only done 54k miles (it really was "one careful lady owner").

My problem is this: travelling along the motorway the other day all my lights went out then a minute later came back on again... head lights, dash etc, i.e. all the electrics but not the power to the spark-plugs etc. so I was able to carry on driving.

The temperature guage went off the end of the scale.

After a quick test (by me) I found that, with the engine warm and running, when I switch the headlights on, the temp. guage shows an increase of around 20 degrees.

So all the electrical bits effect the other bits to a large degree or , in other words they are wonky.

Any one got any idea how I can fix this? ( as I now unable to drive in the dark incase it happens again)

All the best

Dave

Someone will probably reply in a short time to help you a little more but my first advice would be to check the earth connection. Whenever I have had electrical problems people have suggested checking this first and checking for corrosion.

What you have however sounds very odd, have you been able to recreate the problem? Is it possible that something else - that you don't recall at the moment - caused it? Are you sure your car wasn't stalling? If you were travelling at speed and your car stalled, you might get the electrics going off but because you are driving the engine it would immediately restart. Doesn't sound like that however because you suggest a longer period of time.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Paul

im with pghstochaj on this i would suspect the earth
;)

Custard boy the man who loves the man from Creative

Wow! I'm learning!

Hei.

The Italian designing this car had propably "uno bottligo vino rosso" (or something like that) too much when doing the electric wiring.

This smells earth!

Morten.


Abarth alloys. Inter Alloy lowering. Phoenix Gold audio. Abarth steering wheel. Interior refurnishing.

Projects: K&N induction kit, racing seats, exhaust, window tinting.

I think what our Norweigian friend is saying is that:

The designer had had one too many to drink. A tad too much wine.

Correct? :)

hic [xx(]

Custard boy the man who loves the man from Creative

Yeah Paul, you're right. Some years ago we had a study-trip to Italy. I don't remember the grammar, but at least when I said "uno bottligo vino rosso" I got one bottle of red wine. :)

Morten.


Abarth alloys. Inter Alloy lowering. Phoenix Gold audio. Abarth steering wheel. Interior refurnishing.

Projects: K&N induction kit, racing seats, exhaust, window tinting.

Hehe, the locking designer had also had five two many when he prevented locking on passenger side!

Paul

"Una bottiglia di vino rosso":D:D...Italy is the most important country for wine production, but I hope none of the designers took advantage of it when at work[:0]!BTW it sound like a grounding problem, take a look to the contacts;).

Passion has neither brands nor models!

La passione non ha nè marche nè modelli!

The grounding problem was opposite(!) on our Ritmo Abarth. All instruments including the rev counter maxed out. Rev to 8000 when turning the ignition... There was a block of ground wires on this car with loose mounting inside the engine compartment.

Is Enzo short for Vincenzo?

Morten.


Abarth alloys. Inter Alloy lowering. Phoenix Gold audio. Abarth steering wheel. Interior refurnishing.

Projects: K&N induction kit, racing seats, exhaust, window tinting.

Yes, I like the 4 letters names:D!

Passion has neither brands nor models!

La passione non ha nè marche nè modelli!

Thanks Paul, It's a bit difficult to stall with your foot flat down on a motorway!!

Even with the engine off an no keys in the ignition.. when I open the door the hand-break warning light comes on and the temp gauge zooms round and points downwards. Use of the break pedal also does strange things. In fact anything that changes the use of the electrics..

This however is not a constant thing but intermittant. The car starts OK then after a few minutes it all cuts out / comes back on / cuts out etc. You should see the temp gague when I indicate !!

There IS a short circuit somewhere. Get a voltmeter, place it on some wires and "fiddle" with the fuse box a bit. On our Ritmo (again) this could start wipers, heaterfan and matrix, lights and make the engine stall etc. Loose connections in the fuse box was the reason. How I found out? Started to smell bad, and somke were coming out of the dash. Hehe, nothing's like a fire in the fuse box. Had to MAKE some short circuits to make it work again with som home welding, (with these little welders, it's not high-end welding but I don't know the word).

By the way - this Ritmo is now trashed, and replaced with a Ritmo Abarth. Much more fun.

Morten.


abarth alloys, steering wheel. inter alloy lowering. phoenix gold audio. refurnish.

projects: induction. seats. exhaust. tinting.

Morten,
Thanks for the advice re fuse boxes etc.

I think that the "little welders" to which you refer are in fact soldering irons

Dave