Hazard switch

[HawaiiSpiderman]

Trying to diagnose my Hazard Light switch. It was working before I added the relay kit from AR. Everything else works fine, lights are brighter and wipers seem a bit faster. All lightbulbs are good.

With key on, the hazard switch blinks with right turn signal, not with left. When pressed it stops blinking. With key on or off, and turn signal switch in off or middle position, when the hazard switch is pressed nothing happens.

Please chime in with any ideas. Thanks.

[spider2081]

and turn signal switch in off or middle position, when the hazard switch is pressed nothing happens.

The hazard function of the switch uses "hot all the time" power from fuse 9. The turn signals use power from the "hot in Start or run" power from fuse 1. The courtesy light is also on fuse 9, if it is working you might check to see if the red wire ( hot all the time) to the hazard switch is connected and has voltage as long as the cars battery is connected.
You may have 2 separate issues. The front signal/parking light bulbs are 2 filament bulbs corroded sockets, bad bulbs or grounds make for strange issues. Also the tail light ground in the trunk can do the same if it is not 100%.

Hope this helps.

[HawaiiSpiderman]

Thanks for the info Spider2081. Regarding front bulbs, I replaced with LEDs from AR. They are working fine. Rear lights were recently cleaned and are also working. If ground is bad would they work ok as turn signal?

[dinghyguy]

I second the comments about the flasher connections, under dash modifications by persons unknown in the past for radios, lights, and ??? seem to be chronic issues. Careful checking of the wiring relative to the circuit diagram is important.

In addition, in my limited experience i found the rear taillights caused odd things to happen intermittently related to turn signals. So my first move was to clean all the contacts and in particular the grounds. That did help, but i was still a bit concerned so
- i took the rear light circuit boards apart,
- carefully drilled out the rivets holding the bulb holders to the board out
- cleaned the corrosion off the underside of the lamp holders
- soldered the lamp holders to the board
- reassembled everything using small nuts and bolts.
- checked and installed the correct bulbs
I also took the clearnce lights out front and back, cleaned the bulb holders, cleaned the bulbs, and cleaned the connectors. I used a dremel with a wire wheel for much of the cleaning, and a bit of conductive grease during reassembly.
Since then everything has been perfect with respect to lights, signals and the flasher.

cheers
dinghyguy

[spider2081]

Regarding front bulbs, I replaced with LEDs from AR.

The original flasher is designed to have a minimum of 2 incandescent in the circuit. Replacing the front bulbs with LEDs should cause the flasher to flash slower. Did you replace the flasher for one designed for LED operation??

I'm thinking the fact you hazards to not work at all may be a power issue. either a disconnected wire at the hazard switch or a defective hazard switch. Pretty sure the same flasher unit is used for turn signals and hazards in a 79 Spider.

[HawaiiSpiderman]

Thanks for all of the diagnoses. I should've listed all of the things I have changed and fixed in my first post. These include rear light overhaul and flasher upgrade, brown wire fix, new headlight switch, new interior light, fiber optics and fan switch overhaul. And, yes, figuring out and undoing PO wiring changes, including removal of most engine sensors.

Please note that everything electrically was working before the installation of the relay kits from AR. Both the ignition relay kit and headlight kit were simple plug ins with good instructions. The only thing was a wire color difference to one of the ignition connector pins. Now everything works, just better and brighter...except the hazard switch.

I'm trying to find out whether the hazard switch should flash with the right turn signal, but not the left. Or should it flash with both, or neither turn signals? This will help my diagnosis since I recently bought the car and don't remember how it was before relay install.

Also, has anyone else who installed the ignition relays found a wire color difference from the instructions included with the kit?

[spider2081]

I'm pretty sure the hazard switch's internal light should not flash when the turn signals operate. It should be lite dimly when the dash lights are lite and should flash full brilliance when the hazards are operating.
For technical information about our cars I use the Mirafiori.com library. You must be a member of the chatroom to access the library. Its a wonderful resource. I also think the Fiat publication "Spider 2000 Electrical Diagnostic Manual 1980-1981" Is the best resource for understanding our cars electrical systems regardless of the year of ones car. I believe a 1979 Spider and 1980 carbureted Spider electrical wiring is the same. The manual has circuit descriptions and wire diagrams.

[dinghyguy]

my '79 hazard switch does not flash unless pressed.
Suggest you undo each relay mod and test the system to see which caused the change. I bet the ignition one is the problem.

cheers
dinghyguy

[HawaiiSpiderman]

Problem found...the button was not popping out! As I reached behind to be sure the connection was tight, the button popped out and flashed along with all 4 corner lights as normal.

After multiple pushes I found a slight upward motion as I push seems to work everytime. However, I have an extra hazard button and will install today.

[spider2081]

WOW how simple is that. Great news