Technical Ancient Fiat Uno (1984) thermostat

[rawill]

My 84 1300 thermostat does not work. It is the model with the thermostat and housing all in one. Is there a thread on here somewhere that offers options on replacing this part witha part that has a thermostat that is a replaceable one without having to replace the housing.

Also, how how hard is it to source the special bulb that lights the fibre optic cables (wires) that go to the Light and Wiper Pod switches.

 

[Chas Uno]

My 84 1300 thermostat does not work. It is the model with the thermostat and housing all in one. Is there a thread on here somewhere that offers options on replacing this part witha part that has a thermostat that is a replaceable one without having to replace the housing.

For the Uno, no, I haven't seen a thread that covers replacing just the thermostat. Surely you can still get the thermostat new, though with the complete housing? They're not mega expensive, but if you really do want to try and just replace the thermostat on its own then you could use the same principles used on the FIRE thermostat. This thread from the Cinq section shows how it is done, though it was mainly for fitting a cooler thermostat rather than just not having to change the housing:

https://www.fiatforum.com/cinq-sei-technical/25351-82-degree-thermostat-keeps-car-cooler.html

This covers the FIRE engine only, but it might help if you want to do something similar with the 1301cc engine?

Also, how how hard is it to source the special bulb that lights the fibre optic cables (wires) that go to the Light and Wiper Pod switches.

I think they are still available from Fiat (at a price), but I wouldn't bother. I replaced mine with a standard 12v bulb and it works absolutely fine. The 'proper' bulb has a small magnifying glass on the end and is painted in translucent white. It is probably a little brighter and whiter looking, but to be honest I doubt if the difference will be that great. A standard bulb costs something like 50p!

By the way, have you any pictures of your 1984 Uno? It will be a very early model, if not one of the first! Come post in the Uno section

 

[rawill]

Many thanks, yes I will post in the Uno section. I am totally new on here and found the Uno section after I had posted this. Mods might move this for me, it would be better where it belonged. I asked about the bulb because I thought an ordinary bulb would not be strong enough. I figured that was why they put in the one with the magnifying glass on it. Did you put in a 5w bulb or stronger?

The thread on the thermostat was good, but sadly my housing is like the one in the Haynes manual and has 3 inlet/outlet pipe connectors. Page 2.3 figure 4.2 and 7.3B.

Will see how available a new one is from Fiat, but I haven't had any luck so far with after market ones from Tridon. They didn't have reverse light switches either, they are in the book but none in N.Z.

Yes I will post a picture, after I have taken one!! It has done 225000km and in quite good condition for its age, except for the rust around the foolishly designed sunroof. Have to figure out how to fix that permanently, without damaging/buckling the whole roof!!

 

[Chas Uno]

Many thanks, yes I will post in the Uno section. I am totally new on here and found the Uno section after I had posted this. Mods might move this for me, it would be better where it belonged.

No problems, and welcome to the forum! I'll ask one of the mods to move this to the Uno section

BTW, we have a few members from NZ who also have Unos. AlexGS has an absolute wealth of Uno knowledge and he might also be able to point you in the right direction for getting spares in NZ too. Hopefully he'll see this thread and let you know.

Oh, and you might end up at a race track with him and JJHepburn if we can get you to connect!

I asked about the bulb because I thought an ordinary bulb would not be strong enough. I figured that was why they put in the one with the magnifying glass on it. Did you put in a 5w bulb or stronger?

To be honest, all my Unos have been so old that the original bulb had long since burnt out before I got them! Therefore I couldn't tell whether the original bulb was brighter or not. I'm not sure what wattage bulb I fitted, but it would have been the same as the original. The switches are perfectly visible at night, not that bright when there's lots of lighting outside, but more than enough to illuminate them. So I'd say just fit a normal bulb with the same wattage as the original.

The thread on the thermostat was good, but sadly my housing is like the one in the Haynes manual and has 3 inlet/outlet pipe connectors. Page 2.3 figure 4.2 and 7.3B.

