[ALXege]

A thing that really bothers me about my Spider is the fact that windows do not drop when door is opened. Now, I know someone here did it, but didn't understand 100% how because he went for a "custom" route, i would be more interested in doing it the OEM way. So, what parts would i need from a Mk3 GTV/Spider? Is everything plug'n'play?

 

[Guest]

You'll need autodrop regulators @ about £100 per side then apparently they are a bugger to fit.

You don't need to get them from a phase 3 but from any post 51 plate 916.

Try autolusso

 

[ALXege]

I'm from outside UK, so autolusso might be hard (but not impossible). My plan is to search locally for breaking GTVs/Spiders.

Sorry for the noob question, but what's a 51 plate 916? How can I identify one?

 

[Guest]

Sorry, I just assumed you were UK based.

51 plate = 2001 model.

916 = GTV & spider model number

:thumbs:

 

[ALXege]

Ok, I'm not that noob, i know what 916 means so 51 plate is 2001.. any 2001, or is there one month that is making the difference? For example, early January 2001 have autodrop windows?

 

[Guest]

Not sure on the month but it would be later 2001 models.

 

[pkr]

The introduction date for auto drop was June/July 2000. Any car built after that should have autodrop.

 

[ALXege]

Good to know, thanks! I will start searching for breaking cars after July 2000, although I remember there was a huge debate about the introduction date of this feature..

Next question: can anybody help me with some picture/part No./ePer screenshot of the parts i should be looking for?

Thanks!

 

[pkr]

Someone is selling an autodrop mechanism in the classifieds with a useful picture.

Alfa Romeo Classifieds - Auctions - GTV O/S & N/S ELECTRIC WINDOW MECHANISMS - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds

You'll also need to wire the autodrop mechanism to the multiway plug on the door frame. The crimp contacts for them are made by AMP ( now TE.com ). I have the part numbers for them which I can look up for you if you decide to go ahead.

You'll also need an N82 Integrated Services Unit. Again, this has to come out of a post June/July 2000 manufactured car. But the difficulty is that there are several different part numbers. You'll also need crimp connectors for the N82A & N82B plugs. Again, made by AMP and I also have their part numbers.

Worth checking first that your car has capacity in both sides door multiway connectors. They're pretty full as they're only 23 way and I think they got reconfigured in June 2000. Don't assume the driver's side door has the same number of spare ways as the passenger door ( as it has the passenger window control ).

 

[pkr]

In case you don't know what you're looking for :

That picture in the classifieds. Note the clockspring type thing in the centre. To the left of that is the square black microswitch that signals the N82 unit. The other bit of the autodrop change is that shaped bracket between the microswitch ( just below it ) and the metal arm pointing to the top left.

 

[ALXege]

Thanks so much, very helpful!
But I'm a bit confused (maybe there's also the language barrier as well), will i need the complete window mechanism? Because that's what it seems to be in that picture..
LE: now that i've read your second post, this has been cleared out, thanks

Regarding N82 Integrated Services Unit, i assume that this is some kind of a management unit responsible for various things inside the car, right? I presume my car already has this in, but i need some newer version to support the auto-drop windows (correct me if I'm wrong in my judgement).. Is there anything i can mess up by replacing it with newer version? I mean, making the auto-drop windows work but failing to operate something else previously supported by my original unit? Also, why should i care about their part numbers, couldn't I simply take one from a breaking car that I'm sure it did have auto-drop windows?
And where is this located exactly?

On the connectors part, you've lost me

 

[pkr]

Ooops sorry. Too fast I guess!

OK, the N82 unit is the device behind the glovebox that controls the windows, central locking, heated rear window ( GTV ), and on phase 2 cars the boot release and fuel flap release. It has three multi way connectors referred to in the manual as N82A, N82B and N82C. The microswitches in the doors connect to N82. One door goes to N82B pin 12 and the other door goes to N82A pin 7. These connectors on your car are unlikely to be wired. So you need to get a very specific crimp connector to go on the end of the wire and push into the multiway connector. The other end of the wire has another crimp connector fitted ( a different type but the same manufacturer ) and is pushed into the multiway connector fitted to the car's 'A' ( windscreen ) pillars. The other side of that connector takes the wiring into the door. Again you'll need the specific crimp connector to push into that one as well.

