new owner, some questions

[milo]

Hi, we recently bought a '71 1600 (Positano yellow, very cute, 70k mi, mostly original, runs well), and I have some questions:
(1) What is normal gas mileage? I've seen gas mileage values posted that are all over the map, but many cite the highest 20s or even very lowest 30s mpg. I don't get this - more like 26 mpg highway, 20 mpg town. One web site I found comments that the highest 20s mpg refers to highway travel and imperial (British) gallons which are about 20% larger than US gallons. What do you get?
(2) Alternator - worth upgrading? On start up, the brightness of the lights fluctuates with fluctuations in the engine idle speed. After running a few minutes this is less noticeable. Lights and signals all work, so I can leave this alone, but I've read one can put in a higher amperage alternator with an internal voltage regulator. Is this worth the trouble?
(3) Squeaky suspension - fix or live with? The front end (ball joints, etc.) were replaced by the previous owner and a mechanic's inspection indicates condition is good, but there is a squeak in the driver's side front end that scales with speed of travel (none sitting still unless you push the fender down, discrete squeaks at low speed, frequent at normal speeds). I think this is the shock (crawled under and listened while jostling, this seemed to be the place, & shock has some rust on the outside) - replace, or unlikely source?
(4) Parking brake - stiff, barely holds, how to fix? The regular brakes are fine, and I asked the inspecting mechanic to look at the parking brake. He tightened the cable, but it still barely holds.
(5) Wipers quit - any simple first fixes? First they worked, then they were intermittent, then they quit entirely.
Thanks,
Milo

[narfire]

Hi Milo. Welcome to a great place for everything fiat.
Lots of question and I'm sure there will be more to follow as time progresses.
As for milage, you're right in it is all over the map. I have a 80 fi and get about 11 kms/liter, now imperial gallon is about 4.5 liters and us gallon is 3.8 > 26 miles/us gallon. I have no idea what a carb'd 1600 would be, I'd think somewheres close if is tuned to spec with good plugs ect.
There is a "brown wire" fix for the earlier cars that have the dim headlights. I read somewhere IAP now has a kit with relay that can cure this issue. Alt is it a 55 or 65 amp alt? Some have made a swap to a 95, I think it was ford, amp.
squeeky suspension, I'd guess perhaps the sway bar bushings might be moving... try and tighten up the brackets. All other nuts on the a arms tight? If so and squeek still persists, louder radio and or a set of down draft carbs and headers with a nice sounding muffler
Hand brake.. my guess is the cable is tired. source one from a vendor and change. The handbrake is mechanical at the rear calipers. Engaged, they "screw" the piston against the rotor. Perhaps have someone pull the handle while you look at the calipers with the wheel off, see if there is movement, rotors stop ect.
Wipers... pull the cowel off... I think 5-6 phillips screws and have a look underneith. Perhaps they just need some grease/oil or something. Perhaps check by disconecting the arm from the motor and then trying the wipers.. motor work? if so then perhaps the arms need some lube.
Oh yea... some pics of the car is always nice.
Good luck with the car, once sorted they are a hoot to drive.
Chris

[azruss]

My first spider was a 70. The 20 to 26 mpg is about right. lot depends on how heavy your right foot is. Hard to say about the squeeking suspension. may want to pressure wash and remove as much dirt and grime and then try to chase it down. These cars have an external voltage regulator that i alway found problematic. Upgrade here might be useful. Brown wire fix is always a good idea. Wiper motors are weak at best, even when everything is working right. Make sure all your moving joints are lubed. I ended up replacing mine with a more powerful coupe motor. still spent a lot of time driving with marginal wipers.
E-brakes are also marginal on this car. Would be worthwhile lubing the cable and see if that helps. dont expect a big change.
You've got one of my favorite years.

[milo]

Chris and Azruss,

Thanks for the helpful and quick replies. I take it the gas mileage I'm getting is about right and not an indication of something wrong (check one off the list), and the parking brake is probably an easy fix. Now to order a shop manual for the other issues, none of which have stopped us from driving the car.

Best wishes,
Milo

[Zippy]

As for the squeaky suspension, I had the same problem. I bought some silicone based grease and used an old hypodermic needle to squirt it into any gaps or spaces on my suspension where rubber meets metal, then I smeared it all over the bushings first with the car on jacks then again with it on the ground. I did this early last spring and enjoyed a spring, summer and fall of squeak free of driving. I bought it from Grainger http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/JETLUB ... Pid=search I got the suggestion from someone on a Honda Forum that said they use this to lubricate the bushings when they assemble them and that they use it on all exposed rubber parts to keep them from drying out.

[htchevyii]

Zippy, I did the same exact thing. The grease Honda uses is Shin-etsu silicone grease and works great for all things rubber. P/n 08798-9013, $13-14 for a tube.

[2ndwind]

If you are determined to find the specific squeak: Get a long piece of hose and use it like a stethoscope to your ear while someone pushes down on the fender several times.

[Zippy]

Milo, the grease thing worked really well. I previously tried WD40 and a friend suggested car wax but neither one lasted. I was plagued with squeaking for a few years.

I just remembered that I also used a small flat screwdriver to push between the rubber and metal to make gaps for the grease to go into.

Zippy, I did the same exact thing. The grease Honda uses is Shin-etsu silicone grease and works great for all things rubber. P/n 08798-9013, $13-14 for a tube.

I'm sure the Shin-etsu grease works well too but I didn't have the part number so when I called the Honda dealer he told me $26. That's how I would up at Grainger, $12.59 for the tube I got. I wonder now if he quoted the wrong thing. I have no faith in the guys on the parts counters anymore. I went to the chevy dealer to get a temp sensor for my pickup. I took in the part and gave him the vehicle info. He said he didn't have the part and would have to order it. $61. He called when it came in and I went to get it and it was entirely different than mine. Turns out they had the right one on the shelf and it was $31. Waste of time, waste of gas.