The housing might be different, but the principles of swapping the thermostat inside will be similar hopefully. You need to see if it is at all possible to remove the thermostate from the housing (you'll have bend/ remove some retaining tabs), and then you'll need to search an auto store to see if you can find a thermostat that is the same size and rating. It can be done I'm sure, but finding a new thermostat complete would be the best option.

Will see how available a new one is from Fiat, but I haven't had any luck so far with after market ones from Tridon. They didn't have reverse light switches either, they are in the book but none in N.Z.

Again, you need some advice from AlexGS. ALEX, WHERE ARE YOU?!!! I'm sure he'll be able to suggest some places for getting spares.

Yes I will post a picture, after I have taken one!! It has done 225000km and in quite good condition for its age, except for the rust around the foolishly designed sunroof. Have to figure out how to fix that permanently, without damaging/buckling the whole roof!!

You have one of the oldest and also a rare model of Uno! 1984 was one of the first years of manufacture (1983 was the first), and the 70S model was only made up until around 1985/86 after which it was superceeded by the 70SX. It should have the clock (red LED with stop watch)/ map reading light/ rear view mirror unit in the roof, electric front windows operated by switches on the centre console rather than the door handles, central locking, instrument cluster with tachometer and incorporating a check panel, and lastly a sunroof (though I think this was an option). Of course it will also have the 1301cc ohc engine with twin Weber carburetor that gives VERY respectable performance for a 1984 1.3 litre.

As for the sunroof, I take it you have the tilt and slide unit? With the rotary handle fitted in front of the clock? If so, it's the same as mine! They're great when they are working properly, but if they seize up then they can break handles, not close properly, leak and also rust around the edges. I was incredibly lucky in that mine had no rust around the edge whatsoever, so as I had a dodgy seal I removed the whole assemble and treated it to make sure no rust will come back.

You can read a step by step guide as to how I did it here:

https://www.fiatforum.com/uno/19781-rust-around-sunroof.html

Anyway, good luck with your Uno and please do post some pictures! It's always nice to see some pictures of old survivors

 

[rawill]

Wonderful detail in your reply. I will try a ordinary 5 watt bulb in there. And Yes, to lots you said about my car, Tacho, Mirror and clock system check lights, (which all work except the oil level and low coolant level), pedestal/pod in the roof. Sadly no electric windows or central locking. And yes Sun roof works well, no leaks now that I fixed the leaking drain hose!!, since you say it is so old it may well be worth perservering to get it fixed properly. I will hunt out the NZ owners of Uno. I have some drivers side door rust issues too but nothing a half or quarter skin wont fix.

 

[SteveNZ]

Forget modifying the thermostat. Getting a new one is not difficult or expensive. Forget Trident and Repco etc. They are Australian brands and they never got Unos, or any other Fiat after 1984 so they dont tend to have anything.

Buy from an Italian parts specialists. Euro Italian here in Auckland is good, or even the main dealers, Contentials etc. I think a new thermo is about $80.

 

[rawill]

Yes Steve, you are right. I found a thermostat at my closest agent in Dunedin, and you are right about the price. I have also tried a 4 w bulb in the fibre optic, it does work but only just so I am on the lookout for an original type bulb.

Also my shockies are about past it, before I buy new ones does anyone have a suggestion. I hear new ones are about $190.00 NZ per side.

 

[SteveNZ]

Shocks are one thing you can get from Repco and other suspension shops. Shop around, you'll get some a lot cheaper than that.

 

[alexGS]

And finally I found this thread... ummm... thanks Chas

Autolign is a good source of suspension parts for the Uno: they have sourced front struts for me several times. According to the WhitePages, you have a branch at 317 Hillside Rd., Dunedin, 03 455 4610.

Mal Simmonds is pretty good at posting items all round the country - though you won't find Steve recommending Mal (or vice versa). I get on pretty well with Mal these days. His phone number is 07 827 8918 (Cambridge) and website www.fiatparts.co.nz.

