Emergency flasher repair photos
- dantye
- Posts: 344
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:00 am
- Your car is a: all gone
Emergency flasher repair photos
Damaged or apparently worn out flashers are a common problem with Spiders. They often will not "toggle" correctly and are "wedged" with thin paper or plastic to keep them off: necessary, or they will drive you crazy AND run down your battery. But this "wedging, if done at the wrong point in the button's motion, can cause non-working turn signals and resulting ACCIDENTS!
So, here is what I learned. It may help you know where to start if you have this problem: (If you are not comfortable removing the upper console and the flasher from it, DON'T TRY THIS.)
1. Flasher dis-assembly: Gently pry OUT on front sleeve with a small, thin screwdriver or pick tool to release one rectangular lock hole at a time from the triangular lock tab. Don't do this when plastic is cold, since it could break.
Both ends of flasher button assembly with spring removed:
2. The small silver swing arm with the small rod at the end was the culprit. If the button has stuck due to cold or dirt, it likely was bent toward the outer sleeve and no longer rides in the toggle slots shown just below it. Use sturdy needle-nose pliers to carefully bend it IN (down) so it rides in the toggle slots, but not far enough that it binds. You can test the operation before re-assembling the switch.
I understand most years use the same flasher, but there may be some design differences.
So, here is what I learned. It may help you know where to start if you have this problem: (If you are not comfortable removing the upper console and the flasher from it, DON'T TRY THIS.)
1. Flasher dis-assembly: Gently pry OUT on front sleeve with a small, thin screwdriver or pick tool to release one rectangular lock hole at a time from the triangular lock tab. Don't do this when plastic is cold, since it could break.
Both ends of flasher button assembly with spring removed:
2. The small silver swing arm with the small rod at the end was the culprit. If the button has stuck due to cold or dirt, it likely was bent toward the outer sleeve and no longer rides in the toggle slots shown just below it. Use sturdy needle-nose pliers to carefully bend it IN (down) so it rides in the toggle slots, but not far enough that it binds. You can test the operation before re-assembling the switch.
I understand most years use the same flasher, but there may be some design differences.
- 4uall
- Posts: 4145
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:09 pm
- Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
have done this, and it works great..............................until the next time Great post
Jay
Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE
https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6
FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE
https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6
FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
- dantye
- Posts: 344
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:00 am
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Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
... and that is unique among Fiat problems in WHAT WAY?4uall wrote:have done this, and it works great..............................until the next time Great post
- RRoller123
- Patron 2020
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- Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA
Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
That is a great repair to know, thanks for posting it!
Pete
Pete
'80 FI Spider 2000
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'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
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Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
Another project for a rainy day... my tooth-pick has been working but this is better.
Thanks for the post
Thanks for the post
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
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72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
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Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
Dante -- THANK YOU for this post. My emergency flasher "popped" when I depressed it while I was mopping off the interior today. It wouldn't click back in the off position. The hardest part of the repair was getting the back off the flasher once I had it out of the console - and it wasn't that hard! Just a bit or patience and persistence and it was back in working order.
Great contribution to the forum! Thanks!
Great contribution to the forum! Thanks!
SunnySideUp
Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
Thanks for this post, learn something new everytime I log on here...
When I got my most recent spider, the turn signals didn't work... I replaced the fuses and the hazards started flashing, guess the PO removed the fuse so the battery woundn't drain.... crazy that the switch can fail in the on position... Anyways, grabbed the switch from my parts car and I'm in business, but I'm going to try this fix on the switch I removed so I have a backup.
When I got my most recent spider, the turn signals didn't work... I replaced the fuses and the hazards started flashing, guess the PO removed the fuse so the battery woundn't drain.... crazy that the switch can fail in the on position... Anyways, grabbed the switch from my parts car and I'm in business, but I'm going to try this fix on the switch I removed so I have a backup.
Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
This looks great but how do I get it out of the dash, do I have to take out the radio?
- dantye
- Posts: 344
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:00 am
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Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
What year is your Spider? On my '81. the upper console can be removed with just a couple of screws on the driver side and a couple on the passenger side. With the Shift lever in the far back position, the console, with the radio still in in, can usually be pulled out far enough to allow removing the flasher connector and unscrewing the nut on the back of the flasher. This may depend on what kind of radio you have and if a PO has shortened any wires. A larger, older radio may require removal of the lower console as well, but there will be folks here who can chime in on that issue.msanz27 wrote:This looks great but how do I get it out of the dash, do I have to take out the radio?
At any rate, you will want to check that all electrical connections are good while you have it apart. (I currently have an annoying intermittent connection which occasionally turns my radio off momentarily - hopefully just a weak spring in an in-line fuse holder.)
Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
Hey thanks, It is a 79, yeah I checked yesterday and I can get the console and radio out with a few screws, going after that hazard switch tomorrow
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- Patron 2018
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Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
Bumping an old post. I performed this repair due to a toggle problem that prevented an off postion. Everything worked out, but the button no longer glows when i switch on the headlights. The button does flash when the hazzards are on. Are there two bulbs in there, one for flashing and one for the position light when the lights are on? The wiring all seems to be in place. Wondering what could have gone wrong.
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- Patron 2024
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Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
When the hazards are selected the hazard switch internal light is powered directly from "hot all the time" fuse 8. When they are not selected they are powered from the dash lights dimmer circuit. The white/red connects to the post on the hazard switch that also has a resistor soldered onto it. This resistor reduces current through the hazard switch bulb so its 1/2 bright when the instruments lights are turned on full bright. If you dash lights are off or set too dim you light not see the light in the daylight.
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- Patron 2018
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Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
Spider 2081, Thanks for the low down on this circuit.My dash lights work fine. My conclusion is that I perhaps blew the resistor when I accidentally tripped a fuse on that circuit, this can be a possibility. Are there any specs on these resistors?
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- Patron 2024
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Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
the resistor is 120 ohms 1/4 watt.
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Re: Emergency flasher repair photos
just used this post to repair my spare hazard switch. Thanks for the pictures. Now the question is should I keep a spare or sell this thing on ebay.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!
82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban
82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban