Alfa Pages

[Ben_nz]

I bought myself some front driving lights / fog lights, like the ones on this car:
http://users.skynet.be/alfaromeo/33foto2.html
The previous owner told me the front bumper on my car was replaced, so I don't know whether it ever had foglights. I want to know how I can wire them up.

On the factory wiring loom on each side near the headlights there is a two-wire plug, one black wire, one blue/grey wire, labelled '1' in this picture:
http://www.axys.co.nz/ben/alfa33/PLUGS.JPG
I tried turning the headlights, indicators etc on but this plug is never live. Anyone know what it does? Or plug '2'?

On the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel are three pushbutton switches, as in this photo:
http://www.axys.co.nz/ben/alfa33/BUTTONS.JPG
The one on the left is the rear window demister. The middle one (labelled '1') I thought did nothing, but I discovered today that it activates the bright rear visibility lights, only when the headlights are on. I never knew that part of the tail light could light up! The switch on the right (labelled '2') isn't used in my car, and it feels like there's something preventing it from being pushed in.
Can anybody with a s1 or s2 car with factory foglights tell me how they're wired? I'll be happy if it's as easy as unblocking the unused switch and plugging the lights into the wiring loom.

[loui]

The button marked as 2 in your picture is a dummy button. Removed the same one from my mk2 and behind it is another spare block connector with yellow wires. On the other side of the steering wheel next to the Hazard warning button there is a similar dummy button. Dummy buttons are fitted when the accessory is not fitted to the car.

One of the dummy buttons will be where the front spot/fog lamp switch should be. The trim area around the buttons pulles out with the 3 buttons and red lamp complete. Small flat screw driver good for leverage.

Remove the block connector from the back of the rear heater switch and replace it with the spare block connector you found. That should be enough to power the circuit and see what it does. If alls well reasemble the switches the way they were.

Any similar shaped button from an Alfa will be workable as the fog light button. I have an extra rear heater button in my car with a sticker over it working my windscreeen wash for the time being.

[Ken McCarthy]

You will probably also need to fit a relay. The wiring and base socket should be there. On right hand drive cars it should be in the bulkhead area in front of the windscreen on the left of the car. A standard relay doesn't work. Unless you can identify the relay circuitry you will have to get the relay from Alfa.

Regards
_________________
Ken McCarthy - 16V Sprint

[Ben_nz]

Thanks guys!
I tried it out today, and it looks like there's only two things you need to do to fit foglights to a series 2 33:

1.) Get another latching pushbutton switch to sit in the dummy switch position next to the circular air vent on the right of the dashboard (RHD).
Before you get one, you can test as follows: Lever the switch buttons off so you can get at the clips which hold the switch surround in, and get a good grip on it to pull it off. Then you should see this:
http://www.axys.co.nz/ben/alfa33/FOGLITE2.JPG
The black plug (number 3) is for the foglights. Remove either the green or blue plug (1 or 2) from the end of its switch and connect the black plug in its place.

2.) Get another relay to plug in position 'E' underneath the fusebox, as shown:
http://www.axys.co.nz/ben/alfa33/FOGLITE1.JPG
Before you get one, you can test by unplugging one of the other relays and putting it temporarily in position 'E'

Now when you turn on the headlights and press the switch you connected the black foglights plug to, you'll hear the relay in position E click and there'll be power at the plugs numbered '1' in this photo:
http://www.axys.co.nz/ben/alfa33/PLUGS.JPG

Then you remove the foglight hole covers and plug in your lights, and you've got a tidy solution to the 33 dim headlights problem. =)

Disclaimer: I might be wrong, I haven't fitted the lights yet. Also I reserve the right to remove the files to which these URLs point, so if you're reading this in the future you'll have to use your imagination.

[John Hansen]

Hi Ben,
Could you please advise the brand/model of the lights that you bought. THANKS.
_________________
John H
'87 Alfa 33 QV

[Ben_nz]

John:
I bought just about the cheapest ones I could find.
Brand X, relay not included, your mileage may vary.
The lenses look like glass but they're plastic. I don't know how well they'll perform, or what wattage bulbs you can use before the dodgy Alfa wiring starts to burn out, but I guess I'll find that out when I hook them up. I've still got to find someone who'll sell me a relay and switch, and work out how to mount the lights securely so they don't wobble around.

