Hi All,
I’m a new member to the forum, new car owner & have a few questions
1.Steering: After changing traffic lanes and steering straight ahead again, I require to make further steering corrections in the opposite direction to get the car to track straight again, in the straight ahead position it does not wonder however the slightest movement of the wheel will require the same corrections. I’ve check ball joints, wheel bearings & tie rods, the steering damper is still installed. Is there any suggestions/advise/info available to correct the problem?
2.Electrical: At random during driving the engine will cut out and not restart, when this happens I get no spark through the HT leads, fule supply is strong. After a half hour or so the engine will fire up and perform well, is there any electrical components I can test of replace to fix this?
3.Engine, Gbox/Diff oil that can be recommended.
4.Spare parts suppliers Australia Based
5.I understand the Urraco has a lot of parts common to other Italian cars of the same age, does anyone have a list or details?
Any info regarding the above will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
John

Answer or possibility for question #2

I have a Jalpa and I am having almost the exact symptoms. My issue was and continues to be the ignition switch. It has been rebuilt twice in the last year and continues to work poorly. I was told during the last rebuild that the contacts are very small and a great deal of current goes through the contacts. The high current causes carbon build up on the contacts. My car will start one time and run with no issues. Other times nothing will make the key work. It is random, but that is where I traced the problem to. I plan to put a relay under the dash to keep the current from going through and burning the contacts. I was having issues with both the on position and start position, but now I only have trouble with start.

You could be having the same issue. I would pull the ignition out of the steering colum and check to see if you are getting power out of it. If you are, keep looking. There are at least 1 if not 2 ignition relays. Also fuses and conection to relays corode and this could cause issues similar to what you describe. I went through most of my ignition wiring and the problem always traces back to the ignition swith. I am not sure if the Uracco and Jalpa share the same ignition but the Jalpa one is pretty crappy. I had it rebuilt twice and it still does not work properly.

Hi Ohlgren,
Thanks for your reply,
can you clarify for me if your engine cuts out during driving, your problems seem to be one where you have no current going to the starter, where as mine, the starter is cranking but the engine refuses to fire up due to a lack of spark.
Thanks
John

John for spare parts in Australia contact Henry Nehrybecki at Chauvel motors in Hornsby. Otherwise order from Eurospares in the UK and contact Claudio (claudio@eurospares.com.au). If you want to discuss issues with your P300 PM me and we will make contact.

__________________
Paul
Silhouette 40094
LP400 Countach 1120278

My ignition issue has been both the "start" and "on" position.

When I first got the car, I was driving it home and it shut off on the freeway. I turned the key over and over for about 30 minutes. The car randomly started out of the blue and ran fine. I drove for about 10 minutes and then "click" it went off again. Again after fiddling around it suddenly came on and worked fine. (When it was off, I got no electrical lights or warnings when the key was turned.). It cut out again and did this until I got the ignition switch rebuilt. When it was rebuilt I was told the contacts were very loose inside and the interior components had carbon on them. The switch was rebuilt and worked fine. The car underwent a serious sorting and about 6 months later I tried to start it. I tuned the key to "start" and it turned over a couple times and then it would not crank when turned to the "start" position. I went through the whole electrical system thinking it could not be the ignition switch, but that was what it turned out to be.

If when the car shuts off, you do not have warning lights or seatbelt alarm it is probably the switch. My fuel pump would come on, but the dash lights and bells would not. If the dash lights come on and you have power in most systems it is probably down stream (relays or the ignition control box.)

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions. We have similar but not the same model of car, so your system could be a little different.

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the reply,
I will send you a pm
John

Ho Olhgren
Thanks for clarifying the problem for me.
I now have a few good points to start from.
John

My P250 did the same thing. The cutting off part and not wanting to restart. The ignition switch was bad. The Fiat 124 Ignition switch is the same part. Buy one, it comes with a new key and tumbler asym. The only mod was a I had to make a jumper wire because in the start position it kills power to the circut for the run position, but activates 2 poles in the start position. A simple jumper cured the problem and has worked great.

Hope this helps.

Check your alignment for the steering problem and your lower control arm bushings.

Joe Frazar

Hi Joe,
Thanks for your reply,
By the sounds of things my ignition switch may be the culprit also. Can you elaborate on the jumper wiring, what size it is and how you wired it up. Are the mounting screws, and other locating hardware the same? Any particular 124 FIAT?
Also, is there a website that lists specifics on the Urraco?
The lower control arm bushes seem tight, ie when I check for wheel bearing play both in the horizontal and vertical positions there is very minimal movement and none that would indicate the lower bushers are worn. I will have the steering alignment checked and in particular the caster angles.
John

John, a full copy of the parts list for the P300 is on Eurospares' website www.eurospares.co.uk

If you convert your ignition to electronic you will solve your problems and take away the need to replace points in the future. You will get more consistant acceleration also. There are a number of people who know a lot about the P300 right here in Australia.

I could refer you to the right mechanic (City Performance at Artarmon) and wheel alignment/steering place ( Spinning Wheel Woolloomoolloo) to have you car running right if you are interested

__________________
Paul
Silhouette 40094
LP400 Countach 1120278