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Car Forum / Fiat Cars / July 2004

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fiat panda starting problems

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gero - 21 Jun 2004 09:56 GMT
I have a Fiat Panda from '83 (!), my problem is that it doesn't start
anymore.
Turning key in position II, no control lamp is flashing, in position
III starter is running but apparently there are no ignition sparks.
The distributor was replaced 1/2 a year ago (so were the sparking
plugs) and the contacts for the cables at the distributor and the
plugs look ok. I am not sure where to look for the bug, looks
something is wrong with the electric equipment (broken cable ??) .
Also problem might be realted to high humidity.
To me it smells fishy that several electric things fail at the same
time (the control lamps, also for instance the cabin ventilation
doesn't work when key is in position II), however lights apparently do
and so does the starter...
Any ideas?

Gero.

PS any answers in english/german/spanish/italian appreciated.
ato_zee@hotmail.com - 21 Jun 2004 20:13 GMT
Might not be it, but did have a split porous short piece of hose
between the pipe from the tank and the fuel filter, which was
buried in the clutter of hoses and wiring behind the engine.
So fuel pump was sucking air, but if you got it started, before
the battery was flat, it ran fine. Took quite a while to find it.
john harrad - 21 Jun 2004 22:06 GMT
> I have a Fiat Panda from '83 (!), my problem is that it doesn't start
> anymore.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> PS any answers in english/german/spanish/italian appreciated.

Ignition switch, possibly.

Particularly if the wipers, hazard lights, and the reversing light don't work.

(Assuming your wiring as UK specification 1981 to 1985 models).
gero - 29 Jun 2004 11:26 GMT
> > I have a Fiat Panda from '83 (!), my problem is that it doesn't start
> > anymore.
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> (Assuming your wiring as UK specification 1981 to 1985 models).

Can you tell me the meaning of the cables which are connected to the
four poles of the ignition switch? What do I have to do to
short-circuit the car to test whether it is the switch? Thanks!
john harrad - 30 Jun 2004 15:43 GMT
gero@ifae.es (gero) wrote in message

> Can you tell me the meaning of the cables which are connected to the
> four poles of the ignition switch? What do I have to do to
> short-circuit the car to test whether it is the switch? Thanks!

Still assuming your wiring as UK specification 1981 to 1985 models..

power in from battery is brown.

power to the ignition coil, (and fuses 1 and 2) is a light blue and
black.

join those two - and if position 2 of the switch has failed you should
get some joy.

The feed to enable the starter solenoid is red, but you could use the
ignition switch for that - if that part is still working.
john harrad - 30 Jun 2004 15:48 GMT
gero@ifae.es (gero) wrote in message

> Can you tell me the meaning of the cables which are connected to the
> four poles of the ignition switch? What do I have to do to
> short-circuit the car to test whether it is the switch? Thanks!

Still assuming your wiring as UK specification 1981 to 1985 models..

power in from battery is brown.

power to the ignition coil, (and fuses 1 and 2) is a light blue and
black.

join those two - and if position 2 of the switch has failed you should
get some joy.

The feed to enable the starter solenoid is red, but you could use the
ignition switch for that - if that part is still working.
gero - 01 Jul 2004 11:45 GMT
> gero@ifae.es (gero) wrote in message
> >
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> The feed to enable the starter solenoid is red, but you could use the
> ignition switch for that - if that part is still working.

Thanks!
Everything is as you said, and things are now working. Can you tell me
one last thing: there is a fourth cable (black) going to the switch. I
messured voltage
and there is none neither to ground nor to battery power. Seems as if
it is hanging in the air. On the other hand I measured resistance of
the poles in the switch and apparently the switch closes "black" with
"brown" (in all positions except zero). What is the black cable for?
john harrad - 01 Jul 2004 20:11 GMT
gero@ifae.es (gero) wrote in message

> Thanks!
> Everything is as you said, and things are now working. Can you tell me
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the poles in the switch and apparently the switch closes "black" with
> "brown" (in all positions except zero). What is the black cable for?

AFAIK those black leads (one on it's own terminal, and another with
the brown) are for the lighting:
main lighting only works with the ignition on.
parking lights only work when the ignition switch is turned in a
reverse direction.

Glad it's fixed - it's nice to keep Pandas going :-)
gero - 02 Jul 2004 09:56 GMT
> gero@ifae.es (gero) wrote in message
> >
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Glad it's fixed - it's nice to keep Pandas going :-)

Ok, thanks again for your help.
 
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