1980 Fiat Spider Will Not Start

[fiatdriver]

Own a 1980 Fiat Spider with automatic transmission. Car has run well for past decade and is currently driven about once a week. Recently took car out for multiple small trips around town. However, car would not start when attempting to drive back home. Engine is not turning over. Power not being supplied to headlights or other electrical accessories. Car acts like someone suddenly took the battery out or cut wires from ignition switch.

I replaced with a fully-charged new battery and cleaned all ground connections. Still same result when turning key: engine not turning over, headlights and break lights not illuminating. Dash lights, horn, and parking lights do work.

Greatly appreciate any insight as to what might be wrong.

[justrhines]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but dash lights, horn, and parking lights are the only electrical items that are hotwired directly to the battery and not through the ignition switch. Without having the wiring diagram in front of me, you may want to start with putting a voltmeter around the ignition switch.

Or try your luck with the spaghetti:
https://autoricambi.us/fiat-blog/wiring ... 4-spiders/

[SteinOnkel]

Your ignition switch is on its way out. Next time it does this, grab the wires to the back of the switch and pull them towards the switch while cranking it. I bet it'll start.

When you replace it, make sure you replace the brown wire to the starter solenoid and wire it to go through an added relay. There is no reason to do that "brown wire fix" by the way. It's one of those scatter-brained ideas that circulate on the internet and have little to no basis in facts. The two wires would go to the exact same terminal internally on the ignition switch.

[fiatdriver]

Thanks SteinOnkel and justrhines - really appreciate your advice. I tried pulling the wires toward the ignition switch but no success. Will investigate further with a multimeter and likely try replacing the ignition switch, as you recommended. Also heard the problem might be related to the neutral starting switch on the gear lever for my automatic transmission. Have you ever found this to be the case for a Spider not starting? I tried cycling the car through the gears while turning the ignition switch to troubleshoot this but still no luck. Thanks!

[spider2081]

So if your dash & parking lights ( center position of dash headlight switch) and horn do not work that should eliminate the ignition switch as they are all on the "hot all the time" circuit. Parking and dash lights with the dash headlight switch in the full down position is " power in Start and run" circuit. and does pass through the ignition switch.

Have you visually/physically checked the main power grounds where the battery ground cable attaches to the side of the battery box. Have you checked the primary chassis ground connecting the driver side floor to the bell housing under the car??

Do you have a battery disconnect switch installed on the battery? They can fail.

[fiatdriver]

I have checked the grounds. I ordered a new ignition switch. Thank you.

[justrhines]

Keep us posted!

Justin