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Does anyone do the column/stalk switch unit (blinkers, lights, wiper control) for the S4 spider?
Column switch S4 spider
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I feel like I am working for this company (I have no connection, honest!):
Alfaholics:
Column Stalks – S4 Spider | Classic Alfa Romeo spare parts and accessories
or ClassicAlfa
- electrical
Alfaholics:
Column Stalks – S4 Spider | Classic Alfa Romeo spare parts and accessories
or ClassicAlfa
- electrical
Joined
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4,315 Posts
Hi Anglo,
the alfaholics one is wrong - that is the same aftermarket one that OKP in Munich has which I compared to mine today (took the bloody thing off to compare them at the shop - cost me 2-3 hours solid work, on and off) - it looked completely different, felt like a piece from a Fiat Uno, was rather a cheap looking copy and the wiring connectors were different.
The classicalfa one is correct from the photo, but i bet they too will have the aftermarket one when I ask....which I will do. Ta!
the alfaholics one is wrong - that is the same aftermarket one that OKP in Munich has which I compared to mine today (took the bloody thing off to compare them at the shop - cost me 2-3 hours solid work, on and off) - it looked completely different, felt like a piece from a Fiat Uno, was rather a cheap looking copy and the wiring connectors were different.
The classicalfa one is correct from the photo, but i bet they too will have the aftermarket one when I ask....which I will do. Ta!
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I see what you mean, it does look quite different when you look closely.
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...and classicalfa tell me they don't have them either.
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Thanks all!
Today I decided to take it off (AGAIN) and fix it myself!
The original problem was the slow speed wiper did not work, everything else did.
I bought a s/h unit off fleabay last year (never wanted to tackle the job though!) that the seller said worked perfectly........yeah right!
I took my original one off and exchanged it for the fleabay "perfect" one - joy oh joy the wipers worked in all speeds, slow, intermittant and fast..................but the headlamps didn't (and I even gave the guy +ve feedback!)
So, OK it at least told me that my original switch had a problem, and it was not the wiper motor at fault. 1 plus for me.
Then I searched for an original S4 NOS unit (not trusting any s/h unit again) but this is unobtanium - yes they all without exception (AFRA, OKP, Bertelsbeck, Classicalfa in fact most of the UK, German and US usual suspects etc) sell a new one for the S4, but believe me this unit, an aftermarket unit, is and looks completely different, wires are different, colour codes are different, switches are different and yours truly not having a degree in mechanical or electical engineering, I said thanks, but no thanks!
Today I took off my original one again (took lots of photos, step by step - might try and upload them one day on here for you guys and put them on a new thread)
I then took the s/h replacement one apart, as I thought if millions of springs pop out, I know what to expect on my original one when it came to doing that one! It is a tricky job, but actually not as bad as I thought, as it looked completely sealed. I mean just the wiper stalk part needed dismantling. It is actually very simple inside, only the clamps that hold it together are the tough part.
To be honest mine looked as good as the fleabay one, except the fleabay one was a little newer in feel, when you flick the wiper stalk down. There are no parts in the body that you can replace, all factory soldering etc, so i decided to just swop out the arms, and give mine a good clean inside.
Put the s/h arm into my original column switch, put it all back together, connected up the connections, put the battery earth back on and it WORKED, wipers, lights and indicators.
Job done, 300 euros saved - as i had taken it all off once before, this time it took me about 1/2 hour to remove and maybe 40 minutes to but back on (obviously when you put things back, you start cleaning contacts, greasing, WD40 etc.
Today I decided to take it off (AGAIN) and fix it myself!
The original problem was the slow speed wiper did not work, everything else did.
I bought a s/h unit off fleabay last year (never wanted to tackle the job though!) that the seller said worked perfectly........yeah right!
I took my original one off and exchanged it for the fleabay "perfect" one - joy oh joy the wipers worked in all speeds, slow, intermittant and fast..................but the headlamps didn't (and I even gave the guy +ve feedback!)
So, OK it at least told me that my original switch had a problem, and it was not the wiper motor at fault. 1 plus for me.
Then I searched for an original S4 NOS unit (not trusting any s/h unit again) but this is unobtanium - yes they all without exception (AFRA, OKP, Bertelsbeck, Classicalfa in fact most of the UK, German and US usual suspects etc) sell a new one for the S4, but believe me this unit, an aftermarket unit, is and looks completely different, wires are different, colour codes are different, switches are different and yours truly not having a degree in mechanical or electical engineering, I said thanks, but no thanks!
Today I took off my original one again (took lots of photos, step by step - might try and upload them one day on here for you guys and put them on a new thread)
I then took the s/h replacement one apart, as I thought if millions of springs pop out, I know what to expect on my original one when it came to doing that one! It is a tricky job, but actually not as bad as I thought, as it looked completely sealed. I mean just the wiper stalk part needed dismantling. It is actually very simple inside, only the clamps that hold it together are the tough part.
To be honest mine looked as good as the fleabay one, except the fleabay one was a little newer in feel, when you flick the wiper stalk down. There are no parts in the body that you can replace, all factory soldering etc, so i decided to just swop out the arms, and give mine a good clean inside.
Put the s/h arm into my original column switch, put it all back together, connected up the connections, put the battery earth back on and it WORKED, wipers, lights and indicators.
Job done, 300 euros saved - as i had taken it all off once before, this time it took me about 1/2 hour to remove and maybe 40 minutes to but back on (obviously when you put things back, you start cleaning contacts, greasing, WD40 etc.
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Nice one, that calls for a small beer or two.
The photos would be good, I'm sure mine will need sorting at some stage although OK at the moment.
The photos would be good, I'm sure mine will need sorting at some stage although OK at the moment.
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4,315 Posts
a small beer? you know where I live? The Octoberfest starts this weekend and our 1 million city gets 5 million visitors in the next 3 weeks. Unfortunately beer is only served in 1 litre glasses (sorry, I mean Krugs!)...........a few of those will do me till the next ALFA job no doubt!
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16,539 Posts
Well done indeed. Old Alfa Stalk Switches are a potential problem for all of us who run the Classics, not to mention Headlight Units that don't require a second Mortgage.
Another thought for all you Spider owners. Are the Headlights directly Switched through the Stalk Switch like on the Alfettas/'suds etc ?
If so I can recommend the mod I did on my GTV6. I fitted two Relays, one for Inners and one for Outer pairs. A relaxed afternoon job that costs pennies and may even improve the light output of the Headlights.
More importantly it gives peace of mind as instead of nearly 20 Amps going through the Stalk you only have milliamps for the Relay Coils.
No more night drives for me listening to the sizzle and appreciating the smell of burning plastic for me! :wow:
Another thought for all you Spider owners. Are the Headlights directly Switched through the Stalk Switch like on the Alfettas/'suds etc ?
If so I can recommend the mod I did on my GTV6. I fitted two Relays, one for Inners and one for Outer pairs. A relaxed afternoon job that costs pennies and may even improve the light output of the Headlights.
More importantly it gives peace of mind as instead of nearly 20 Amps going through the Stalk you only have milliamps for the Relay Coils.
No more night drives for me listening to the sizzle and appreciating the smell of burning plastic for me! :wow:
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Nige, yes they are and some people do the same mod. I haven't done mine but it is a very sensible suggestion. I will add it to my to do list!
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:thumbs: A very sensible thing to do.
Years ago on my old Giuletta the Stalk switch did fail and was beyond repair. Couldn't find a replacement and had to fit separate Light Switches on the Dash, bit of a bodge but in those cash strapped days.......
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