From my investigations N82 units appear to be pin compatible from May 97 ( late phase 1 ) right through phase 3. In theory, I could plug a later one into my May 97 GTV and it would still do the job. I say theory because things aren't always that simple! For example, my N82 unit has wiring going to the ( non existant ) sunroof. Those wires aren't documented anywhere that I've found yet. The sunroof has a totally seperate controller. So the purpose of those sunroof wires to my N82 unit is a complete mystery. Deep joy!

As to checking the door multiway connectors. They're the black connectors between the door and 'A' pillar. You need to unscrew the connector to see if you have a spare hole in there on both sides of the car. Easy enough to spot as almost all the holes will have visible pins or sockets.

As to the N82 part number. In an ideal world yes. But if a donor car has had it's N82 replaced in the past, it may not have got the right one. Best to be safe and check the part numbers in eper.

Hope that helps.

 

[gtvtommo]

it sounds a difficult to say the least type of job glad I went the alternative route, there again retrofitting ac into a phase 1 is also tricky but can be done as pkr will verify

 

[Baacow]

Just to clarify...does autodrop windows mean when the door is opened, or just when the hood is opened/closed?

If it is the latter, (as on mine) can that hood related function be adapted to operate when the door handle is opened as well?

 

[pkr]

Just to clarify...does autodrop windows mean when the door is opened, or just when the hood is opened/closed?

If it is the latter, (as on mine) can that hood related function be adapted to operate when the door handle is opened as well?

Typically with the door opening but I've not looked at the spider at all.

I do know that the Spider hood control ECU ( N81 ) does talk to the N82 ECU ( power windows etc ) but I don't know what that communication is about. It did that from May 1997 - well before autodrop.

 

[pkr]

I've found some pictures that may help.

1. This is a similar multi connector to the ones used with N82 It uses exactly the same crimp contacts as the N82A & N82B connectors but has a different number of wires.

2. This is very similar ( but not identical ) to the contact used in the N82 multi way plug.

3. This is the door side of the multi way plug connecting the door with the rest of the car. This one is from a May 1997 Phase 1 and as you can see it has 4 spare holes. You need one spare hole on each side of the car.

 

[ALXege]

Wow, extremely helpful information here! Thanks alot guys!
My Spider doesn't have electric roof, so communication with the roof ECU will not be necessary.
So, to sum things up and make sure i understood everything properly, i need the auto-drop regulator for both doors, an updated N82 Unit and just make the connections between those two (after I previously make sure that connections are possible). After i do this, things simply.. work?
Another question: are all the possible functions embedded in any N82 Unit or are they somehow custom programmed depending on the car they're in? To be more specific, I understand that this Unit also ensures the release of the hood cover on the Spider (even on the manual roof version), so, if i would take a unit from a GTV, will the hood release on the Spider still work?

 

[pkr]

Wow, extremely helpful information here! Thanks alot guys!
My Spider doesn't have electric roof, so communication with the roof ECU will not be necessary.
So, to sum things up and make sure i understood everything properly, i need the auto-drop regulator for both doors, an updated N82 Unit and just make the connections between those two (after I previously make sure that connections are possible). After i do this, things simply.. work?

That's pretty much it. Will it work? In theory, yes!

Another question: are all the possible functions embedded in any N82 Unit or are they somehow custom programmed depending on the car they're in? To be more specific, I understand that this Unit also ensures the release of the hood cover on the Spider (even on the manual roof version), so, if i would take a unit from a GTV, will the hood release on the Spider still work?

I've found two part numbers for autodrop enabled N82 so far ( 60671488 & 60671171 ) and they are both common to GTV & Spider ( so you can be confident it doesn't matter if you fit a GTV N82 in your Spider.

The first 916 built with autodrop, as far as I can see is ZAR91600006067587 ( 1.8TS GTV ) which, according to ePer was built in July 2000. So if you find a donor car with a higher VIN, it should have autodrop.

I'll be interested in how you get on as I've been thinking about this myself or something similar to tsbg12489's method.

 

[ALXege]

Hurray! Keep you posted!