International Lancia Forums

Hello all,

I've done about 60-70 miles in the car since fitting the new alternator parts and all has been fine. In fact, it's been wonderful - i haven't grinned so much since my Alfa Giulia!!

Last night I was coming home (it had to be dark and raining didn't it...) and going round a left-hand bend fairly quick I heard a fuse pop. Immediately the motor stopped running and the 'gen' light came on.

I opened the electrical panel on the fascia and the fuse on the left had failed. I 'borrowed' another identical fuse which popped as soon as i put it in. Obviously something was seriously wrong and it was dark etc so I towed the car home.

Once in the garage I instinctively looked at all the alternator wires to see if anything was shorting - it all looked good with no signs of burning. I tried another fuse and it instantly popped (with the ignition turned off!). At this point i left it alone and went to bed.

Now this morning i went out to the car, put another (identical) fuse in and...........it's runs fine! Do any of you have any ideas as to what might be happening? I don't have enough experience of these machines to know if one of the components gets hot and temporarily shorts-out, which would explain why it's ok this morning...

As ever, any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

Andy

There are Fulvia ghosts.........

Some thirty years ago, I owned(I stil do) a Fulvia berlina.

One night I awoke seeing light flashes. I got out of my bed, and looked out of the window.
The Fulvia was flashing with her head lights.
No one was in it however........
That must have been the Fulvia Ghost.
This truly happened, not a joke!

Lucas

Hi Lucas,

LOL - yes i can well believe that - my father once swore to me that one morning his Alfa Sud was trying to start itself....!

Normally i'd be happy to accept that it's 'fixed itself' and carry on. In this instance i'm a bit reticent to do that because if it goes again : a) i won't be able to get home and.... b) there's a slim chance it will catch on fire - and I'm not the cars owner.....

My electrical nous is not too good so I'm hoping that my story rings a bell with someone and that there is a component which, if faulty, could overload after about one hours use and then operate fine again after cooling down.

My other option is to trundle up-and-down my road until it pops again.

Tell you what though, it's a great experience to drive one of these. I don't think i can drive a modern car again now - with the possible exception of a 'pre-GM' Alfa Romeo!

This morning when i fitted a new fuse the car ran fine for a minute or so. The fuse didn't even get warm.

I've just been out and started it again - this time it ran for about a few seconds before popping the fuse so it would appear not to have 'fixed itself'. From switching on the ignition the fuse will pop either instantly or after a few seconds.

I hope this points towards a likely source of the problem...

Andy

Might be the cigarette lighter if it is not properly fastened.

I will have a look at the circuit diagram.

Yep. I confirm it is most likely the cigarette lighter

Hi Huib!

Thanks - so if I disconnect the lighter the circuit should stop overloading?

I'll go and do that now and let you know how i get on.

Cheers
Andy

yes. If it is not tightly fastened it may move and short itself agains the metal.

Thanks Huib,

I've just been for a look and i think the best way to get to it is through the glove box. I'll disconnect it and try again..

Andy

I assume it is fuse 1 that blows. It feeds the ignition coil and you said the engines stopped running when it blew.

Fuse one also feeds:
cigarette lighter
relays for horn and cooling fan
flasher for brake fluid and handbrake warning light
flasher or direction indicators

Could be any of those but usually it is the cigarette lighter which comes loose and shorts itself. Best is to fasten it.

You probably have the steering wheel on the wrong side. I have no experience with the lay out of UK spec cars.