'92 Spider electrical problems...

KetilParow · #1 (**permalink**) 08-18-2003, 02:12 AM

First of all: Does anyone have an electrical diagram for this car? I am kind of lost without it... Please please pleeeaaase send it to me if You have one...

Anyway, I have the following electrical problems with my car:

1. Speedometer and tachometer read way too low.

2. Lightbulbs in engine compartment (mounted on the inside of the hood) and trunk are dead. Have measured everything, grounds are connected when hood/trunk is open, but no +voltage on the other end. And yes, bulbs are OK.

3. The main light switch (inside the steering column cover) seems to generate some heat, I have even noticed some smoke coming from in there when the lights have been on for a long period of
time.

I'd appreciate all and any help on any of these issues...

Thanx,
Ketil.

btw: Feel free to respond directly by replacing the Qs in:
ketil.ParowQ.ConsultitQ.noQ

Dutch2 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 07:51 AM

Did you had any reply on your post?
I´m also looking for a electrical diagram.

Have a ´94 spider with same type of problems.
Can´t figure it out without a scedule.

BeigeAlfa · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 08:00 AM

Not sure about your modern 90s cars, but the following is true of my 78:

Those lights only come on if the parking lights are on also.

All the current for the headlights goes through the column stalk, so if if the contacts are getting dirty/high resistance with age, you'll get heat. Various suggestions around here for using relays to get the power to the headlights.

Dan.

**John M** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 09:01 AM

Hey all:

Dan is right. Even on the 91 and newer the hood, trunk, and glove box lights only illuminate when the marker/head lights are on.

Smoking from the steering column sounds like a short. Or perhaps overloading the column light switch. Perhaps running high wattage bulbs without relay.

Low speedo/tach readings have been a problem with the monopods. No one has outlined a fix. My tach is reading low as well. I am in the process of investigating this. I have found that the Milano/75 had an adjustment screw internal on theirs so maybe we have one as well. If that doesn't get it, I would also check the pod grounds, and all the connections between the speedo/tach and their respective sending units. Tach gets its signal from the crank pulley timing sensor. There is a connection at the sensor and another connection up near the left side air bag sensor/washer bottle.

Best Regards,
John M

KetilParow · #5 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 12:26 AM

I confirmed that the tail compartment and engine bay lights work.
The smoke from the steering column has gone away. The car hasn't been much used over the last years, and I suspect there had been a buildup of dust in there. Seems fine now.

Speedo- and tacho- meter readings are still way off however.

In general, it seems there are some electrical quirks in the car. Recently the coupe lights have begun turning themselves on while I'm driving (!).

Lights for some of the switches (window elevators) also seem to have a will of their own, sort of like that old joke, "your turn signal works - doesn't work - works - doesn't work - works...".

**John M** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 12:46 AM

Hey Ketil:

The more I listen to your trouble, it really sounds like the column switch is bad. All of those problems, and the smoke point back to a short in that switch. Are any of the stalks broken and feel free?

The pod gauge issue is most likely unrelated to the rest. I am going to investigate mine this week. Perhaps tomorrow. It looks to be project to get that unit off the dash in one piece. Plus US models have that airbag to contend with. Hopefully it won't decide to go off! If there is no calibration screw, only other options are rebuild at a speedo shop or new head units. This is a very common problem and I am hopeful to be able to outline a home repair.

Best Regards,
John M

KetilParow · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 01:46 AM

Hi John.

I think the issue with the column switch is gone. As the smoke went away, I didn't open up the steering column. The stalks (especially the one for the main lights) feel a bit wobbly, but they all work fine.

The dashboard lights work fine most of the time. They fall in and out (mostly out) on the power window buttons.

The coupe lights all work (even the one in the hard top), but something weird happens occasionally, either:
1) They suddenly turn themselves on while I'm driving, or:
2) They refuse to turn themselves off after I park the car. In the latter case, re-opening and shutting the door seems to turn them off again. I suspect a bad ground connection in one of the switches. will look into this when the weather gets warmer (below freezing today).

Please let us know what you find out regarding the speedo- and tacho- meter.

Regards,
Ketil

**John M** · #8 (**permalink**) 11-19-2003, 01:24 AM

Ketil:

I have an answer for your speedo/tach error. Look under the Spider area of the board for the thread.

Best Regards,
John M

KetilParow · #9 (**permalink**) 11-19-2003, 02:35 AM

Hi John

This is very good news indeed. Thanks a lot for sharing this.

I will look into this as soon as I get the chance.

My wife had an accident with the car last weekend however, so right now my focus is on the front fender, which has to be renewed, welded and a paint job for the front.

**** happens...

Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

-Ketil