This is what happens if you dont do the GTV heated screen mod.....

Rich_wookey · #1 (**Post Link**) 16-05-12

This is a Cat C insurance write off of a 2004 Ph3 car!

(not my car)

pkr · #2 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Impressive. I suspect it wouldn't be too difficult to fix that. Probably too expensive on a commercial basis but where man hours aren't a factor, it could be a good project.

redtop_68 · #3 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

I'm not familiar with this problem and the mod. Any "must read" links?

seadart · #4 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Go to the "GTV Spider known issues" sticky at the top..
and read the "Fire risk problem".. "rear screen de-mister fix"

gtvtommo · #5 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...ister-fix.html (GTV Rear screen demister fix.)

pkr · #6 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Originally Posted by redtop_68

I'm not familiar with this problem and the mod. Any "must read" links?

Here you go :
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...ister-fix.html (GTV Rear screen demister fix.)

redtop_68 · #7 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Great! Thankyou all.

I surely will look into this!

nu_groove · #8 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

I did this mod recently.

However, I would advise continued caution when using the rear de-mister. You will be putting a relay very close to the fuel vapour recovery system, introducing an explosion risk that wasn't there before (albeit a very, very, small risk). Also, if the relay fails to auto-cancel the new fuse in the boot could ignite (after some time)...right next to the fuel tank. So /always/ turn off the demister as soon as the screen has cleared.

I may be off the mark, but erring on the side of caution is never a bad thing when it comes to fuel and DIY electronics!

Autolusso · #9 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Originally Posted by Rich_wookey

This is a Cat C insurance write off of a 2004 Ph3 car!

(not my car)

It is on Copart and we are bidding on if for parts

Ned

buellboy · #10 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

There was another real nice one on copart about 3 months ago with the same issue....It was a beautiful green with lovely dark tan but the rhs of the dash caught fire and melted!

Interesting then what to tell to insurance companies about cars not being modded....I could leave the car un-changed and risk serious fire risk OR i could mod it and risk not being covered by the insurance....

Think I will go for the first one and expect full agreed valuation payment when the **** hits the fan...or rather the mist hits the windows

Mitch916 · #11 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Originally Posted by nu_groove

I did this mod recently.

However, I would advise continued caution when using the rear de-mister. You will be putting a relay very close to the fuel vapour recovery system, introducing an explosion risk that wasn't there before (albeit a very, very, small risk). Also, if the relay fails to auto-cancel the new fuse in the boot could ignite (after some time)...right next to the fuel tank. So /always/ turn off the demister as soon as the screen has cleared.

I may be off the mark, but erring on the side of caution is never a bad thing when it comes to fuel and DIY electronics!

Sorry but this is just scaremongering. There are already plenty of standard relays and fuses in the boot area. The contacts are internal in the relays and fuses blow internally. Vapour recovery is a sealed system anyway.

Rich_wookey · #12 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Originally Posted by Autolusso

It is on Copart and we are bidding on if for parts

Ned

Go for it!

pkr · #13 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Originally Posted by nu_groove

I did this mod recently.

However, I would advise continued caution when using the rear de-mister. You will be putting a relay very close to the fuel vapour recovery system, introducing an explosion risk that wasn't there before (albeit a very, very, small risk). Also, if the relay fails to auto-cancel the new fuse in the boot could ignite (after some time)...right next to the fuel tank. So /always/ turn off the demister as soon as the screen has cleared.

I may be off the mark, but erring on the side of caution is never a bad thing when it comes to fuel and DIY electronics!

To echo what Mitch says, this is silly.

Here's a photo of the relays and fuses already there ( plus one extra relay and fuse for my implementation of this modification ). Right next to the vapour recovery box(es) in the bottom left.
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/...9_DSC_0050.jpg

alfapash · #14 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Scary,

if it was mine.

gtvtommo · #15 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

With regard to the risk with the modification..........how many fires/burn outs have been attributed to 'relay to fuel vapour faults' and how many to the standard or should I say sub-standard fit' - none I suspect or maybe the odd one caused by rear end accidents.......I feel safer with this mod anyway but that said there is of course a slight risk with everthing but I for one wont be worrying.

seadart · #16 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

I agree with Mitch.. keep it in context.. it's a car.. big fuel tank.. lots of sparks.. driven fast.. just yards away from oncoming traffic.. in the dark and rain..
if the car was invented today.. health and safety would have a fit..

symon · #17 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

If fuel vapour being near the new relay bothers you it would be easy to fit it inside a small plastic box and seal it all up...

A lot of relays are hermetically sealed anyway to prevent ignition of vapours by the contacts.

gtvtommo · #18 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

If we really want to get paranoid about the relay/fuel bit dont forget to add in the potential explosvive fumes from the battery on the v6's..

(sealed I know but........)can I ever feel safe driving mine again

dmc · #19 (**Post Link**) 17-05-12

Originally Posted by seadart

Go to the "GTV Spider known issues" sticky at the top..
and read the "Fire risk problem".. "rear screen de-mister fix"

It says early GTVs on there, but this was a ph3 - so is it all GTVs?

pkr · #20 (**Post Link**) 18-05-12

Originally Posted by dmc

It says early GTVs on there, but this was a ph3 - so is it all GTVs?

P3s have a slight variation in the wiring in that there is an additional small rated fuse 7.5A(?) after the main 30A fuse which is for the heated mirrors only. Other than that, they're the same i.e. P1 & P2 don't have the additional small fuse for their heated mirrors.

gtvtommo · #21 (**Post Link**) 18-05-12

wow thats interesting pkr ....does it mean the ph 1&2 heated mirrors are protected only by the 30a fuse ......if so thats an even worse original design than I thought. The heater element is likely to fail before the fuse surely ?

pkr · #22 (**Post Link**) 18-05-12

Originally Posted by gtvtommo

wow thats interesting pkr ....does it mean the ph 1&2 heated mirrors are protected only by the 30a fuse ......

Correct

gtvtommo · #23 (**Post Link**) 18-05-12

gulp...........

what were they thinking

dmc · #24 (**Post Link**) 18-05-12

Just learned that my car has heated mirrors! As well as puddle lamps - pretty fancy

Dansolo · #25 (**Post Link**) 18-05-12

Dont forget that nifty boot relaese hidden in the glove box(hidden for 4 years from me ) , now thats fancy .

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