Alfa Pages

Bellamachinna · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:44 am Post subject: Switches Swap

Hi all

My 16v has the big square switches for the rear demister, hazard lights, front & rear fog lamps... Rolling Eyes

I bought the smaller and more recente ones with sockets included... Razz

My nightmare started, when i tried to adapt these to my car wiring... Shocked

Ex: The hazard lights switch, on my car has 6/7 wires connected to it...
The "newer" switch only has 4 wires, and one of them isn`t even mentioned in the wiring diagrams Shocked

The wiring diagrams dont cover these newer switches... Confused

Anyone has some sort of supplement that cover these newer versions??? Wink

Thanks in avance Very Happy

P.Camilo
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All'interno della mia macchina, vi sedete, tenete sopra e CHIUDETE IN SU...

Ben_nz · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:02 am Post subject:

Newer versions? I never heard of those, what car do they come out in?
I got a second hand square switch out of a series 3 33 and I noticed they'd improved the backlighting, but that's all.

tvatavuk · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 1:00 pm Post subject:

33 S3 from 93-94 used new switchs, about 1/2-3/4 width of our normal square ones Smile

I have removed one of those new type hazard lights switch from Q4 SW, and runned into same problem as P.Camilo has.
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Tino Vatavuk
Little black dress which replaced Alfa Romeo 33 S 16v Permanent 4 GMo

Bellamachinna · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject:

bobbber · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:46 pm Post subject:

Here's a question. Some of my switch lights on the dashboard (the big square ones) are lit up dimly when not switched on, and bright when they are switched on. However, most have no dim light when off.... are they ALL supposed to be dimly lit whilst off?

Bob
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

Bellamachinna · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:20 am Post subject:

It depends...

The hazard lights switch, and the rear demister have to be on all the time (with ignition on). The smaller light (color coded) only cames on when switch is on, on all switches.

The front fog ligts switch, gets illuminated, with the position lights, and if you press it , the rear fog lights switch also gets illuminated (and serviceable).
If your car doesn´t have front fog lamps, then the rear fog lamp switch only illuminates, when you turn on the driving lights.
(this is due to EURO regulations).

If your switches look badly lit, thats because, they use a small lamp, equal to those used on the instrument cluster, in a plastic "carrier", that gets yellow with the heat generated by the lamp...
(my hazard lights switch is so badly lit that you can never say that is illuminated at all)...

gritsop · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:38 am Post subject:

Hi,

and I 'd like to add that if you try removing the transparent plastic lamp holder it will probably brake as heat of the lamp has weakened the plastic.

I ruined two switches trying to remove the bulb - heated window and hazard lights. At the end I bought two new ones at 30€ both.

Regards,
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

Ben_nz · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 9:02 am Post subject:

The switches are supposed to be backlit only when they are selectable. So the foglight switches won't be backlit unless you have the headlights on, because pressing the foglight switches with the headlights off wouldn't do anything.

To get around the plastic bulb holders going yellow, cracking and not allowing light through, I threw them away.
If you try for a long time, it's possible to plug the bulbs in without using the bulb holders.
Then you'll get strong enough backlighting of the switches that you can almost notice it.
That is, if you can see the switches at all because Alfa cunningly placed them all exactly behind the arms of the steering wheel. Rolling Eyes

bobbber · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:07 pm Post subject:

So the small 'led' part of the lights are supposed to be lit up at all times?

Fooey... mine aren't! Are the switches just a push fit (i.e. can be leavered out)?!

Bob
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

tvatavuk · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:33 pm Post subject:

Hi,
Backlight comes from small bulb like in instrument panel
LED part is on when you press switch if it's servicable (backlight on).

P.Camilo, yes I gave it up, because my normal switch is working, I just wanted to insert one switch more there, without ruining 33 looks.

regards
_________________
Tino Vatavuk
Little black dress which replaced Alfa Romeo 33 S 16v Permanent 4 GMo

Bellamachinna · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:34 pm Post subject:

Hi

My hazard lights switch, has "left the building" Sad

Problem is that the direction indicators, also went dead, because of it... If this switch dies all the indicator ligths die.. Sad

The rear demister switch, also has no illuminattion at all (and the bulb is new)...

The only switches that are working are the switches for the front and rear fogs...

I always, liked the look of the smaller switches, and as i found those very cheap, i tought to give it a try Crying or Very sad

All the best
P.Camilo
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All'interno della mia macchina, vi sedete, tenete sopra e CHIUDETE IN SU...

Horizontally Opposed · Alfasud Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Greece

Ok this is very interesting since I have NEVER seen my switches light up (all except the hazard lights switch which lights up fine...)

Everything else works just fine so I was wondering: is there is a fuse especially for the switches lighting?

bobbber · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject:

I've changed all my bulbs in the switches.... 5 minute job. MOST were blown. I'd look here before the fuses - as the fuses generally affect more than one part of the system.

Bob
_________________
Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

Admin · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:44 pm Post subject:

Hi

I do have the wiring supplement for the later cars now. Should be scanned in soon.

All the best

Keith

Bellamachinna · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:44 pm Post subject:

Hi Keith

Can you scan the page that covers the hazard lights, and send it to my mail?

The other switches are easy to convert, as they use the same number of wires - 4 (although some of the wires use diferent colors).
The hazard lights switch is a real pain. It has 9 pins, with even more wires coming into the connection socket...

The "new" switch only has four wires...

I´m trying not to cut, the original electric instalation. So i already got sockets that connect, on the original ones...
The other switches are "ready to go", but the hazard swicth, i dont know how to connect it...

My mail is PJOCamilo@Hotmail.com

Thanks in advance
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All'interno della mia macchina, vi sedete, tenete sopra e CHIUDETE IN SU...

Admin · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:24 pm Post subject:

Hi

Hopefully scanned in soon. At my better halfs work they have some high speed scanners in to try out Wink

.

All the best

Keith