I did find some good quality lights, made by companies like Hella and Narva (these, for example: http://www.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=772 ) but they were many times the price. If my cheap lights get stolen or hit by a stone I'm not gonna get too depressed, and the money I saved can be put towards clutch and gearbox and rust repairs. =(

I chose squarish lights like in the photo in the first post because I think they suit the styling of the 33. I don't think little round boy racer lights look as much at home on the 33: (Edit: the auction I had linked to to show the round lights is now expired)

[Buck Bundy]

I quite agree, they look awful.

Alfa made rectangular ones for a very good reason!

Buck
_________________
Sprint Veloce 1.5 - Ebay £310!!! (In need of TLC)

[Ben_nz]

Finally got my car back from the panelbeaters! It has been sitting there for weeks getting rust and paint repair done, with nobody driving it. So when I went to collect it we had to push-start it, and once it started the exhaust smoke ranged from light grey to black.

But I've now got my driving lights installed!

Headlights on low.


Driving lights on.....


DEATH RAY!

The driving lights are at least as bright as the normal headlights (they oughta be, you can only buy that shape in high wattages).. It sounds like they strain the alternator or its drive belt a bit, but nothing has burnt out yet.
I may eventually put some dimmer bulbs in them so I can drive around with them on during the day like you're not supposed to do.

[gritsop]

Hi,

Wow your lights have turned night to day
Indeed your alfa looks very pretty

What about the rust that you had removed? I judge that it was a time consuming job for the mechanics - did you also have the cracks in the front body fixed?

Cheers,
_________________
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]

Yeah, the removal of the rust around the tail lights and rear window took the panelbeater a long time. As I said in this topic: http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=1204 the previous repairs neither of us initially noticed made the job more difficult. I think the panelbeater used about 7 new metal patches on each side around the tail lights. I initially took the tail lights home but had to take them back so he could check the fit after all the repairs. =|

I've just spent all evening trying to get the boot to latch closed again.. something's warped or out of place. Dunno how I'm going to reattach the male spade terminals for the rear window demister to the glass either.
The problem with the bonnet (http://www.axys.co.nz/ben/alfa33/foglight/BONBEFOR.JPG) was caused by a previous bog job cracking up and flaking off. You can see the ripples in the repaired bonnet now if you look in the right light.

And no, the cracks in the front of the car haven't been repaired! That panelbeater doesn't think his welder is powerful enough to weld the chassis rails. Also I needed to get the car back because I was borrowing my mum's car the whole time, and people at my work were starting to ask "Where's the Alfa? I haven't seen it for a while.... "
Some time before my next Warrant of Fitness check I'll have to send the car back to get those cracks done. But the bill for the last rust repair and painting was already only $300 less than what I paid for the car.

[GaryUK]

Drill the end of the cracks, this will stop them spreading.

[Buck Bundy]

Ben_nz said

[box_me2]

I also have driving lights on my alfa 33... however cant opperate them while my headlamps are on high.... WHY?
Joel

[John Hansen]

Is it possible that you have fog lights which would only come on on low beam. Driving lights are usually only hooked up to the high beam.

Ben, How do you manage to have your driving lights/fog lights brighter when the high beam is on? From the photos, to me it appears that on low beam, the driving/fog lignts are not as bright as they are on high beam.

I had a setup that had fog lights come on lon ow beam and if I turned on high beam, the fog lights went off and the driving lights came on (because the fuses couldn't handle 100 watts for each of the driving lights as well as 55 watts for each of the fog lights. For this I had both fof lights and driving lights.
_________________
John H
'87 Alfa 33 QV

[Ben_nz]

[Box_me2]

My lights are not factory... im assuming the lad before me put them on the car. My car is an 88 model 33 8v... is it as simple as changing a few wire over? it would be great to have them on while high beam is on.
Joel

[Ben_nz]

I've got an 88 model 33 8v too.. So if you do what I did (just add factory switch and relay and connect lights to factory plugs) you should get the lights to work on high beam.