QuestionI have a 1980 fiat spider from california and it has just stopped satrting altogether. it goes after a push and when you turn the key you can hear a faint electronic type click. I 've hit the start motor with a hammer but that doesn't do much for the car but i feel a bit better afterwards. To boot the radiator decided to spring about three leaks the last time i drove the kids around the park for a spin! so i don't know if the water pump is bushed!!
I disconnect the internal heater a month ago because the diverting valve was leaking on the kids legs so i just looped it out under the bonnet but this surely shouldnt have effected the rad it wasn't leaking from any joints!!
Well any ideas other than get something more reliable. I like the thing an sure its great for sucking up any unused money i already got the rust cut out the body painted a new distributor, plugs, service done so i'm sure it will just go on flling apart!!
HELP needed
AnswerWell, if you have learned hitting it with a hammer helps (you, not the car), you are well on your way to being a mechanic. I would refer to getting a bigger hammer, but that won't help you in this case. You need a solenoid instead. I don't know if a Fiat has a Ford type (fender mounted) or Chevy type (starter mounted) but it will be in line between the positive post of the battery and the starter itself. They are really simple to change.
As for the radiator, I recommend having it recored at a shop. It is not that expensive and saves a lot of grief.
By the way if you simply looped the heater hose, you need to fix that. The water will pass there instead of thru your engine and cause you to overheat, possibly not even registering on the gauge. You must dead head the water in the by-pass. Either wire it folded, much like pinching a garden hose in your hand to stop the flow, or cut the hose and clamp both ends over a solid rod like a broom handle.
