Good morning Steve. The relevance of "pulling all relevant connectors" is that modern cars with electronic systems use low voltages (often around 5 volts) and very low currents (typically milliamps) to operate the sensors. Older cars had virtually no electronics - alternators and instrument panels had some inbuilt stuff for regulators etc but very little, in the way of electronics, was connected externally via wiring and connectors - and they operated, mostly, at battery voltage and several amps of current. Because of this relevantly "brutal" flow of electricity the current could "bully" it's way through slightly "dodgy" dirty connections. Electronic systems, because they flow such low currents, just don't have this "bullying" ability so can be stopped by even the smallest of imperfection in a connection. So, if you simply separate and remake a plugged connection the wiping action on the male and female parts of the connector of doing this can reestablish a good connection. Spraying a wee bit of cleaner (not something like "good old" WD40 but a dedicated electric cleaner - which WD40 also make) is helpful. Poor connections in older cars are very common so I usually start by doing this as it's quite a quick and non intrusive thing to do with very little risk of a "neanderthal" like me doing a lot of damage. My heart bleeds for you when you say you don't even know where to start - to this day I still experience that myself with electronics and, apart from tracing the wires back I don't have a simple answer for you. It's good to accept your limitations and call a halt before you ruin something expensive! Of course even when you find the plug it's often protected from accidental disconnection by a locking device of some sort. Most consist of a wee lever that has to be depressed or a small plastic slider that has to be slid to one side, but some can be fiendishly difficult to figure out how they function and can be easily broken if you get violent with them. Then you find you can't buy just the plug because it's only supplied with the complete loom! A dirty day in the scrap yard usually results! This problem now seems to have been replicated by the designers of fuel line connectors where they connect to fuel filters. Previously the connection would often be a jubilee type screw clip on a short length of rubber hose. Quite simple to fix if something goes "wrong". Now though, they have these rather brittle plastic connectors which are released by pushing in a wee button like "thingy" on the side of the connector. They are sometimes very difficult to release and you have to apply considerable force to the "button" which is when the damage gets done. Then you find the connector is not available on it's own and you have to buy a complete fuel line to get it.
I think you've probably done as much as you reasonably can with the knowledge and ability level you seem to have? and I applaud you for your efforts. Generally our wee Fiats, especially the older ones, are not exactly at the "cutting edge" of automotive technology so most competent indy workshops should be able to sort this out for you and if they specialize in Italian cars that would be the ideal solution. The problem, of course, is finding that garage. Try googling "Fiat specialists Northampton" I just did and a couple of promising looking indies popped up. Even better would be to get a personal recommendation or for someone on the forum to be able to make a recommendation (make a separate post in the "leisure lounge" or "garages" section so we all see it). If you feel bold enough, I've actually hung around the main dealer workshop doors until a mechanic walks out and, very politely, asked his help - as to whether he might know of a colleague or an independent specialist garage who could help. Sometimes you'll be rebuffed and you have to be thick skinned enough to take some rude language! but I've had considerable success with this approach in the past and it could be worth trying if you feel up to it.
Oh, and the "copa slip" thing was about what anti squeal/ anti seize paste you use when rebuilding brakes. Us "oldies" were taught to use high melting point grease with ground copper diffused in it. The typical market leader in those days was a product called Copaslip https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251833861047 many other companies now produce similar product. Unfortunately, it was found that this product could cause problems with contaminating ABS sensors and corrupting their function - in fairness this was usually because some careless person had slapped far to much of the product all over the place. I've used it all my life, including when I actually earned my living on the shop floor, and never had a problem with it. However it's also true to say that it tends to dry out after a while and not do it's job so well, can also cause an electrolytic reaction between different metals due to the copper content, so, some years ago now, the general recommendation was made that Ceramic high melting point product should be used. I had rather varying success with this stuff until I discovered The Granville product https://www.thompsonsltd.co.uk/prod...gh0y1JbJtT7Plr-w2e1ptsf4i7X8Q_5xoCdDAQAvD_BwE being sold by my local motor factors, which I now use on all brake jobs. I still find the copaslip very useful for certain, brake unrelated, jobs though and still have a tin of it in my lubes cupboard. I asked the question because I'm interested in whether most people are now using a ceramic based product or sticking with the "good old" copper product.
I think you've probably done as much as you reasonably can with the knowledge and ability level you seem to have? and I applaud you for your efforts. Generally our wee Fiats, especially the older ones, are not exactly at the "cutting edge" of automotive technology so most competent indy workshops should be able to sort this out for you and if they specialize in Italian cars that would be the ideal solution. The problem, of course, is finding that garage. Try googling "Fiat specialists Northampton" I just did and a couple of promising looking indies popped up. Even better would be to get a personal recommendation or for someone on the forum to be able to make a recommendation (make a separate post in the "leisure lounge" or "garages" section so we all see it). If you feel bold enough, I've actually hung around the main dealer workshop doors until a mechanic walks out and, very politely, asked his help - as to whether he might know of a colleague or an independent specialist garage who could help. Sometimes you'll be rebuffed and you have to be thick skinned enough to take some rude language! but I've had considerable success with this approach in the past and it could be worth trying if you feel up to it.
Oh, and the "copa slip" thing was about what anti squeal/ anti seize paste you use when rebuilding brakes. Us "oldies" were taught to use high melting point grease with ground copper diffused in it. The typical market leader in those days was a product called Copaslip https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251833861047 many other companies now produce similar product. Unfortunately, it was found that this product could cause problems with contaminating ABS sensors and corrupting their function - in fairness this was usually because some careless person had slapped far to much of the product all over the place. I've used it all my life, including when I actually earned my living on the shop floor, and never had a problem with it. However it's also true to say that it tends to dry out after a while and not do it's job so well, can also cause an electrolytic reaction between different metals due to the copper content, so, some years ago now, the general recommendation was made that Ceramic high melting point product should be used. I had rather varying success with this stuff until I discovered The Granville product https://www.thompsonsltd.co.uk/prod...gh0y1JbJtT7Plr-w2e1ptsf4i7X8Q_5xoCdDAQAvD_BwE being sold by my local motor factors, which I now use on all brake jobs. I still find the copaslip very useful for certain, brake unrelated, jobs though and still have a tin of it in my lubes cupboard. I asked the question because I'm interested in whether most people are now using a ceramic based product or sticking with the "good old" copper product.
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