Clock and Starting

BigBird68 · Post by **BigBird68** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:21 am

My 1980 Spider has an analog clock installed in the dash. Problem I've had is that if I don't drive it regularly the clock wears the battery down. So I disconnected the clock and the car won't start, reconnect it, charge the battery and it starts. What is that clock connected to?

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:33 am

it is hard telling what a previous owner (PO) may have done.

how are you disconnecting the clock? are you shorting out a circuit when you do so?

if you disconnect the wires AT the clock and wrap the terminials with tape....are you saying the car won't start?

a red/black wire is hot, should connect to fuse # 8
a white/black wire should connect to the tach

at least, that is what my schematic says.

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:14 pm

Doesn't the clock have a plug about 4" behind it?? If you unplug it nothing shoud be shorting.
I would consider buying a small battery charger they run about $35. I can't think of the name but they are designed to trickel charge batteries while the battery is in car, and the car is in storage.
For what its worth I start my car less than once a month in the winter and it cranks right over. Maybe your problem is more than the clock.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:31 pm

those clocks don't draw constant power, they only draw power to wind the spring so it should take a long time to run the battery down. Have you tried attaching an ammeter to test the current draw?

BigBird68 · Post by **BigBird68** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:08 pm

There is a three blade connector behind the clock and every time I disconnect it (which is a hassle) the car won't fire, just turns over. Reconnect it wait a moment or two she fires right off. Wait a couple of days, the charger goes on before starting.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:14 pm

sounds like the wire between the ignition switch and the coil wire got tangled up with the clock.

is this possible? Wait a minute, with a long string of previous owners, anything is possible.

but, the clock should not be the cause of a drained battery. no way no how. i have a '78 and an '80 in storage. both have a OEM clock running in the dash, and both have a digital clock idling by in the aftermarket radio.

both of my batteries are connected to these vehicles which sit for weeks at a time without performing, being recharged, or even seeing my smiling face. both never fail to start the engine.

I just started the '78 last night from a battery that has not seen service, duty, or a charge since Christmas. All the time, the clock was (and is) running.

seems that i do not require those battery toppers unless i already have an ageing battery.

racydave · Post by **racydave** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:57 pm

My car started up after 4 mos, no problem. I have the dash torn about on mine and have a real good look at the connector. Under normal conditions you should be able to disconnect this without a problem. BUT, since this is a FIAT, logic will not prevail! Since two of the terminals on the inside connector have double wires at single terminals, it is assumed there is contact, and the current would be shared in both wires. I guess that there is poor connection in one of these shared terminals. It doesnt have to make sence, and it is a educated guess. Go Bird!

BigBird68 · Post by **BigBird68** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:13 am

To go along with my clock starting problem there seems to be another linked problem. When I turn the key on to start the BRAKE and SEATBELT lights do not illuminate immediately. When they do come on the engine fires right off, if they are not on there is NO chance it will start.

racydave · Post by **racydave** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:15 pm

Maybeee you should sneak up on this by figgurin out if its gettin good fuel, and spark to the plugs. You probably should locate and clean all ground connections, as you will want to anyway.

pertyfly · Post by **pertyfly** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:36 am

Have you done any searches on this? I know there was at least 2 previous threads with identical problems. Here is mine: http://fiatspider.com:16080/forum/viewt ... highlight=

I had the same problem exactly, and it's documented in that post. It was an issue with the power to those circuits; all of which appear to be on the same one apparently. If those lights weren't on, it wouldn't start. So I had to flick the ign. off and on until they turned on, and it would start. Later, I found the problem which I replied about in that post. If you have any questions or need clarification, let me know

Chris