Charging system mystery.

Gotta love that wiring . . .
JULIAN911
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:22 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider

Re: Charging system mystery.

Post by JULIAN911 »

Found this thread after several days of scratching my head why my brand new 95A alternator not charging... The PO removed the charge indicator bulb!!!

Put the bulb back in, alternator now charging nicely at around 14.3V, except when I turned the key completely to the left to remove it, the Battery charging bulb comes on... WTH? If I just turn the key slightly to the right (and nothing else energized), the bulb would go off but then I can't remove the key from the ignition.

Any help where to begin would be greatly appreciated!
spider2081
Patron 2024
Patron 2024
Posts: 3015
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: Charging system mystery.

Post by spider2081 »

Is there a chance some one installed a Lada ignition switch in the car in place of the original Sepia? If so the Lada ignition switch has a pair of contacts that are mating when the key is removed.
Sipea switches have Sipea engraved in the shinny metal face of the ignition switch. Lada ignition switches have Roman numeral type symbols stamped in the shiny face at each key position.
JULIAN911
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:22 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider

Re: Charging system mystery.

Post by JULIAN911 »

"Lada ignition switches have Roman numeral type symbols stamped in the shiny face at each key position."

yes, mine looks as described above. So what should I do now?
SteinOnkel
Posts: 1000
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: Charging system mystery.

Post by SteinOnkel »

Wire the lada switch correctly.
JULIAN911
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:22 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider

Re: Charging system mystery.

Post by JULIAN911 »

Great advice!

Googled the wiring diagram and rewired it - now it works as it should! The PO had the blue wire on the INT terminal instead of on the #15 terminal with the pink wire.

Thank you for pointing out that I may have the Lada switch, that was the ticket for troubleshooting in the right direction.
SteinOnkel
Posts: 1000
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: Charging system mystery.

Post by SteinOnkel »

Yep, no problem. Glad it worked out :)

I would add a relay when using the Lada switch though. They are cheap and the contacts are not exactly amazing.
DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: Charging system mystery.

Post by DieselSpider »

SteinOnkel wrote:Yep, no problem. Glad it worked out :)

I would add a relay when using the Lada switch though. They are cheap and the contacts are not exactly amazing.
Add the relays regardless of which ignition switch is in the car since the lack of relays for the starter, headlights, etc is the most common cause of the OEM switch failing.
User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Charging system mystery.

Post by RRoller123 »

+1
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
User avatar
dinghyguy
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 457
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 7:41 pm
Your car is a: 1981 spider
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Re: Charging system mystery.

Post by dinghyguy »

+100! add relays
1981 Red Spider "Redbob"
1972 blue Volvo 1800ES "Bob"
1998 Red Ford Ranger
Post Reply