Fuse box rehabilitation

Gotta love that wiring . . .
Post Reply
DRUMMOND
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 443
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:11 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spyder 2000 1980 Pininfarina

Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by DRUMMOND »

To fix or head of most of the electrical problems you need to start at the heart of the system. My fuse box I would think is typical of most of the spiders out there, in that the continuity of the contacts are non existent or have very poor conductivity. Here is a photo story of the rehab
To start none of my fuse contacts had any decent conductivity this was tested with a digital meter before and after.
This is what I started with
Image
Image
Image
These are the tools I used
Image
1/8" flat blade screwdriver
Image
Beveled pliers
Image
Image
Copper cleaning paste water soluble
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
100% continuity all the time now
Image
It took me four hours, which is a great investment of time and is fairly easy to do. you wont regret it.
User avatar
lglade
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 327
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:05 am
Your car is a: 1984 Pininfarina
Location: Mukilteo, WA

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by lglade »

Thanks for your posts....you did some really good work there. I'm sure it will pay big dividends in terms of electrical reliability. Can you perceive any other immediate benefits in terms of brighter interior lights, faster wipers, or the like?
Lloyd Glade- Mukilteo, WA
1984 Pininfarina Spider Azzurra
1962 Fiat 500D - wife's car
2015 Subaru Outback
2017 Ford Focus RS
jagonza
Posts: 121
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:03 pm
Your car is a: 1977 Fiat 124

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by jagonza »

What are those needle nose pliers called, never seen a set like that, perfect for the job. Right tools make all the difference.
1977 Fiat 124 - Frankenstein engine
1999 VW Cabrio - Stock
1988 Fiero GT
And a couple of Daily Drivers
brackie1
Posts: 523
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2013 1:24 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 spider
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by brackie1 »

Has Anyone replaced their bullet fuse box with a spade fuse box.
Gene
North Carolina
ORFORD2004
Posts: 1120
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:48 pm
Your car is a: 1983 PININFARINA
Location: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by ORFORD2004 »

Has Anyone replaced their bullet fuse box with a spade fuse box
I did.
DRUMMOND
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 443
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:11 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spyder 2000 1980 Pininfarina

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by DRUMMOND »

You need to use relays for better lights/wipers/windows. but you also need to make sure that the window mechanism, wiper mechanism, are all free from seizure. most problems for the slow wiper syndrome is the seizure of the wiper spindle. Most problems for slow windows are sized pulley wheels. I have done all the rehab for these items and will post when I get time, along with the relay setups
Bullet or spade fuse boxes still have oxidation over time, it comes down to preference
DRUMMOND
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 443
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:11 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spyder 2000 1980 Pininfarina

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by DRUMMOND »

What are those needle nose pliers called, never seen a set like that, perfect for the job. Right tools make all the difference.

I found them in my grandfather's tool box. No idea what they are called :?: He was a watch maker.
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by vandor »

Do you know that a new fusebox is about $27? Works for all Spiders except ones with power windows.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
brackie1
Posts: 523
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2013 1:24 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 spider
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by brackie1 »

To ORFORD2004. Where did you fiND the spade fuse box and was it difficult.
Gene
North Carolina
profcucchi
Posts: 248
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 2:12 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat 2000
Location: Toronto, On

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by profcucchi »

Wow. Again, your attention to the work is great.

Gives me ideas. Sadly, only the idea....
1979 Fiat 2000 "Luigi"
Funcar
Posts: 195
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2013 7:24 am
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat Spider 124
Location: Kitchener Ontario Canada

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by Funcar »

You are electrifying and your work is shocking!!! I am totally impressed and appreciate your posts to inspire me to work on my wiring over the winter. Thanks for your contribution to this form.
Glen
Kitchener ON Canada
73 Fiat Spider 124
DRUMMOND
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 443
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:11 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spyder 2000 1980 Pininfarina

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by DRUMMOND »

Hi funcar
Thank You, I have read a lot and learned a lot from this forum, just want to help and contribute for others.

Vandor i have electric windows :) But good to know there is an alternative and easier option.

Come on Profcucchi don't Procrastinate!! Who wants to be left at the side of the road on a summers sunny / rainy day :oops:
ORFORD2004
Posts: 1120
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:48 pm
Your car is a: 1983 PININFARINA
Location: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by ORFORD2004 »

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by klweimer »

This is the fuse box set-up that I built last year and getting ready to install in the next few days. It features ATO style fuses and basically puts all the power hungry circuits on relays to protect the ignition switch. Theoretically, it will screw right into the same place as the existing fuse block and get some extra support from the bracket the the goofy power socket used to occupy. It took several months to design and build, but now, we'll see if I got it right or not. The first picture shows the fuse side that will face out from the current fuse box location and the second shows the back side where all the wires plug in and the relays live.
Kirk
Image

Image
DRUMMOND
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 443
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:11 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spyder 2000 1980 Pininfarina

Re: Fuse box rehabilitation

Post by DRUMMOND »

Now that's a project!!

Looks great well done ! klweimer

Let us know how it works out. Are you keeping the original ignition switch? are you keeping the original headlight switch?
Post Reply