Technical Head Lights & Indicators

[gusgurner]

Cheers Chris & John

For all your support its been brilliant. I will have a go at tracing the wiring tomorrow cleaning and checking as suggested.

Fiat 500's are great little cars easy to park adored by most who see them and normally straight forward to operate and fix. Great to see your picture Chris. I normally get a thumbs up or my daughter likes your little car comment or maybe its because my young son is in the back beaming as we ride along with the top down.

Certainly will not look back on the electronic ignition suggestion works every time after going through so many coils maybe some other evils at work here.

I'll keep you posted but once again thanks for your help.

Cheers

Gus

 

[gusgurner]

Hi Chris & John

Once again thanks for your help and guidance. My wife who is an electrical/electronic engineer god bless her told me I would probably have to replace the wiring loom so your comment Chris of check all the terminals and hopefully not the loom well appreciated.

Well spent the morning cleaning and checking starting with the main negative earth which someone had changed from the main body to the mounting for the horn. Also the previous owner fitted a new battery but was for a Japanese car so smaller terminals. Anyway the wires were clean and fixed to the battery with jubilee clips. I searched hi and low for small terminals but in the end found adaptors for normal terminals fitted two new terminals plus adaptors and the old earth connection after cleaning the body of the car. Now all well greased to stop corrosion.

Now getting 13.4 - 14 Volts on the meter when the car is running. It occasionally drops to 12.7 V as I have started it ran it and checked again also spent the day charging the battery while I found the terminals.

I am an engineer but mechanical and to me electrical stuff is a dark art so maybe the old set up was ok. The car did break down when I picked it up going through the tunnels around Genoa which was very scary so maybe it never worked after he changed the battery. Also I went through loads of coils and condensers until I changed to the electronic ignition and have never looked back.

So finally success hopefully it will now pass its MOT next Wednesday fingers crossed. I've changed the lenses on the head lights so maybe look to adjust those but other than that all good. If not may need to try halogen bulbs but this I believe is further modification so hopefully leave as is.

So once again thanks for your help chaps invaluable and much appreciated.

Happy motoring

Cheers

Gus

Gus

 

[jjacob]

Success! Glad to help. Make sure that you also cleaned all those connections, including grounds for the lights. Best of luck on your MOT.
John

 

[gusgurner]

Dear John and Chris

Thanks for your help "Betsie the Beige Bullet" passed her MOT today.

The guy doing the test was still winging about not getting a proper reading from his equipment. He did on full beam. After me pleading with him and saying have replaced the Alternator and the complete lenses and reflectors and new bulbs. He just grunted and signed it off anyway.

So something for me to think of for two years time. I do seam to remember a post on fitting Halogen lights but also remember some wiring modifications so do you guys have any recommendations.

I appreciate your comments on the quality of the lighting Chris.

Now with a functioning Alternator which charges the battery I would be happy to fit something brighter for the occasional use.

I go out in the wet more than in the dark and have been impressed with the road handling and stopping distance.

Anyway any comments or pointers appreciated.

I may go quiet for a while but will constantly checking new posts.

Thanks once again

Gus

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Gus;
The site you need is 'Halogen Headlights' by Matt Gibson--it is specifically about fitting halogen bulbs to Fiat 500s, including a wiring diagram by Matt's dad regarding the fitment of the (essential) relays---hope this helps

 

[gusgurner]

Hi

Yep found the link after I wrote the last post and since looked at the Axel Gertsl website for bits.

It will be a future project given current funds but have printed Matt's Dad's wiring diagram for future reference.

Cheers

Gus