want faster Power / Auto windows ???

[divace73]

I have some possible exciting news for owners of people with power windows...
I have recently upgraded a friends spider power windows by adding a series of relays and now the window operates 1/3 faster than previously.

I do have a question though to see if anybody out there has been successful in replacing the heavy motor for a lighter modern motor???

[spider2081]

I think that is a great idea
Where did you physically mount the relays?? I am thinking of replacing one of the vinyl inspection panels on the door with a metal plate so the relays mount in t he door near the motor.

[Fi8spider]

I think that is a great idea
Where did you physically mount the relays?? I am thinking of replacing one of the vinyl inspection panels on the door with a metal plate so the relays mount in t he door near the motor.

2081 my concern in mounting the relays in the door would be the jolt they would receive when closing and the increased possibility of them working loose over time. Using relays with a retainer would have to come into play for that application.

Oh and don't mind me divace, as you know I have 74' with no power windows however I do find that a nice plate of pasta before heading out for a drive gets those windows up and down at least 50% quicker..!

[DieselSpider]

I think that is a great idea
Where did you physically mount the relays?? I am thinking of replacing one of the vinyl inspection panels on the door with a metal plate so the relays mount in t he door near the motor.

You may want to consider a dryer and more stabile location for the relays.

[bradartigue]

Solutions perhaps:

(1) put the relays in the speaker well where the wires run into the body. the point of relays is to reduce resistance on the long wire runs - something FIAT did poorly - being 12 inches away is just fine.

(2) use a crank. next thing you know you'll want a power roof. lazy, lazy people. i did often laugh though putting up the power windows on the FIATs and Alfas, I swear the thing was drawing 2,000 amps to put up that window. The lights would dim, the engine would strain, the window motor would screech. That was at the dealership when they were new...

[adrians]

I believe divace73 mounted all the relays under the dashboard and used existing wiring to the door.

[divace73]

Adrian is correct, I'm in thee habit of not cutting up wires if I don't have to. Sure I would have like to upgrade the power wire to the motor but it just becomes too difficult. so I use all the existing wires coupled with new wires including connectors.


Remember our cars have been converted from LHD to RHD so there can be any wire configuration underneath. I would love to have an opportunity to work on a LHD car that has not been hacked?? I had a bit of room where the he existing relays sit as we only needed the power window and the horn. The items that use the other relays have been removed from the car. In this case the Speedo has also been changed so I could also remove that box that resets the exhaust gas light.

I also had spare fiat relay holders which stack on top of each other and did have to put a spacer between the plate and the chassis brace for a little extra clearance, the other option to to make another small shelf and mount it under the existing shelf.

We needed 1 relay for the wipers and 4 relays for the windows. I am looking into the micro relays to save space but don't know if they can handle the power. The fuse rating for the power windows is 16A from memory

[adrians]

next thing you know you'll want a power roof. lazy, lazy people.

Yes, - I being thinking about that - perhaps a small gas strut to assist with the initial lifting of the roof, save the pain and stretching of the left shoulder

[bradartigue]

next thing you know you'll want a power roof. lazy, lazy people.

Yes, - I being thinking about that - perhaps a small gas strut to assist with the initial lifting of the roof, save the pain and stretching of the left shoulder

Diagnosis: You're opening the top wrong if you are doing it from inside the car.

[adrians]

Brad - only when it's raining, otherwise the roof is always down !

[DieselSpider]

Be careful what you wish for.

I was visiting a friend who's wife has a Volkswagen with a power convertible top and they are tempted to see if it can be converted to manual operation like our Spiders. Every time the power roof acts up its weeks to months in the shop to get it operational again. The last time the cost of the rental car made them really consider the manual conversion.

[ekstrandt]

So I finally got around to doing this mod. I used SPDT (40A) relays, 10 gauge wire and a 40 amp circuit breaker from auto parts store. I know, overkill with the amp rating and the feed wire gauge. Anyhow everything works great. Slow power windows solved. The motors pull so hard now the inner door skin flexes. I used the schematic below.