Haynes manuals take a lot of stick but they are pretty useful really. I'm an experienced, time served mechanic and I still find it a useful thing to have.
The Xweb forums in the U.S. (
www.xwebforums.org
) are pretty good but I couldnt find wiring loom info for my car on there. The U.S. cars are slightly different, 1300s are different, Later Bertone built cars are different too. The only one I found that tied in with my car was the one in the Haynes manual I bought off ebay for £5! LOL!
The wiring on my car looked far worse because people had 'fixed' it before. I ripped all the previous repairs and accessories out. Then, when I changed the fuse and relay box its pretty much swapping like for like. The fuses and relays work the same. When all thats done its easier to find faults.
Well, thankyou so much Rachael. We have (I think) narrowed it down to dodgy motors- The pop up lights now work, a little bit. One goes up when it should, and one goes down when it should, so its looking like the switches inside the motors need cleaning up, and possibly the diodes replaced. Next job is to take the motors out to clean them up and chech the diodes.
No worries Adam, as I said it's a pleasure to help a fellow Fiat head, and I had a very nice drive out too (up and down the scenic M1!). I was also chuffed to hear my car was "really sikk"!
I have since had another look at the wiring diagram and I am sure that as we got the motors to run for at least one part of their cycle, the faults are definitely in the diodes or the up/down cycle switches in the motors. To absolutely confirm this, unplug the grey/black wire from the motor and apply 12V directly from the battery to the grey/black wire. This should operate the slave relay and run the motor continuously. Repeat this for both motors as the slave relay and circuit you are testing is individual to each motor.
Hi Rachael. I quite agree with the kid, even if my choice of words might not have been as modern I do like that body kit. It makes it look like something designed to race on the moon if the moon were smooth
I will try that little trick with the motor wires. I just ordered a pack of 5 diodes anyway as they were only £1.50 including delivery off eBay (and a cheap multimeter!).
Was good to meet you earlier and glad you had a good run out in the X. I stalled mine outside my car park and had to wait 40 minutes before it would start again! I plan to do the brown wire mod, check the points gap, timing, plug gap/condition etc etc and hopefully I will get it half useable.
Electronic ignition will be a huge improvement, it's worth doing the Yugo/Uno dizzy swap if you can find the right donor, or fit aftermarket ignition. I'm going to get one of the AccuSpark kits and see if I can adapt it to the Marelli dizzies. For £27 or so it's worth it!
Yes I think your right, electronic ignition seems to be the way to go. I will ask the guy I bought the radiator off which Uno dissy he used, although he has sold the car now so hopefully he's got a good memory!
Your be pleased to know Adam, I got it home safely no more prangs with the tow brace lol. Did you ever sort the problem with the horn? as changed the thermostat today and the rear engine plate n noticed that not working (well me boy did whom was playing in the car while I was working away lol)
Hi Chris. Glad you got it back in one piece. Yes - I sorted BOTH horns so its a bit of a mystery if it has died. One I repaired the internal mechanism in the horn itself, and the other (hig tone) I replaced with a working one. You do have to push the steering wheel button quite agressively though so the switch would be the first suspect if it has completely stopped working. I thought it worked on a dual circular track system in order for it to work through all angles, but however I later found out its a big spring like coil, that tightens i one direction and loosens in the other, so stering angle should not affect it. Try though, just pushing it harder (At least it's child proof!)
Yes I am afraid I gave up. If I lived in the country and had a garage it would have been perfect, but it was just a little too much of a restoration project for my current life situation. I am thinking of trying to buy a Citroen 2CV now as I used to have one many years ago and now really miss them. In fact I recently got locked into having one as the seller pretended to be me and applied for a replacement V5 in MY name..I sold it the same day for the same bargain price I got it for, and now regret it a lot..A very persuasive bloke got me to pull the auction for him, which is somethig I will nev er do again. Theres something rather appealing about no head gaskets, no water system and no electrics, and only 30BHP... Back to basics for me. The crazy thing is though they are so pricey I could probably get a well sorted X1/9 for the same money, but there's no fun in that! I certainly havent ruled another one out completely.
Oh well, I tried! Enjoy those upside down prams - a friend of mine had one at college, it certainly took hard use in its stride. It got a bit silly though when to "save on brake pads" he used to just drive into anything handy to stop himself.
Another chap I knew from rowing - his 2CV broke down at his work (Millbrook testing ground) and one quiet Sunday morning I towed him back to Bedford behind my Audi at speeds somewhat greater than he could attain under the 2CV's own power. He said it was "very peaceful listening to the wind rushing past and the side windows flapping in the breeze, but cornering was a bit dicey." I replied "These 2CVs are impressive - I tried but I just couldn't shake you off my tail."
Congratulations Chris, it was a pleasure to help and I'm sure your son will appreciate your restoration work in the future - unlike my nephew in Oz who I bought a project X1/9 for - he sold it on and bought a Holden ute!
Well it certainly looks as though it's gone to a good home Chris. Youve got the right idea about making it a long restoration project rather than just trying to get it an MOT. It will be so worth it when it's done.
Rachael - I really did appreciate your help with this car. It just got to the point where I ran out of enthusiasm for it due to difficult working conditions and the stress of London. I need a car that will provide an initial lack of stress; A kind of therapy if you will, to take me out of London every now and then. You see, something reliable with an MOT, I can go and visit my family with and use their garage at the same time to keep it reliable. In retrospect, I was overly ambitious trying to get the X1/9 MOT ready in London. I should have just left it at my Fathers house in Hereford and done it up at weekends, but I gave my working car (A BX) to my brother.
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I do like that body kit. It makes it look like something designed to race on the moon if the moon were smooth 