no headlights

[baltobernie]

no high or low beam headlights, nor "flash to pass"
all fuses good
parking lamps good, but when toggle switch is further actuated down, all parking, dash etc. lamps go out.

[spider2081]

It sounds like you have a loose or bad positive voltage problem, probably not a bad ground. I am looking at wire diagrams for an 81 Spider. Does you cigar lighter work???. Your parking lights draw much less current than your headlights. If there is a bad connnection they will work by themselves but slightly dimmer than normal. When you turn on your headlights the increased current through a bad connection will lower the voltage to the point where none of the lights work.
If you have a volt meter or trouble light check both sides of the fuses 7 and 8. If the power there changes when you turn on the headlighs the problem is before the fuse panel. The most common problem is the Brown wire connection that is often mentioned here. There is a 4 terminal connection at the base of the steering wheel that has heavey brown wires in it. This terminl group gets corroded and over heats and could be your problem.
Let us know how you make out
Good luck

[pope]

Hey Bernie
Gina giveith and she takith away. I am thinking that it could be a worn out toggle switch on the dash.

[baltobernie]

all other electrical accessories work
will investigate Brown wire circuit
I thought toggle switch, too, but no high beams. we'll see
bought a Painless harness to rewire this winter - now maybe sooner
oh, Gina

[pope]

Bernie. What year is your spider again? Does your cigarette lighter work?

[baltobernie]

1973. All other circuits work, including cigarette lighter

[baltobernie]

Update:

Drove over to club member with extensive inventory of salvage parts. We tried a third toggle switch to no avail (second was a new unit from Bruce; same effect and contacts buzzed identical to installed and third switch, so I think we're safe in stating that the switch is not the problem.) Next removed cluster and dangled a salvage dimmer switch assembly, no help there either. Next dangled a known good salvage ignition key assembly, still no difference. We can supply external or jumper car's power to the fuse and get low or high beams, depending on fuse. So something other than the ignition or dimmer switch is preventing the flow of power. I can only conclude that the fuse block itself is bad, so I'm going to try and rewire the car with the Painless harness in two weeks. I will take lots of pictures and make lots of notes.

I will not dolly the car to Pocono.
I will not dolly the car to Pocono.
I will not ...

[mdrburchette]

I don't see how it could be the fuse block. What did you do to the car before all of this happened? When I have a problem Ron will say "retrace your steps even if it seems unrelated." The parking lights will come on when the toggle switch is in the middle position and the ignition key is out, right? Then, with the key in the ignition, the headlamps should work when the toggle switch is all the way down. That, to me, would indicate a problem with one of the wires to the ignition switch. Have you tried checking continuity through these wires?

[baltobernie]

AFAIK, I did nothing to the electrical system, other than replace two alternators.

I did find several frayed wires and brittle connections when I removed the existing harness. I'm a little nervous about this rewire project, but the die is cast.

"Sparky"

[mdrburchette]

And you're taking this on before the Freakout??? Good luck!

[baltobernie]

end of day 1



thatsa lotta pasta!

[pope]

At least the "Classic" 80's models never have this trouble.

[baltobernie]

'cause those bumpers are so ugly, the electrical gods think those owners have suffered enough ...

[mdrburchette]

That's a scary picture.
Pope, are you coming to FFO? I'd like to personally...oh, never mind. I'll keep it as a surprise.

[pope]

Bernie, I see what your problem is. None of the wires are connected to anything!!!
I'm only kiddin...cause my Spider is sitting on a rotissorie being grinded and welded on almost every day. I dont even want to think about the mass of electrical harness sitting in a box till next year. But I have my paint and Leather picked out!!

D!!!!! Who pulled your little chain. I think, you standing on your trophy, couldnt look me in the eye.
(He says this with deep admiration)
No FFO this year. I've already been across the East Coast with graduations and weddings. I need some ME time. I havent even been to my summer home yet in northern Michigan. I have the Meadowbrook Concourse and Woodward Dream Cruise yet ahead. And days are already starting to get shorter. I cant wait for Spring to arrive.