Defrost / Heat Controls

[kgkmd80]

Hey folks,
I'm new to Fiat/Pinifarina Spiders. I have a 1983 Pininfarina Spider 2000, it's been a blast to drive just trying to figure out the best position for the Heater/Defroster levers, i don't have an owners manual with the car if you know of a good reference guide for the system i would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Kevin

[Redline]

Left to right:

Fresh air mix: all the way forward for recirculated air, all the way back for fresh outside air.
Heater valve: all the way forward for full heat, all the way back for minimal heat
Air distribution: all the way forward for heat from the lower (floor) vents, all the way back for windshield (defrost) vents.


All three sliders forward: Full throttle!

[azruss]

this is a very basic system.
the lever close to the driver opens and closes the cowl flap that lets in air. handle up means the flap is full open. middle lever opens and closes the hot water valve. all the way down is full open. far lever marks "def" closes the door to the floor openings and routes the air to the dash vents. handle up forces air to the windshield. down forces air to the floor. Thats all there is to it.
full heat is air in, full water, air to the floor. close handle up, middle handle down, far handle down
full defrost: close handle up, middle handle down, far handle up.
cool air in: close handle up, middle handle up, far handle down
no air in: close handle down.
This is very old school, so dont expect precision adjustments. definitely not climate control.

[kgkmd80]

Thanks Gents for the info! I'll have to take it for a spin and see how it works.
ps. my model doesn't have the After Burner or Reverse thruster mod =;o0

[reg71]

thanks for the info. this has been driving me crazy. I have just been pushing them all over the place trying to figure out what works. I think I'll make a little chart on a notecard and tape it to the dash for me and my wife to use until we get it all figured out.

[donm]

Don't think of those red and blue triangles as arrows; they're not. They're meant to show min and max.

[reg71]

Ok, I was still forgetting so I made this. Hopefully this will work. I figured I'd post it in case anyone else needed it.

[RRoller123]

That little chart may just be the most valuable thing posted here in years! Those controls drive me crazy. Thank you!

<{:^)

[DocGraphics]

I made up stickers similar to that to put on the center console, white print on clear sticker. (One of the perks to being a designer in a sign shop)
Figure I'll put one either behind the levers, next to where the e-brake pulls up or in front of the controls in the rear corner of the console below the e-brake handle.

Here's a crummy pic of one of the rejects (just stuck on my phone at work for pic purposes).



I'm thinking I might make new decals to go in the controls where the VAGUE factory directions are.
Wouldn't light up at night though unless the originals are removable & I make the new ones transparent.

[digitech]

If you come up with anything that fits and looks good, consider making extras for sale - I would buy.

[tartan18]

I would buy also. Perhaps a decal that would stick on the console just in front of the control.

[DocGraphics]

Yes I will be making these, maybe not exactly in this form, have to see how & where it fits best.

Yes I think the lower part of the console will probably a good spot for this & a revision is in order to make it fit there correctly.

I'll post up what I do, still dead of winter here, 3" of fresh snow already today & still going! No heat in the garage to work on my girl.

[Tbird]

Thanks! This is going to help me out too. I have an 82 Fiat Spider 2000, and I assume the levers work the same.

[grittracing]

I drove my spidey for the first time last year and every cold morning played with them to no avail. I wish I had that chart than lol but thank you very much now.

[reg71]

My stepson got in the car and saw my little card taped to the glovebox and said, 'What is that?' I told him and he laughed. I told him to wait until he was driving the car and trying to figure out how to turn on the heat and he'd get it.