After a while working with FIATs you get an idea for what you can, and can't, get from Repco or Supercheap etc. Always take the part with you because catalogues are frequently wrong. They often have vague details, e.g. Uno 70SX (or some other rare version) from 1988 to 1991, when we all know that most Uno changes occurred in 1989! Part of the problem is that often a Mk1 Uno in NZ is considered a '1990' because it took that long to get here and be sold. Most Uno models are about a year 'behind' what they should be.

A bit of trivia meanwhile, Chas suggested the 70SX replaced the 70S but I am certain we never got that until the 70SXi.e. Mk2 Uno (1990-ish onwards). Instead we got lots of the 70SL, which according to Haynes had extra things like the Tripmaster in England (and of course, not here in NZ). 70SL always has good seats, even more so for the 1988 models. I think the models are subtly different between England and NZ. For instance, sunroofs were a lot less popular and only cropped up on the 70S and the 70SL that followed it, and also the Turbo - never on the 45 or the 60.

Repco for example CAN provide an air filter, brake pads (as jjhepburn knows after a crisis-purchase the other day!), while Supercheap is a good source for the FRAM oil filters (in the book) that seem to work well for me, and the oil of course, along with spark plug leads etc. Steve is right though in that there's almost no chance of something like a thermostat being held by Repco or Supercheap. Your price of $80 from a dealer is OK anyway.

Cheers,
-Alex

 

[Chas Uno]

A bit of trivia meanwhile, Chas suggested the 70SX replaced the 70S but I am certain we never got that until the 70SXi.e. Mk2 Uno (1990-ish onwards). Instead we got lots of the 70SL, which according to Haynes had extra things like the Tripmaster in England (and of course, not here in NZ). 70SL always has good seats, even more so for the 1988 models. I think the models are subtly different between England and NZ. For instance, sunroofs were a lot less popular and only cropped up on the 70S and the 70SL that followed it, and also the Turbo - never on the 45 or the 60.

Just to make things even more confusing, I have an official Fiat sales brochure from 1986 with all the different models available. It has the 45 and 60 models in both basic and 'S' guise, but when it comes to the 70 models it only lists the 'SL' spec. Now, I've actually owned a 1984 70S model (a scrapper), and have seen a number of 70S models on the road. However, I've never seen a Uno badged as 70SL!

The 1984 70S model I had came with electric windows, central locking, tachometer, ideogram 'check' panel in the instrument pod, sunroof and roof mounted clock/ map reading light/ rear view mirror unit (that I still have!) According to the Uno brochure I have the SL model came with pretty much the same specification, just a few bits of trim differences.

I can only assume that the SL was on sale for a very short time in the UK, or that when it was renamed 'SX' I suspect that maybe a lot of garages simply changed the badging before registering the cars! So it's possible that there were a lot of UK 70SL models that were wearing SX badges instead? Either way, I know the 70S was available up to at least 1985 and the SX was available from around 1987, so if the SL model was available in the UK it was only on sale for about a year.

Regarding sunroofs, in 1986 it was standard on the 45S, 60S, 70SL and Turbo according to the brochure. However, I'm pretty certain that I have another brochure somewhere that shows they were an extra cost option on just about all models. Only the early 70S came with one as standard, along with the later run out special editions such as the Bianca/ Platinum models, which were based on the 45S and 60S.

And the 'Trip master'? Well, I've seen that listed in the Uno handbook but I have NEVER seen one in a UK Uno. I can only assume that it was only available in Europe and not in the UK or New Zealand? Either that or it was like the 'ideogram' check panel fitted to the early 70S models. They never worked properly and as a result were dropped from later models.

*End of mk1 Uno trivia*

 

[SteveNZ]

NZ did get a Mk1 70SX. They are rare though, 3 door with the turbo body kit. 70SL is the top spec 5 door sold along side the SX.