Technical Electrics on Headlights & poor consumption

[boothers]

Hello all hope you can help.

I have just purchased a 1990 Tipo 1.4 DGT, it to seems to have the very common clicking coming from under the dash, from what I can gather this is cured by cleaning the contacts on the indicator stalk, can someone confirm this?
Also last night I had a problem with the headlights, dipped and main beam, on inspection the connectors where the bulb goes were melted on both left and right hand side, what on earth has caused that?
On a general note the engine seems like it needs a tune, when you try to give it some gas going up hill the car really holds back unless you floor the pedal, the later causes seriousily poor fuel consumption, I reckon I.m getting 28 - 30 mpg on mostly B road driving at the moment, is this normal?
I have also notice that the air pipes that go to and from the air filter, one of which goes to the manifold are missing would this effect performance?

Boothers

 

[danny_bellis]

Hello all hope you can help.

I have just purchased a 1990 Tipo 1.4 DGT, it to seems to have the very common clicking coming from under the dash, from what I can gather this is cured by cleaning the contacts on the indicator stalk, can someone confirm this?

This fixed mine. It's the contacts inside the stalk assembly that need cleaning, just be careful you don't loose the 2 small springs which connect to the self-cancelling (mine went ping and the springs flew across the room, I didn't realise there were 2 springs until reassembly time and I only had 1!).
It might be a good idea to split the assembly inside a clear plastic bag to catch all the bits. It's only 4 screws once you've got it out of the car, and you onlu need to disconnect the larger of the 2 multiplugs, the smaller 1 connects the stalk switches to the switch housing.

Also last night I had a problem with the headlights, dipped and main beam, on inspection the connectors where the bulb goes were melted on both left and right hand side, what on earth has caused that?

Not sure what causes it (mine were wrecked but someone had spliced an output from a car alarm into mine - to flash the lights on arm/disarm?), i just cut out the dead section of loom and spliced some replacement connectors in. My local car parts place carries connectors with a short section of loom attached (approx. 100mm)

 

[Cosmic]

Blimey, its amazing - I have the same problems! I justchanged the headlamp bulbs cos they were far too dim and full beam only worked one side but I noticed the melted connectors too! Freaky - is this down to moisture short-circuiting or something?

And I've also suffered the clicking noise intermittently - I'll have to have a look at the stalks/cleaning contacts; thanks for the tips fellas!